Raiders' Defense Stifles Chiefs' Top Players

The Las Vegas Raiders' defense was able to slow down some of the Kansas City Chiefs' stars in their 20-14 upset victory.

The Las Vegas Raiders were finally able to turn their fortunes around against their bitter rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs, in a 20-14 victory at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.

The Raiders had not beaten the Chiefs in four years and had lost six consecutive games to them. The Silver and Black used a strong defense and a turnover-free performance to snap that streak.

Interim Coach Antonio Pierce has made a strong case to have his interim tag removed, winning a crucial game for the Raiders’ postseason chances.

Pierce, a former NFL linebacker, has instilled a hard-nosed, relentless mentality in the Raiders, and their energy has changed since he took over, especially defensively.

The Las Vegas Raiders were able to key in on the Kansas City Chiefs' top offensive players / Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

While the Chiefs have had their struggles on offense this season, they are still ranked as a top-10 unit in the NFL and feature talented players with Super Bowl-winning Coach Andy Reid, who has generated elite offenses before.

However, the Raiders were able to stifle some of those excellent players. The weather was a factor throughout the game, as players on both sides could not hold onto the ball. 

This was the case early in the game for Chiefs’ star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who lost a fumble on a trick play that Raiders defensive lineman Bilal Nichols scooped up and took into the end zone.

Mahomes, widely considered the best quarterback in the NFL, was not effective through the air for most of the game. He finished the game completing 27-of-44 passes for 235 yards with one touchdown and an interception that cornerback Jack Jones returned for a touchdown.

Mahomes averaged only 5.3 yards per completion, his lowest total of the season. The Raiders were in the backfield consistently, disrupting Mahomes and never allowing him to get into a rhythm.

Tight end Travis Kelce, also considered the best player in the NFL at his position, also was held relatively in check. He caught five passes for 44 yards, 24 of those coming on one play in the first half.

Running back Isiah Pacheco has been effective on the ground this season, and while he scored a touchdown early in the game, he finished the game with only 26 yards on 11 carries and lost a fumble before sustaining a concussion in the third quarter.

The Raiders knew they needed to key in on the Chiefs’ best players to pull the upset, and they did exactly that. Their offensive stars were essentially taken out of the game plan, a credit to the defensive preparation Pierce and Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham have put in each week. 

The Silver and Black continue the season on New Year's Eve versus the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Don't miss it on Sunday, December 31, at 1 p.m. EST/10 a.m. PST.

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