Chiefs-Raiders: 5 winners, 7 losers from Week 13 victory

The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs — your two-time defending Tremendous Bowl champions — are 11-1 and formally sure for the postseason after a 19-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.

That’s the headline, proper?

There’s nothing else to debate this week. It was a snug two-point win the place nothing bizarre occurred. The sport plan, selections and execution had been all on level. The one points had been ones we already knew about.

By now, you already know that the majority of that isn’t the reality — aside from the primary half. However a month from now, that’s the one half that may matter.

Listed below are a few of the standouts from Friday’s irritating, loopy, unbelievable victory.

Winners

Defensive linemen Chris Jones and George Karlaftis: The Chiefs’ move rush was again — and really impactful — in opposition to the Raiders. Chris Jones led the way in which with two sacks and loads of strain. George Karlaftis successfully took the Raiders out of discipline purpose vary with a third-down sack that pressured a failed 55-yard try by Daniel Carlson. The arrow is pointed up for Sack Metropolis. The return of Charles Omenihu performed no small half within the large recreation these two turned in.

The Chiefs’ pass-catchers: 4 gamers had no less than 4 catches and fifty yards. The focus of the offense? Tight ends Travis Kelce (seven catches for 68 yards) and Noah Grey (4 catches for 58 yards) led the way in which. However the mixture of extensive receivers Xavier Worthy (5 for 54) and DeAndre Hopkins (4 for 90) had been additionally fairly productive — albeit not as environment friendly, with 9 catches on 16 targets. This offense ought to proceed to enhance when quarterback Patrick Mahomes has extra time — and when Hollywood Brown re-joins the combination. However within the meantime, 270 yards that was pretty evenly distributed between 4 guys is a fairly good recipe.

Linebacker Nick Bolton: The previous Mizzou nice led each groups with eleven mixed tackles — considered one of them for a loss. Briefly injured, Bolton returned to make two of the sport’s largest defensive performs: a vital sort out on a fourth down and the game-clinching fumble restoration.

Chiefs followers: The loudest stadium in sports activities got here by means of on a chilly “Black Friday” night — simply when it mattered essentially the most. The Raiders had been on the fringe of discipline purpose vary, working break day the clock en path to a soul-snatching win. However the crowd noise was a think about inflicting the rookie heart to snap the ball too early. The ball bounced off quarterback Aiden O’Connell, was kicked after which recovered by Bolton. The protection acquired an enormous help from the followers surrounding GEHA Discipline at Arrowhead Stadium. In case you’re pondering, “Yeah, however that was not enjoyable for Chiefs followers to observe,” keep in mind this: no less than they (and we) aren’t Raiders followers. These followers noticed their placekicker miss three discipline targets — and fumble away a shot at lacking a fourth.

Losers

Offensive tackles Wanya Morris and Jawaan Taylor: That is most likely what you got here right here to learn. It has been a priority all season — and an issue in just a few video games. That drawback grew to become dire on Friday. Morris had no probability in opposition to the Raiders’ edge rushers. Many followers acquired their want when left guard Joe Thuney slid out to take Morris’ place. Newly-signed sort out D.J. Humphries may have a low bar to clear when he takes over because the beginning left sort out — maybe as quickly as subsequent Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Head coach Andy Reid: Starter Isiah Pacheco returned to pair with Kareem Hunt in opposition to the Raiders in an in depth recreation — and the 2 backs acquired seven carries every? When the offensive tackles had been struggling mightily — with Mahomes was as soon as once more taking 5 sacks — Reid selected to move the soccer nearly 80% of the time. They punted from the Raiders’ 37-yard line, then tried (and failed) a discipline purpose from the 41. On a third-and-two with 2:03 left — with an opportunity to ice the sport — the staff dialed up a deep shot to Worthy that missed. Then the punting staff got here out, a timeout was known as — after which the staff punted. We noticed a baffling recreation plan, sloppy execution and never a whole lot of solutions for a similar issues we hold seeing on the staff.

Defensive backs Chamarri Conner, Bryan Cook dinner, Nazeeh Johnson and Justin Reid: Reid got here up with an enormous batted move within the fourth quarter — and Conner made a few hits. However as soon as once more, the protection merely wasn’t adequate. Miscommunication led to a few blown coverages — and jsu like in Week 12, it was too simple for a below-average quarterback to search out open receivers earlier than strain may get there. In contrast to at offensive sort out, there isn’t a starter ready to affix the unit. They’re simply going to must determine issues out for the stretch run.