A disastrous turnover saved the Chiefs in the final seconds of their Black Friday game against Las Vegas at Arrowhead.
Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs achieved the first of their 2024 goals on Black Friday by clinching a playoff spot in their 19-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
It was another ugly and too-close-for-comfort victory for the defending Super Bowl champions, after they let a 13-point third-quarter lead become a one-possession lead by the fourth quarter. The Raiders looked in position to pull off a major upset as they got into field-goal position with 14 seconds remaining in the game trailing by 2 points. But an illegal shift penalty and turnover by the offense cost them a chance to kick a game-winning field goal.
Next for the Chiefs, they hope to win a ninth consecutive AFC West division championship. They can clinch the division title by beating the Los Angeles Chargers next Sunday night at Arrowhead Stadium. The 11-1 Chiefs also lead the rest of the AFC in the chase for the conference’s No. 1 playoff seed.
Describe the game in two words: Pacheco’s back. Running back Isiah Pacheco played for the first time since breaking his leg in a Week 2 game. Pacheco delivered the big play on a third-quarter field goal drive with a 34-yard run.
Promising trend: The Chiefs, who had just two sacks in their last two games, sacked Las Vegas quarterback Aidan O’Connell three times. Chris Jones had been held without a sack since a Week 4 game against the Chargers but he dropped O’Connell twice.
Eye-popping stat: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes ‘ second quarter touchdown pass to receiver Justin Watson had a completion probability of 26.
