Monday Night Football Recap: Chiefs hold on for 30-29 win over Raiders in biggest comeback win of Patrick Mahomes’ career

Chiefs 30, Raiders 29

The Kansas City Chiefs picked up a huge win last week on the road in Tampa Bay in primetime and had another opportunity at a primetime win on Monday Night Football against their division rivals from Las Vegas. The Raiders, who entered the day 1-3, got off to a torrid start on the road with a 58-yard touchdown pass to Davante Adams on fourth down to begin the scoring. They’d extend their lead on their next drive, punishing the Chiefs in the trenches en route to Josh Jacobs’ third rushing touchdown in Las Vegas’ last six quarters of football. 

The Raiders would add a field goal to push the lead to 17-0 before Kansas City found the scoreboard, a Travis Kelce touchdown from one yard out to make it 17-7. The Chiefs thought they’d pushed momentum further in their direction with a huge strip-sack by Chris Jones, but an objectively horrendous roughing the passer call would give Vegas back possession – and set them up for a field goal that made it 20-7. Despite getting the ball back with just 17 seconds to play before halftime, Kansas City would set themselves up with help from a facemask penalty for a 59-yard field goal attempt as time expired. Matthew Wright, taking Harrison Butker’s place as Kansas City’s kicker, for the time being, would set an Arrowhead Stadium record when he split the uprights to make it 20-10 at the half. 

The Chiefs received the football to begin the second half and promptly drove the ball downfield for another short Travis Kelce touchdown reception to pull within three. After pushing the Raiders backward into a third and 33 on the following series, the crowd at Arrowhead Stadium made it known that they could feel the momentum building in Kansas City’s favor. Kansas City would predictably get the ball back moments later and cut through the Las Vegas defense like a hot knife through butter until Travis Kelce ended up in the end zone for a third time, giving the Chiefs a 24-20 advantage.

Las Vegas would eventually stop the bleeding with another Daniel Carlson field goal, pulling the Raiders within one at 24-23. A missed Matthew Wright field goal might’ve given the Raiders the chance they needed, but a defensive holding penalty kept possession with Kansas City and gave them a chance to score a touchdown. Travis Kelce would catch his fourth of the night moments later, the most touchdowns receptions by an NFL tight end in a game since 1985, which also ties a Chiefs record. Kansas City would miss the two-point conversion, giving them a 30-23 lead with seven minutes to play. 

Derek Carr wouldn’t go away, though, hitting yet another deep ball to Davante Adams, this time for a 48-yard score – but Vegas’ two-point attempt would fail, leaving them behind a point going into the game’s final minutes. A huge stop of Kansas City close to midfield would give Carr and the Raiders another chance, but Las Vegas’ final drive would reach midfield before stalling out as Hunter Renfrow, and Davante Adams tripped over each other downfield. The heart-stopping Chiefs win gave them full control of the AFC West through five weeks and handed the Las Vegas Raiders their fourth crushing one-score defeat. The 17-point comeback win was the largest in the regular season of Patrick Mahomes’ young career and sets up a massive showdown with the Buffalo Bills next week.