By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
Just the facts: Kansas City Chiefs 41 Las Vegas Raiders 14
Stadium vibe: Start was electric for primetime division showdown
Attendance: Place looked packed at 62,000, split between Raiders black and Chiefs red
Pregame: Raiders Hall-of-Famer Charles Woodson received HoF ring
Storyline: Chiefs offense was sharp, carving up Raiders defense for 500+ yards. Meanwhile, Raiders coach Rich Bisaccia will be muttering, “neutral zone infraction,” in his sleep.
Records: Chiefs 6-4. Raiders 5-4 after two straight losses. (Both the Chargers 5-4 and Broncos 5-5 lost.)
Quote: “We were shooting ourselves in the foot all game long” — Raiders receiver Bryan Edwards
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The Raiders have staged some remarkable comebacks on this retractable home turf inside Allegiant Stadium this season.
Not tonight.
The Kansas City Chiefs, criticized for a star quarterback committing too many turnovers and porous defense, ran away with today’s prime time game against a rival that has endured a tumultuous season both on the field and off it.
KC piled up 516 total yards, including more than 400 passing yards and five TDs from Patrick Mahomes.
By the end of the game, it was mostly red-clad fans in the stands of this domed stadium.
Raiders interim coach Rich Bisaccia referred to the Raiders’ disappointing performance when he began his postgame presser.
At least the Las Vegas market scored some free publicity on the NBC TV network from the Raiders hosting a prime time game with pictures of the Strip, Elvis and hotels.
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The Las Vegas Raiders turbulent ride of a season, both on the field and off it, has a date with rival Kansas City at Allegiant Stadium Sunday.
The cheapest ticket to get inside the stadium for the 5:20PM game today is $200 on the Ticketmaster site.
The Raiders are averaging 60,862 fans a game at Allegiant Stadium, or 93.6 percent of capacity.
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The Chiefs moved 88 yards on 11 plays, with Patrick Mahomes playing pitch and catch with his receivers. Kansas City dissected the Raiders defense with precision, with Mahomes hitting Tyreek Hill with a touchdown pass of eight yards.
Chiefs 7 Raiders 0 after one quarter.
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Early stadium observations:
There’s going to be more Chiefs fans here at Allegiant Stadium than Bears fans for the Chicago-Las Vegas game and Eagles fans for the Raiders-Philly game. Lots of KC Chiefs red fans in the building.
The Raiders house band is excellent. The strings musicians add a lot to the pregame entertainment.
The deep-throated Gregorian chant of “Raiders” over the stadium public address system gets a rise out of Raider Nation in the house.
Charles Woodson received his HoF ring and was honored for his Hall of Fame induction this year. Raiders’ biggest HoF names are here for pregame ceremony — from Otto, Shell, Biletnikoff to Flores, Rod Woodson and Tim Brown.
Inactive Raiders players:
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Late in the first quarter, Kansas City’s Mike Hughes was returning a punt and made a nice return when Raiders punter AJ Cole, of all people, made a hit and caused Hughes to fumble.
The Raiders recovered and Las Vegas was in business.
They moved the 50 yards to score the game-tying touchdown on a pass from Carr to Hunter Renfrow.
After going one for six on the red zone in last Sunday’s loss to the Giants, the Raiders converted on their first crack inside the 20-yard line tonight.
With 12:57 to go in the first half, Raiders 7 Chiefs 7
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Chiefs fans were already milling around the 62,000-seat stadium this morning. Including these characters.
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Kansas City’s play-calling was a mix of runs and short passes, with runner Darrel Williams chewing up some big gains on the ground, while tight end Travis Kelce caught a few, too.
The Chiefs converted a 40-yard field goal by Harrison Butker and led the Raiders, 10-7, with 8:24 to go in the first half.
The Chiefs added a touchdown before the half, Mahomes to Hill for one yard: KC 17 LV 7.
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Vegas Golden Knights goalie Robin Lehner attended and was posting tweets through the game, like this beauty:
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Derek Carr opened the third quarter, directing an impressive drive with strikes to Zay Jones and a TD toss to Bryan Edwards.. It was a good response to a first half that had KC outgain LV, 241-82, in yards and 15-5 in first downs. With less than three minutes gone in the third quarter, it was Chiefs 17 Raiders 14.
Chiefs responded: 82 yards on 13 plays with Mahomes throwing a short 1-yard TD to Noah Gray. Chiefs 24 Raiders 14.
Then the game’s biggest single turning point: Carr hit just-signed DeSean Jackson (after the Henry Ruggs DUI fatality) with a long pass, but he was stripped as he turned right into a Chiefs tackler and fumbled. KC took over at their 27.
It was another Raiders mistake in addition to the penalty bug. KC cashed in by Butker nailing a FG. Kansas City 27 Las Vegas 14.
The Raiders’ final drive of the third quarter ended with a Carr interception. End of third quarter: KC 27 LV 14.
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The Raiders struggled more in the fourth quarter. KC faked a punt and threw a pass for a first down before Mahomes spun his old magic by escaping the Raiders rush, running toward scrimmage and throwing a dart to Williams for a touchdown.
Early fourth quarter: Chiefs 34 Raiders 14. Kansas City tacked on another touchdown as Mahomes shredded the Raiders for 422 passing yards.
Final: Kansas City 41 Raiders 14.
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Let’s take a look at the rivalry and the stats comparison during our pregame story version.