‘Had them on the ropes:’ Raiders lament mistake that led to eighth straight loss

Miscommunication-fueled fumble halts Raiders from winning on road at archrival Chiefs for second straight year

The Las Vegas Raiders’ chance to upset the Kansas City Chiefs came to a heartbreaking end due to a late-game fumble caused by miscommunication. With just 14 seconds left in their Week 13 matchup, the Raiders were in position for a 50-yard game-winning field goal when a misfire between center Jackson Powers-Johnson and quarterback Aidan O’Connell led to a fumbled snap. The ball hit O’Connell’s shoulder pads, bounced off the left heel of tackle D.J. Glaze, and was recovered by Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton, sealing a 19-17 victory for Kansas City.

Both O’Connell and Powers-Johnson took responsibility for the costly mistake. O’Connell explained that he clapped too early to signal for the ball, which led Powers-Johnson to snap it before O’Connell was ready. Despite the error, the team did not lay blame on each other, with some players stressing that football is a team game. Edge rusher Maxx Crosby, who had earlier expressed a focus on playing for pride, emphasized that the Raiders had the Chiefs “right on the ropes” and praised his teammates for their effort. Crosby didn’t direct anger at the Chiefs but hinted at his frustration with the officiating, mentioning a potential false start penalty that wasn’t called.

Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce was mostly silent when asked about the controversial penalty but acknowledged the confusion surrounding the final moments of the game. The last-minute fumble overshadowed a strong performance by the Raiders, who had come from behind after trailing 16-3 late in the third quarter. They rallied with two quick touchdown drives, including a 58-yard pass from O’Connell to rookie tight end Brock Bowers and another 58-yard strike to wide receiver Tre Tucker, giving them a 17-16 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Despite the loss, the Raiders showed resilience throughout the game. O’Connell, who threw for a career-high 340 yards, was instrumental in the comeback, along with Bowers, who set a career high with 140 receiving yards. Running back Sincere McCormick, who had been on the practice squad, contributed 64 yards on 12 carries. The Raiders’ defense, led by Crosby and K’Lavon Chaisson, kept them in the game by forcing two crucial three-and-outs before the game-ending fumble.

While the result was painful, O’Connell expressed pride in his team’s performance. “It’s just tough to stomach right now, but I couldn’t be more proud of our coaching staff, our players,” he said. “It was a great game except for the last play.”