Laddie Morse
The Kansas City Chiefs are not a very good team. They lost to the now 7-and-8 Las Vegas Raiders in Arrowhead Stadium on Christmas Day 20-to-14. The Chiefs record falls to 9-and-6 and we have to consider the possibility that this Chiefs team will not win the AFC West Division. For that to happen, the Chiefs would have to lose their next two games to the Bengals and the Chargers while the Raiders win their last two games over the Colts and the Broncos. All of that is a possibility, but let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.
QB Patrick Mahomes set a record for his most number of interceptions in a season (14) by throwing another one in this game and it turned into six points for the Raiders. He almost threw another INT but it was ruled incomplete. Here, DB Jack Jones steps in front of a Chiefs WR and interceots a Mahomes pass just 7 seconds after a Raiders DL, Bilal Nichols, returned a direct snap to Pacheco fumble for 6 points. (0:15).
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Here’s the Bilal Nicols fumble recovery and TD, a “scoop-n-score” from the Chiefs 13 yard line (0:11).
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The Chiefs offense didn’t make the adjustments we all thought they would make. Consequently, they allowed the winning scores on offense and were running from behind almost the whole game. That’s not a recipe for winning football and if they do thaat during the playoffs, they’ll never win one post season contest. Teams have figured out how to rush Mahomes into the flat and force him to throw the ball away instead of allowing him to make his magical plays like he’s done in past seasons and post-seasons. Forcing Mahomes to run straight up the middle of the field keeps his miracle-plays to a minimum and the Chiefs just haven’t figured out a way to win that way.
Have I mentioned tha Patrick Mahomes was horrible in this game. Any time you are part of two back-to-back plays that resulted in TDs for the other team… you’ve had a horrible game.
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Player of the Game
The Defense
The defense played well enough to win… again, even though the Chiefs lost. Even though they gave up 145 yards rushing to Zamir White and 6.6 yards per carry to him, they basically shut down the Raiders passing game: 62 yards passing for Aiden O’Connell and a rating of 50.3. The Chiefs won the time of Possession 34:18 to 25:42 and they also won the 1st down race 12 to 19. Twelve first downs and that’s it. The Defense had another very good day, while the DBs gave up zero TDs, but the offense is what’s holding this team back. Period. Until the Chiefs figure out how to make this offense potent again, they are going nowhere. Yes, they may make the playoffs but as has been stated many time, Patrick Mahomes has never had to play a game on the road yet and I’m afraid that when he does, the Chiefs are doomed.
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Tweet of the Game
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And….
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Quote of the Game
“Aidan O’Connell didn’t complete a single
pass after the first quarter & the Raiders had
12 first downs the entire game. One of the
most embarrassing losses in the Andy Reid
era.” -Braiden Turner
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Injuries
Isiah Pacheco – Concussion Protocol
Trey Smith – left calf was hurt
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Chiefs Rewind: Week 16
Mitch Holthus, Matt McMullen (24:00)
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The only exciting thing to happen in this game was a trick play near the Raiders goal line (0:47).
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Andy Reid said the offense was just off a tick and that this was his responsibility. He said the Raiders played better and that’s the reason for the loss. Blah, blah, blah…. I think the Chiefs offense was more than a “tick” off.
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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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