Chiefs recover botched snap by Raiders in closing seconds, clinch playoff berth with 19-17 victory

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs have made a habit of winning games in the most improbable of ways.

The way they beat the Raiders on Friday still had Patrick Mahomes and Co. shaking their heads in disbelief.

The two-time MVP watched from the sideline as Las Vegas drove within range of a winning field goal with 15 seconds left, only to botch the snap on its final offensive play, allowing the Chiefs to escape with a 19-17 victory that also secured their 10th consecutive playoff berth — the second-longest streak in NFL history.

“Obviously a big stop in a big moment that got us the win,” Mahomes said.

The Raiders (2-10) had taken over at their own 8-yard line with just under two minutes to go, and quarterback Aidan O'Connell quickly moved them across midfield, eventually spiking the ball at the Kansas City 32 to stop the clock.

Rather than try for the winning field goal — Daniel Carlson had missed three from 50-plus — the Raiders lined up to run a play, hoping to gain a few yards with a throw to the sideline before time expired. But amid the roar of Arrowhead Stadium, rookie center Jackson Powers-Johnson snapped the ball when O'Connell wasn't expecting it, and it bounced off the QB's shoulder. Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton pounced on it, and the recovery stood when a flag on the play turned out to be an illegal shift by the Raiders.

“I actually didn't watch,” Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said of the fateful play. “That last play there was a lot going on, from the officiating to the flags to the ball being snapped.”

Mahomes finished with 306 yards passing and a touchdown, and fill-in kicker Matt Wright made four field goals for the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs (11-1), who won their NFL record-extending 14th consecutive one-possession game.

Like many of them, including last week's last-second win over Carolina, the Chiefs seemed to be in no mood to celebrate.

“I mean, we just hold ourselves to such a high standard. We don’t feel like we’re playing our best football,” Mahomes said. “We have to find a way to build up to play great (as) a full, entire team. It’s awesome that we’re finding ways to get wins. That’s what you’re going for. But our goal is to get to the Super Bowl.”

The Raiders had a chance to take the lead earlier in the fourth quarter, too, when O'Connell drove them across midfield. But the Chiefs forced three incompletions — George Karlaftis and Justin Reid batted down two — to bring up fourth down.

Carlson headed onto the field, but his 58-yard try with 2:21 remaining never got near the uprights.

O’Connell finished with 340 yards passing and two touchdowns for the Raiders, who have lost eight of nine to their bitter AFC West rivals. Brock Bowers had 10 catches for 140 yards and one of the scores.

“These guys battled until the very end, until the clock hit zero,” Pierce said. “They believed we were going to win and fought their (butts) off to the very end. All phases contributed to help us get in that position, but Aiden did hell of a job. He stayed in the pocket, made big-time throws for us, pushed the ball down the field. The numbers say what they’re going to say. I’m proud of my team, our team. I'm proud of the fight. We came up short yet again against the world champs. Twice now.”

The hapless Raiders were able to hang around thanks to the same problems that have plagued the Chiefs much of the season: Their offensive tackles were unable to give Mahomes time to throw, their secondary kept breaking down and they committed too many penalties — three on one offensive possession alone.

In fact, Mahomes was under extreme duress when he found Justin Watson from 6 yards out late in the first half. The pass not only gave the Chiefs a 10-3 lead but sent the two-time MVP past Len Dawson with his franchise-record 328th TD throw.

O'Connell, thrust back onto the field when Gardner Minshew broke his collarbone last weekend, got off to a slow start after missing a month with a broken thumb. But as the Chiefs continued to kick field goals, O'Connell found his rhythm, eventually slinging a pair of touchdown passes to give Las Vegas the lead.

The first was to Bowers, already one of the most productive rookies in NFL history, with 1:40 left in the third quarter. Then, after the Chiefs went three-and-out, O'Connell hit Tre Tucker with 58-yard strike on the first play of the fourth quarter.

The Chiefs answered with Wright's fourth field goal to take a 19-17 lead with about 10 minutes to go.

