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The Chiefs took the opening kickoff. They went to their star rookie running back up the middle on their first four plays before taking to the air for a 16-yard pass from Alex Smith to Demarcus Robinson to put them in Oakland territory.
Another connection with Demetrius Harris put the Chiefs in field goal range. They would get no closer and open the game with Harrison Butker connecting on a 53-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead.
The Raiders responded in a way they haven’t all season long. Carr went to Amari Cooper on the first play for 12 yards. Two plays later, Carr rolled right and threw for Jared Cook on the move for 24 yards. The next play, the Raiders went with some trickeration, going with the flea flicker. Marshawn got the ball, tossed it back to Carr who went up top to Amari Cooper for a 38-yard touchdown just over the left pylon.
The Chiefs would answer with a long drive culminating in a leaping touchdown grab by Travis Kelce from ten yards out.
The back and forth continued with the Raiders going on another drive which featured a one-handed grab by Cordarrelle Patterson to convert on third down. A few plays later, Amari Cooper got wide open against the zone, Carr saw him and put the ball in his hands. Coop turned on the jets, turned the corners and went 45 yards for his second touchdown of the game.
And that was just the first quarter.
Come the second quarter, a masterful punt by Marquette King was downed at the one-yard-line. Then the Chiefs went 99 yards in three plays to take a 17-14 lead. The touchdown came on when Chiefs’ speedster Tyreek Hill got behind David Amerson and Smith found him for a 64-yard score. Reggie Nelson was too late to help out.
Then shit got cray cray.
What began as the return of the Raiders high flying offense, descended into chaos just before halftime.
It started with Derek Carr getting sacked and Marcus Peters flying in to hit him late. Kelechi Osemele and Donald Penn went after him and Marshawn Lynch came flying off the sideline to try and break up the scuffle between his big linemen and his Oakland homeboy, Peters. Lynch ends up making contact with an official and gets ejected.
The Raiders get the first down on the Peters roughing, but are backed up 15 yards by the Lynch penalty to make it 1st and 25. They manage to drive to 4th and 1 and the KC 35 and opt for a field goal try. The 53-yard attempt is blocked to keep the score at 17-14.
Reports from the sideline had Penn and Osemele arguing and Mike Tice had to separate them. Meanwhile Marshawn headed to the locker room and reports had him leaving the stadium before the half.
Update: Marshawn changed into street clothes and watched the game with the fans. He was there in the locker room to congratulate his teammates after the win.
Back on the field, the Chiefs had driven for another field goal to go up 20-14 and the Raiders had driven into field goal range themselves to try and pull back to within three before half time. The 45-yard Tavecchio attempt missed wide left and the score remained 20-14.
How the Raiders would rally the troops and get their focus back after that series of events was key. They got the ball to start the second half and answered that question quickly.
An 11-yard run and 10-yard catch, both by DeAndre Washington got things moving. They reached midfield on a 12-yard pass to Amari Cooper, who was shaken up after getting nailed in the back by Marcus Peters.
Coop left the field for one play and when he came back, Carr went for him deep. This time Coop got the better of Peters as he was called for pass interference to give the Raiders the first and goal at the 4-yard-line. Two plays later, it was Washington bookending the drive by breaking three tackles on his way for the 4-yard touchdown run to give the Raiders a 21-20 lead.
As was often the case in this game, that lead didn’t last. The Chiefs would score quickly, thanks to a ridiculous play in which Raiders safety Keith McGill looked as if he would intercept the ball only to tip it and Albert Wilson caught it off the deflection for a 63-yard touchdown to take a 27-21 lead.
The two teams would swap field goals to make it 30-24. It was a one-score game with 5:48 and the Raiders had the ball at their own 8-yard-line. And they blew it. Three-and-out. Carr had all the time in the world to throw and he stood flat footed and sailed the ball over Crabtree’s head. The third down pass was short and the Raiders punted.
With just over four minutes remaining, it was once again up the the Raiders’ defense to make a quick stop to try and leave enough time for the offense to get another shot.
They stepped up too. Not just stopping the Chiefs for a three-and-out, but on third and five, Denico Autry and Khalil Mack both got pressure from each side for a shared sack on Smith for an 11-yard loss.
This time it was the Raiders absolute last shot. Carr connected with Amari Cooper for 14 yards on first down to put the Raiders at their own 29 at the 2-minute warning.
An offensive pass interference on Johnny Holton backed the Raiders up to 2nd and 20 at their own 20. Carr made it back and then some by finding his breakout receiver Amari Cooper for 39 yards.
A few plays later and they were in fourth and 11. They had to go for it and Carr stepped into a clean pocket to throw a strike to Jared Cook over the middle for the first down at the KC 29-yard line. They took their final timeout with :33 seconds remaining.
Two plays later, Carr went long for Jared Cook for 28 yards to the one half yard line. An offensive pass interference penalty on Crabtree backed it up to the 11-yard-line. Carr’s pass to Jared Cook is too high, but there was a flag on the field. It was Kansas City pass interference giving the Raiders first and goal at the one-yard-line.
A holding penalty on the next play gave the Raiders yet another shot. This time Carr hit Crabtree at the left pylon for the touchdown. This time the snap was true and the extra point gave the Raiders the 31-30 victory in one of the most insane games I’ve ever witnesses.
Also see: Relive Raiders final drive with Greg Papa calling it
Amari Cooper went form 146 yards on the season to catching 11 passes for 210 yards and 2 touchdowns in one game.
Derek Carr went 29 of 52 for 417 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Jared Cook caught 6 passes for 107 yards to give the Raiders two 100-yard receivers after going the first six games without one.
This is how a team resurrects a season. The Raiders improve to 3-4 while the Chiefs fall to 5-2.
I’m either gonna be up all night, or crash hard. I’m not sure right now.
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