The Kansas City Chiefs secured a playoff berth for the 10th consecutive season with a narrow 19-17 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Friday, but the win didn’t feel as satisfying as some of their past clinches. Despite being 11-1, five of the Chiefs’ victories this season have come down to the wire, with the latest being decided in the final moments when Kansas City recovered a Raiders fumble with 11 seconds left. The Chiefs then ran out the clock with one snap, sealing the win but also raising concerns about their performance.
The game had its anxious moments, as the Chiefs seemed in control with a 16-3 lead late in the third quarter. However, the Raiders mounted a comeback, scoring two touchdowns to take the lead. Kansas City regained the advantage with a field goal, but the game remained in doubt until the Raiders fumbled at the Chiefs’ 32-yard line. This marked the Raiders’ eighth consecutive loss but also left the Chiefs reflecting on their near-miss against a 2-10 opponent.
Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie commented on the team’s performance, acknowledging that while they were grateful for the win, it didn’t measure up to the standard they had set for themselves. “It’s not perfect, and we’ve had a lot of games this year where we didn’t play the way we wanted to play,” McDuffie said. “But the thing about a championship team is games like this where things aren’t perfect.”
Kansas City remains on track for a ninth straight AFC West title, needing a win over the Los Angeles Chargers on December 8 to secure it. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes emphasized the importance of continuing to improve. “We know we have a long way to go,” Mahomes said. “It keeps you hungry. You’re not satisfied with where we’re at even though we’re winning football games.”
Defensive tackle Chris Jones echoed Mahomes’ sentiments, pointing out that the team would use the mistakes made in the Raiders game—like allowing long touchdown passes and penalties—as fuel for future growth. Despite the close calls, Jones stressed that winning, even in ugly fashion, is better than a loss and can offer valuable lessons for the playoffs. “We’re just going to keep on winning, keep on winning,” Jones said. “You can learn a lot from winning.”
