Monday night football saw the Raiders snatch defeat from the jaws of victory as they fell to a narrow defeat against the Chiefs. Despite holding a 17-point advantage, Las vegas allowed the Chiefs to claw their way back into the game after a dubious penalty call that seemed to galvanize them.
The call against the Raiders was a surprise because they got flagged for something rarely called: defensive holding on a field goal.
Now, the Raiders (1-4) are rooted to the bottom of the AFC West with just one win in five games. Not only that, but Davante Adams could be facing a lengthy suspension after shoving a cameraman at the end of the game.
This season is already shaping up to be disappointing for Raiders fans, but with three-quarters of the season remaining, there appears to be enough time to turn things around.
Most people would have expected the Chiefs to beat the Raiders at the start of the game. However, few would have expected this outcome. Anything can happen in football; this season has been more unpredictable than ever.
If you enjoy predicting games, you can bet on the NFL at Betway.
Aggression Control
While it’s essential for teams to play with aggression, too much of it can cost you games. The Raiders discovered this on Monday night against the Chiefs, as they went for a two-point attempt instead of going for a field goal and holding onto the chance to win. With just over four minutes to go, Josh Jacobs was stuffed on the goal line, and the Raiders lost their chance to get anything out of the game.
In this case, going for two points over one might have seemed like a good option, but it came with many risks. It might have come off on another day, and it nearly did, as the Raiders still managed to get the ball back with two minutes remaining. However, at that stage in the game, it was too late.
Although some might have criticized Raiders coach Josh McDaniels, Derek Carr certainly wasn’t one of them. The Raiders quarterback had a good game with 241 passing yards and must have been disappointed by the result.
However, he didn’t have an issue with how McDaniels called the game.
“I liked it. I like being aggressive, especially on the road. I’m all on board” ~ Derek Carr
Their Own Worst Enemy
While Carr might not have let his frustration show, Devante Adams couldn’t contain it. The receiver pushed a photographer as he left the field and headed toward the dressing room after the game. While a different kind of aggression, it’s still one that has no place in football, and there’s a good chance Adams could now be hit with a suspension.
The game showed how the Raiders could be a great side if they were more disciplined and focused. This season has seen many teams blow leads and concede the win, but there haven’t been any cases of one as bad as this. The Raiders were 17 points clear and still managed to lose despite not committing a single turnover.
While you might forgive a team letting such a lead slip if it was the result of their opposition playing well, it was primarily due to costly mistakes from the Raiders. They gave away a lot of cheap penalties, allowing the Chiefs back into the game. At one stage, Kansas City was stopped by Las Vegas and forced to attempt a field goal. Matthew Wright missed the attempt, but the Raiders gave away a defensive holding penalty instead of getting the ball back.
The Chiefs then scored a touchdown increasing their lead.
