The Raiders came into Week 4 knowing exactly what they were up against: Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid and a Chiefs team that has long treated Allegiant Stadium like home turf. That reality never really changed on Sunday, but Las Vegas at least made Kansas City work for it before the game finally slipped away.
The opening sequence set the tone for a competitive afternoon. Las Vegas won the toss and deferred, a decision that made sense with Mahomes on the other sideline.
The Raiders’ defense responded with a three-and-out, only for the Chiefs to extend the possession after a penalty on the punt. Las Vegas accepted the flag, Kansas City punted again, then turned to a fake punt for a fresh first down.
A few snaps later, the Chiefs faced another fourth-and-short near midfield, and this time the Raiders’ defense stopped the run on fourth-and-one to win back field position.
That kind of back-and-forth defined much of the first half. The pace stayed low and the clock kept moving, which played into Las Vegas’ hands.
The Raiders also put together a strong two-minute drill late in the half, finishing the drive with a 48-yard field goal as time expired. That gave them a 13-10 lead heading into the break.
But the second half followed a familiar script for Las Vegas. The Raiders’ offense again stalled, and while they did manage to get on the board with a short field goal, the moment that really mattered came when Kansas City was flagged on defense and it became fourth-and-two.
Up three points and deep in Chiefs territory, Kubiak chose to stay aggressive rather than take the points. The Raiders sent the offense back out, and the Chiefs stuffed the fourth-down try.
From there, the third quarter turned into a grind. Neither team found the end zone, and the biggest swing came on the final play of the period.
After keeping Walker bottled up for most of the day, the Chiefs finally found a crease, and Walker ripped off a 76-yard run that flipped the field. Kansas City cashed it in with an easy touchdown to open the fourth.
Even then, Las Vegas kept swinging. For the fourth straight week, the Raiders were strong in the fourth quarter.
Dylan Laube answered his fumble from last week against the New Orleans Saints with a 50-yard punt return, and that burst helped set up a field goal. The defense then forced a three-and-out, and the offense put together an eight-play, 60-yard drive for another field goal.
The problem was Mahomes still had one more answer. Late in the fourth, he hit a 55-yard pass on third down, a back-breaking completion that looked a lot like another big Chiefs gain earlier in the game. That play put Kansas City at the Raiders’ three-yard line with a little more than three minutes left, and the Chiefs scored shortly after.
Las Vegas then fumbled the kickoff, and Kansas City needed just one play to add another touchdown and shut the door. The Raiders fought to the end, but the comeback never got off the ground.
In Other News...
Raiders Fans Face A Familiar Allegiant Problem Before Chiefs Game
When Allegiant Stadium opened, Raiders fans were told it would give the team a true home-field edge in Las Vegas. Instead, Sundays against Kansas City have often turned into a familiar sight, with plenty of red in the stands and visiting fans making the trip well in advance of kickoff. With the Chiefs coming to town again on Sunday, the Raiders are once more bracing for a crowd that will not look especially friendly.
Raider Nation Radio host JT the Brick has been pushing a message Raiders fans have heard before: keep the tickets in Raiders hands and do not let them end up with opposing fans. Projections suggest 64 percent of the crowd will be wearing silver and black, which would make the Chiefs contingent a little smaller than in some previous meetings, but the bigger question for Las Vegas remains the same. At Allegiant, the home crowd has had to fight to sound and feel like one for a while now. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Get A Brock Bowers Twist Right Before Chiefs Game
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The good news for the Raiders is that Bowers is still expected to play, even after being listed questionable. He already worked through an early-season absence after a meniscus trim and came back with a strong showing in Week 3, so Las Vegas has reason to believe this latest issue is more of a brief nuisance than a real setback. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Make Intriguing Chiefs Gameday Shakeup With Young Talent Involved
Aidan OConnell is back in the mix for the Raiders on Sunday, and his return to emergency third-quarterback duty was part of a noticeable Week 4 shuffle as Las Vegas adjusted its game-day roster for the trip to face Kansas City. The bigger personnel wrinkle for the Raiders came on the defensive side, where rookie Dalton Johnson was active for the first time and stepped in at safety, giving the coaching staff a fresh look in the secondary.
Las Vegas also turned to JJ Pegues over Jonah Laulu, another sign that the Raiders were willing to make some young-player decisions on a short week of roster management. It all comes against a Chiefs team missing starting left tackle Josh Simmons, a development that could influence how the matchup unfolds up front even before the Raiders get a chance to test their own new combinations on defense. [Read more 🡒]