The Raiders came into Week 4 as one of the league’s early surprises, riding a 3-0 start into a home showdown with the unbeaten Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium. By the end, though, Las Vegas was left with a 30-27 loss and a fan base that had plenty to say about every twist in a divisional game that lived up to the buildup.
Kansas City opened with some early trickery, as Matt Araiza ran a fake punt to convert 4th-and-9 and catch the Raiders flat-footed. The Chiefs then tried again on fourth down near midfield, but Kenneth Walker III was stopped short on 4th-and-1, handing Las Vegas strong field position and a burst of momentum.
The Raiders made it count immediately. Kirk Cousins went 3-for-3 for 46 yards on the opening scoring drive, finishing it with a 30-yard touchdown strike to tight end Ian Thomas.
Social media lit up right away, with one reaction reading, “LFG Ian Thomas !!!!!!!! Chiefs are horrific at covering TEs , feed Mayer , Bowers and Thomas all game , 7-0 Raiders , Raiders have already stopped the Chiefs twice , once on Fourth Down and they get the ball to start the second half pic.twitter.com/vWds7uQjF6”
Another post added, “KIRK COUSINS TO IAN THOMAS WIDEEEE OPEN pic.twitter.com/Ee87vXCSyG”
Las Vegas kept pushing and moved ahead 10-7 on a Matt Gay field goal, but Kansas City answered with a drive before halftime. After a 42-yard completion to Tyquan Thornton, the Chiefs got to first-and-goal at the five.
Walker III was stuffed for two yards, and on the next snap Patrick Mahomes was chased left before Quay Walker brought him down for a seven-yard sack. Kansas City settled for a field goal.
What looked like a 10-10 halftime score turned into more for the Raiders when the Chiefs were flagged for holding after Cousins’ incomplete third-down throw. The penalty gave Las Vegas an automatic first down, and Cousins took advantage by finding Michael Mayer down the seam for 17 yards to the 30. Gay drilled a 48-yarder, sending the Raiders into the locker room up 13-10.
The third quarter offered a chance for Las Vegas to widen the gap, but the opening drive stalled after the Raiders elected to go for it following an illegal formation penalty on Kansas City. That five-yard penalty created a fourth-and-two situation, and Cousins was pressured before he could convert.
The decision drew instant reaction online, including: “I'm with Jim Nantz. You're the Raiders.
Big underdog and playing your biggest game in years.Don't take points off the board. Especially against a team like the Chiefs.
Kansas City with a big fourth down stop.”
Another fan put it more bluntly: “Wait the Raiders took points off the field JUST to go for it on fourth down? No wonder the Chiefs win the AFC Worst every year.”
Las Vegas still found itself in position late. Jeanty, who had been bottled up for much of the afternoon, broke loose for a 19-yard run in the fourth quarter to get the Raiders moving again. Gay finished the drive, and Las Vegas led 19-17 with 4:53 left.
Then the game flipped fast. Walker III powered in from two yards out to put Kansas City ahead 23-19, and the ensuing kickoff became a disaster for Las Vegas when Dareke Young fumbled and the Chiefs recovered.
Walker III made the Raiders pay again, this time with a 22-yard touchdown run that stretched the lead and sparked another wave of frustration online. One reaction read, “Dareke young just lost the game.
Awful timing for this young man to fumble the ball.Different time in the game might've been different.But with that, 11 pts and its all but sealed the chiefs win here.”
Even then, Cousins kept the Raiders alive for one more snap. Down 11, he escaped a sack, rolled right, and hit Brock Bowers for a 20-yard touchdown. That cut the deficit and gave Las Vegas a pulse.
But with 10 seconds left and no timeouts, the Raiders started at midfield and had no choice but to force a throw into coverage. Cousins was intercepted, ending it at 30-27 and closing out a game that had the Raiders, and their fans, riding every possible emotion.
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.
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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
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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 🡒]