The Chiefs survived one other scare.
Las Vegas gave Kansas Metropolis all it might deal with on Black Friday however got here up brief in excruciating vogue.
Listed below are 5 takeaways from Friday’s wild NFL sport.
Chiefs is likely to be luckier than they’re good
Some issues defy logic. Akin to how Kansas Metropolis escaped Friday with a win.
The Raiders have been in prime place to win the sport after driving 54 yards to Kansas Metropolis’s 32-yard line with 16 seconds left. Nevertheless, Raiders rookie heart Jackson Powers-Johnson snapped the ball on third down prematurely, and Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton recovered the ball to seal the victory.
Las Vegas (2-10) performed nicely sufficient to beat Kansas Metropolis (11-1). The Raiders outgained the Chiefs 434-329, averaged two extra yards per play and held them to 1-of-5 on red-zone landing alternatives.
Kansas Metropolis’s win is the sort that make individuals assume cosmic forces are at play. In any case, there is not any rational rationalization for the way Kansas Metropolis has survived a number of late scares.
The 2-time defending Tremendous Bowl champs, we already know the Chiefs are good. This 12 months, they’ve proven how fortunate they’re, too.
Chiefs offensive line is on the naughty checklist
Kansas Metropolis’s offensive line will get coal in its stockings this 12 months.
The unit allowed 5 sacks in opposition to the Raiders as quarterback Patrick Mahomes spent the sport beneath duress.
Mahomes has been sacked 20 occasions over the Chiefs’ previous 5 video games after solely taking 12 of their first seven video games.
Per information from Professional Soccer Focus, tackles Wanya Morris and Jawaan Taylor mixed to permit three sacks and 10 complete pressures.
Mahomes struggled when pressured, going 5-of-13 (38.5 p.c) for 54 yards (4.2 yards per try). He threw a formidable landing with a defender in his face within the second quarter, however the Chiefs would most likely want not needing their two-time MVP quarterback to must bail them out.
Antonio Pierce may very well be subsequent head coach to get axed
The Raiders head coach made some strikes that counsel he is not lower out to be a head coach.
He declined to problem a questionable spot within the third quarter that, had the decision been overturned, might have prolonged a Raiders drive.
Later, Pierce gave Mahomes an additional down when he accepted a penalty on an incomplete cross on a 2nd-and-15, passing up a Third-and-15 for a 2nd-and-20. Mahomes accomplished 15- and 19-yard passes on his subsequent two performs to maneuver the chains.
Close to the top of the sport, Pierce questionably known as a timeout earlier than making an attempt a 58-yard area objective, one among three that kicker Daniel Carlson missed.
Pierce wasn’t as chargeable for the Raiders’ nightmare ending as Bears head coach Matt Eberflus was for Chicago’s inexplicable Thanksgiving collapse in opposition to the Lions. Eberflus was fired on Friday. Whereas Pierce ought to have the remainder of the season to show he deserves one other 12 months as head coach, he hasn’t carried out a lot this 12 months to warrant the chance.
Andy Reid goes conservative
It was odd watching Reid play issues so conservatively in a divisional sport. Per ESPN Analytics, Reid made some curious fourth-down selections within the three-point win.
Reid tried a 25-yard area objective early within the first quarter on a 4th-and-4 from the Raiders’ 7-yard line. ESPN Analytics really helpful Reid go for it, with Kansas Metropolis’s win likelihood rising 1.6 proportion factors by conserving the offense on the sphere.
Reid additionally elected to punt on two different possessions. ESPN Analytics mentioned kicking a area objective would have been the higher play on a 4th-and-20 from the Las Vegas 37-yard line within the first quarter whereas going for it on 4th-and-2 late within the fourth quarter would have been a extra optimum name than punting.
On Monday evening, the Ravens have been rewarded for head coach John Harbaugh’s gutsy fourth-down makes an attempt. Whereas Kansas Metropolis eked out the win with Reid going conservative, it practically returned to hang-out him.
Chris Jones will get scorching
Jones recorded his first sack since September, ending Friday’s win with two.
He confirmed his unguardable fast launch on one among his two sacks, simply beating Raiders sort out DJ Glaze to get to quarterback Aidan O’Connell.
