Arrowhead Pride
The Las Vegas Raiders can’t get anything going on the ground with Ashton Jeanty, so they turn to the air with Geno Smith. Dont’e Thornton hauls in two receptions on the opening drive, including one that pushes the Raiders to the Kansas City Chiefs’ 27-yard line.
After another run play is stuffed for a loss, Smith finds tight end Michael Mayer wide open for a 29-yard touchdown.
On the Chiefs’ ensuing drive, Patrick Mahomes and the offense move into Raiders territory. Facing third-and-one, the Chiefs line up for a quarterback sneak, but Mahomes is stopped just inches short, setting up fourth-and-inches.
Kansas City keeps the drive alive as Mahomes hits JuJu Smith-Schuster on a quick out route to convert the fourth down.
End of first quarter: Raiders 7, Chiefs 0
Mahomes caps the drive by waltzing untouched into the end zone to tie the game.
Trent McDuffie quickly makes his presence felt, tallying a tackle for loss, a pass deflection, and stopping Smith as he tries to escape the pocket for a first down.
But the Raiders answer right back. Jaden Hicks is beaten on a corner route by Tre Tucker, who hauls in a 46-yard touchdown pass to reclaim the lead for Las Vegas.
On the Chiefs’ next drive, Kansas City faces early pressure to avoid a three-and-out. Travis Kelce comes through with a crucial third-and-short conversion to keep the offense moving, and a 17-yard gain soon after brings them near midfield.
Mahomes continues to spread the ball around, converting two more third downs with passes to Smith-Schuster before finding Rashee Rice for his first catch of the game, setting the Chiefs up inside the 10-yard line.
One play later, Mahomes calls his own number again, keeping it for his second rushing touchdown of the half.
As for the Raiders, their run game remains stagnant — Jeanty fails to record a single rushing yard before halftime.
End of second quarter: Chiefs 14, Raiders 14
The Chiefs benefit from deferring to the second half, halting any potential Raiders scoring before halftime.
Mahomes picks up right where he leaves off, repeatedly finding Smith-Schuster out of the slot for chunk gains that set up the deep shot.
On the next play, Hollywood Brown breaks free on a corner route and hauls in a 29-yard touchdown, giving Kansas City its first lead of the game.
Pete Carroll responds by dialing up play-action, but George Karlaftis reads it perfectly and brings down Smith for the sack. Smith bounces back on the following play, hitting Jack Bech on a crossing route to move the chains.
Then, on a wheel route, Jeanty is matched up against Nick Bolton — and despite tight coverage, Smith drops it right in for a 40-yard catch and run that flips the field.
The Raiders set up first-and-goal but can’t punch it in with Jeanty or Raheem Mostert. A promising drive stalls, forcing Daniel Carlson to settle for a short...
