Ed Zurga / Associated Press
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jack Jones scores after intercepting a pass and running it back for a touchdown as Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) watches during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Dec. 25, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo.
Published Monday, Dec. 25, 2023 | 1:06 p.m.
Updated 24 minutes ago
Raiders quarterback Aiden O’Connell didn’t complete a pass today after the first quarter in Kansas City. And the Raiders’ offense was limited to just 205 yards in not scoring a touchdown.
But the defense scored twice in a span of seven seconds in the second quarter to power the double-digit betting underdog Raiders to a 20-14 Christmas Day victory on the road.
Bilal Nichols had an 8-yard fumble return for a touchdown with 4:55 to play in the first half after the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and Isiah Pacheco botched an exchange to put the ball on the turf.
On the Chiefs’ next possession, Jack Jones stepped in front of a Mahomes pass for an interception and went 33 yards untouched for a touchdown and 17-7 Las Vegas lead.
The scores give the Raiders five defensive touchdowns on the season — the most for the franchise since 2005.
“They played a better game than we did today,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “On offense we struggled. That’s my responsibility to make sure we put the guys in the right position to make plays, and that didn’t happen the way we wanted it to. I take full responsibility for the way we played offensively there.”
O’Connell only completed 9 of 21 passes for 61 yards, but Zamir White rushed for 145 yards on 22 carries and helped the Raiders drain the clock in the second half. White was the lead running back in place of the injured Josh Jacobs.
Daniel Carlson booted a pair of field goals, including a 35-yarder late in the third quarter to increase the Las Vegas lead to 20-7.
The Raiders (7-8) became the first NFL team since 2000 to win without completing a pass after the first quarter, and only the fifth team to beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium without scoring an offensive touchdown.
“Obviously this was a huge game. It’s a rivalry game,” O’Connell said. “We play them twice a year, every year, so to come into Arrowhead Stadium and win a game like this, it’s pretty awesome. It’s pretty special for our guys.”
The Chiefs had a chance after Mahomes hit Justin Watson for a touchdown with 2:42 to go. But on the ensuing possession, White got loose for a 43-yard gain, picking up a first down that allowed them to run out the clock.
The Raiders improved to 4-3 under interim coach Antonio Pierce, who strengthened his case to get the job on a full-time basis. And there’s still two meaningful games left — the 14-point swing in seven seconds by the Raiders’ defense helped keep the slim Las Vegas playoff hopes alive.
And, in the process, kept the rival Chiefs — for the time being — from clinching an eighth straight AFC West title.
“That was one of our mantras,” Pierce said of keep the playoff hopes alive, “by any means necessary.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
