This game started out with an uncharacteristic turnover from the turnover ratio leading Chiefs. The Raiders went three-and-out and punted, but return man Tyreek Hill muffed it and the Raiders recovered at the Kansas City 38-yard-line. They were unable to get a touchdown out of it and added a field goal to lead 3-0 in the early going.
That’s where it would stay for the rest of the first quarter. The Raiders offense was going nowhere, with off target passes by Derek Carr and several drops by his receivers.
With the start of the second quarter, the Chiefs got things going, picking chunks of yards on a completion to Jeremy Maclin and Travis Kelce and then Tyreek Hill finishing it off by getting a step on David Amerson where Alex Smith found him for a 36-yard touchdown.
Another three-and-out by the Raiders would give way to another long drive by the Chiefs. That drive featured another big connection with Travis Kelce for 28 yards and Amerson getting burnt again, this time by Chris Conley for 31 yards. They would finish it off with a 3-yard touchdown run by Charcandrick West to take a 14-3 lead.
Yet another three-and-out for the Raiders led to another punt. This is when things went from bad to really bad. Tyreek Hill fielded the punt in the middle of the field and returned it 78 yards to the house to give the Chiefs a 21-3 lead.
The Raiders would get the ball back with 6:17 remaining in the first half. And for the first time, the offense moved the ball. It took them 14 plays, draining 6:15 off the clock, but they drove for the touchdown to get back in it, down 21-10 at the half.
While the offense still couldn’t get going for the Raiders, the defense began making plays.
TJ Carrie had an interception on the second play of the third quarter to give the Raiders the ball at the KC 18-yard-line. Once again the offense could do nothing with it and settled for a field goal to bring it to a one score game at 21-13.
The next play, Khalil Mack got around the edge for his third strip sack in three games. Denico Autry recovered it and once again the Raiders took over at the KC 18-yard-line and ONCE AGAIN could do nothing with it. This time, on the field goal attempt, Jon Condo’s snap was high and Marquette King couldn’t get the hold down, so the Raiders were held without points on the turnover.
For a while after that, it was a punt fest.
A weird play happened midway through the fourth quarter where Amari Cooper was wide open deep down the middle of the field, Derek Carr threw the ball up for him, and he appeared to simply lose the ball in the lights. Cooper had nothing but open field in front of him and watched the ball fall in front of him.
The Chiefs went three-and-out and the Raiders offense got the ball back with 7:25 remaining.
Running the ball was working for the Raiders as they began moving the ball. So, of course, they went away from it. Derek Carr was off target on nearly every single pass. On third and one from the KC 14-yard-line, they should have run it but Carr instead threw for Andre Holmes who was guarded by Marcus Peters.
What’s worse than not running it in short yardage when that’s the only thing that’s working? Throwing to your fourth string receiver covered by one of the best corners in the game.
Next play, Austin Howard — who had been worked all game by Justin Houston -- jumped and was called for a false start. Now a third and short had become a 4th and 6.
Carr threw too high for Seth Roberts out left and the Chiefs took over on downs. They picked up the first down on runs and kneeled out the clock for the 21-13 win.
Derek Carr finished with the worst game of his career, throwing for 117 yards on 17 of 41 passes (41%) with no touchdowns and a 49.1 passer rating.
The Chiefs complete the sweep of the 2016 Raiders, putting both teams at 10-3, and in so doing, the Chiefs take over the top spot in the AFC West and a top seed in the playoffs.
The Raiders meanwhile are in line for a 5th seed, in need of a Chiefs loss to have a chance at a top seed again.
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