A whole lot was still to transpire before that was the final score.

“The win was a positive here. These things are hard to get, especially against this crew,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “They do a nice job against us it seems every time we play them. It comes right down to the end.”

Chris Jones had two sacks for Kansas City. He had not had one the previous seven games. ... Las Vegas has trailed by double digits in every game this season. ... Mahomes had gone 113 straight starts without being sacked five-plus times. Carolina and Las Vegas have done it in consecutive weeks. ... The Raiders were officially eliminated from playoff contention.

Raiders: WR DJ Turner left in the second half with a knee injury.

The Raiders visit Tampa Bay on Dec. 8.

The Chiefs welcome the Los Angeles Chargers the same night.

This story has been corrected. A previous version misidentified the Raiders' center as Andre James.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Matthew Wright (49) celebrates with Matt Araiza (14) after a field goal against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Las Vegas Raiders place kicker Daniel Carlson (2) misses a field goal late in the fourth quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) greets fan following an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Las Vegas Raiders place kicker Daniel Carlson (2) reacts after missing a field goal late in the fourth quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end K'Lavon Chaisson (44) celebrates after a sack against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Kansan city Chiefs head coach Andy Reid talks with side judge Dave Hawkshaw (107) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is sacked by Las Vegas Raiders defensive end K'Lavon Chaisson (44) during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) tries to leap over Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Joshua Williams (2) during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) hits the ground after catch against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) is tackled by Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Darnay Holmes (30) during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) is tackled by Las Vegas Raiders safety Thomas Harper (34) during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (12) throws against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton (32) holds the recovery ball after a fumble by the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

BOSTON (AP) — Philip Tomasino scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period, Tristan Jarry made 31 saves and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Boston Bruins 2-1 on Friday night.

Tomasino’s first goal of the season with 12:34 remaining came when the forward walked in from the left circle after the Bruins failed to clear the puck. Pittsburgh’s Rickard Rakell scored his ninth goal of the season with less than a second remaining in the second period.

Charlie Coyle scored and Jeremy Swayman made 34 saves for Boston.

Coyle scored 1:24 into the game, taking advantage of a breakdown in the Pittsburgh zone for his fifth goal of the season. The Bruins were eight-tenths of a second away from remaining ahead 1-0 heading into the third period, but Rakell scored on a feed from Sidney Crosby from behind the Boston net to tie the game.

Penguins: Playing in his second game with a Pittsburgh team that’s now won two straight, Tomasino was credited with six shots on net. The 23-year-old was traded by Nashville earlier in the week.

Bruins: Boston went 0 for 3 on the power play.

With eight minutes remaining and the Penguins up one goal, Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang saved a goal with Coyle staring at an empty net.

Crosby now has 15 assists to go along with eight goals in 25 games. The Pittsburgh great and Wayne Gretzky are tied for the most point-per-game seasons in NHL history with 19 apiece.

Penguins: Return home to face Calgary on Saturday night.

Bruins: Host Montreal on Sunday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

Boston Bruins' Charlie Coyle (13) celebrates after his goal against Pittsburgh Penguins' Tristan Jarry (35) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Erik Karlsson (65) and Boston Bruins' Pavel Zacha (18) battle for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Boston Bruins' Andrew Peeke (52) checks Pittsburgh Penguins' Michael Bunting (8) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Boston Bruins' Jeremy Swayman (1) blocks a shot by Pittsburgh Penguins' Philip Tomasino (53) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Boston Bruins' Jeremy Swayman (1) blocks a shot by Pittsburgh Penguins' Bryan Rust (17) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Kris Letang (58) defends against Boston Bruins' Morgan Geekie (39) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Rickard Rakell (67) celebrates after his goal with Sidney Crosby (87) and Marcus Pettersson (28) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Philip Tomasino (53) celebrates his goal with Evgeni Malkin (71), Erik Karlsson (65) and Marcus Pettersson (28) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)