The Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders put on a terrific show in Allegiant Stadium. Though the Chiefs lost one of their best players, likely for the season, Kansas City still made enough plays to secure a hard-earned 30-27 AFC West victory.
With the Bye week approaching, this was supposed to be a time to reflect, fix, adjust, and perhaps get an extra week of rest. Still, the likely season-ending injury to wide receiver Tyquan Thornton, who had a career day, and the injury to Rashee Rice make this victory feel heavy.
Thornton appeared to have broken his left ankle, and Rice left early with a hamstring injury. For the first time this season, Thornton looked like a number one receiver, complementing Kenneth Walker’s incredible day.
The Chiefs’ best free-agent signing in their rich history had 177 rushing yards on 22 carries and scored two touchdowns. However, with the Chiefs down 13-10, Walker ripped a 76-yard run at the end of the third quarter that changed the game’s outcome.
Though the Chiefs were sloppy in the second and third quarters on offense, they came alive in the fourth to outscore the Raiders, 20-14. Las Vegas. Kirk Cousins nearly pulled off the upset late, but Xavier Nwankpa, an undrafted free agent safety from Iowa, intercepted his final pass.
Mahomes did throw two touchdowns, both to Thornton, and when he had to make a big play, he usually came through for the offense. The problem was he was harassed all game, and his offensive line really struggled to protect the franchise quarterback.
Before the game, Head Coach Andy Reid benched Guard Kingsley Suamataia in favor of Mike Caliendo, who struggled the entire game. His inability to thwart the pass rush seemed to feed off both starting tackles, Khalil Benson and Jaylon Moore. Hopefully Josh Simmons can get back on the field soon.
Whatever he did to get in Reid’s doghouse, hopefully, the Chiefs’ young Guard can turn it into a lesson and avoid the mistake again.
On the other side of the ball, the Chiefs struggled mightily to find a productive pass rush. For the third game in a row, Kansas City has continued to miss opportunities to get off the field.
Before the Raiders scored their final touchdown, R Mason Thomas let Kirk Cousins escape, which ultimately kept them in the game and down just three points. He wasn’t the only one; Chris Jones and George Karlaftis missed wrapping up Cousins at key moments.
To his credit, Cousins carried the offense on his shoulders, and he dissected the Chiefs’ linebackers by spreading the ball to his tight ends, who worked the middle of the field.
Steve Spagnuolo must make some adjustments heading into the bye week. He needs a solution to get to opposing quarterbacks, and their struggle against Kirk Cousins, who has zero mobility, should be concerning.
Overall, the Raiders played great and gave Kansas City all they could take, but in the end the Chiefs are 4-0 on a day the entire AFC West lost games. With the win, the Chiefs are the only undefeated team in the AFC.
Up next, it’ll be interesting to see if Reid gives the team the entire week off, but if I were him, I’d probably work the guys Wednesday and Thursday, then cut them loose.
As far as General Manager Brett Veach, I’m sure he’s already checked in with Tyreek Hill and probably will engage the Arizona Cardinals about the availability of Marvin Harrison Jr., who only had one catch, a touchdown, in the team’s loss to the New York Giants.
