Chiefs Overcome Raiders and Refs Monday Night in Frustrating 30-29 Victory at Arrowhead
There's a lot to talk about following the Kansas City Chiefs' 30-29 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders Monday night at Arrowhead
The Kansas City Chiefs (4-1) had to overcome some of the worst officiating we’ve seen in an NFL game in recent memory to beat the Las Vegas Raiders (1-4) on Monday night, and to be honest - that’s kind of saying something at this point.
It wasn’t only Chiefs’ fans commenting on the horrendous calls (and one non-call) against Chris Jones in that game. It was trending on Twitter. It was the talk of social media on a national level.
The roughing the passer call at the end of the first half will be a play that’s discussed - at worst - at NFL Owners meetings over the offseason on why that call should be reviewable. It was egregiously bad.
This stuff can’t happen, but the Chiefs didn’t play particularly well in any facet either, so leaving with a win - all things considered - is something that Chiefs fans should take some comfort in at this point.
They missed two field goals. The run defense looked susceptible for the first time all season, and the offense couldn’t get much going until Jerick McKinnon got some carries late in the first half and finally matched the physicality the Raiders were bringing up front from the start of the game.
But Patrick Mahomes did what he does - making extremely difficult off-platform throws look very easy - finishing 29 of 42 for 292 yards and 4 touchdowns. Travis Kelce dominated the red zone (7 catches, 25 yards, 4 touchdowns) - becoming just the fourth tight end in NFL history to have four touchdowns in a game, and the combination of Marquez Valdes-Scantling (6 catches, 90 yards) and Mecole Hardman (4 catches, 73 yards) stepped up on the outside for the Chiefs’ offense to get enough to leave with a win.
And to close it out - just as Marty Schottenheimer used to say - keep it close and the Raiders will find a way to lose it at the end.