November 20, 2014; Oakland, CA; Raiders free safety Charles Woodson (24) sacks Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) at O.co Coliseum. Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Streaks eventually end and the Chiefs found out in a stunningly hard way in rainy conditions Thursday night against the Oakland Raiders.
The Raiders (1-10) powered through the Chiefs with 179 yards rushing on 30 attempts en route to a 24-20 win to snap a 10-game losing streak to start the season. Oakland’s victory also snapped the Chiefs’ five-game winning streak.
The Chiefs (7-4) first two drives of the game resulted in 1 yard of total offense and the team slept walked through the first two quarters, finishing the half converting 1-of-9 on third down.
“I didn’t have the football team ready to go the way we should have,” coach Andy Reid told reporters after the game. “Obviously, we started way too slow and didn’t finish strong enough. They outplayed us and outcoached us.”
The Raiders capitalized on the Chiefs’ lethargic start with an early 14-0 lead behind running back Latavius Murray’s two touchdowns, the first two rushing scores surrendered by the Chiefs on the season.
Murray’s first touchdown came from 11 yards out, but he burned the Chiefs two possessions later on a 90-yard touchdown run, marking the longest scoring run allowed in Chiefs history.
“They blocked us and he hit the hole,” Reid said, “and we weren’t able to catch him.”
Murray left the game before the end of the second quarter with a concussion, finishing with 112 yards and the two scores on four carries.
The Chiefs got on the board midway through the second quarter due in large part to a muffed punt from Raiders punt returner Denarius Moore at Oakland’s 11-yard line.
Oakland’s defense held, forcing the Chiefs to settle on a 24-yard field goal, and took a 14-3 lead into halftime.
The Chiefs’ first-half numbers were anything but spectacular, as the Raiders outgained the Chiefs 197-120 yards. Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith completed 8-of-18 passes for 48 yards and a 51.6 quarterback rating through two quarters.
The Raiders extended the lead to 17-3 on Sebastian Janikowski’s 40-yard field goal midway through the third period, and then the Chiefs finally woke up.
The Chiefs reeled off 17 unanswered points led by Smith, who threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to tight end Anthony Fasano and a 30-yard touchdown pass to running back Jamaal Charles.
Smith shook off the slow start to finish the game completing 20-of-36 passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. The Raiders, however, sacked Smith twice on the game.
Santos capped off the scoring binge with a 25-yard field goal, the 13th straight make for the rookie kicker out of Tulane, to give the Chiefs a 20-17 lead with 9:03 remaining in the fourth quarter.
“We did some good things in the second half,” Reid said. “We threw the ball down the field. I called the down the field throws. Those were a bit tough early with the weather the way it was.”
Oakland has faced adversity the entire season, evidenced by the 0-10 start.
But the Raiders remained calm after the Chiefs surged ahead, using a 17-play drive that consumed 7:21 off the clock to retake the lead for good.
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and running back Marcel Reese came up big on the game-winning drive.
Reese rushed for 34 yards on seven carries, and Carr converted on fourth-and-1 and third-and-1 plays with quarterback sneaks.
A questionable pass interference penalty against Chiefs cornerback Ron Parker also helped keep the drive alive. Four plays later, Carr found wide receiver James Jones in the back of the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown with Parker in coverage and the Raiders had a 24-20 lead.
Kansas City got the ball back with 1:42 remaining in the game, but couldn’t advance beyond its 48-yard line, eventually turning the ball over on downs.
The Chiefs entered the game with all the momentum after defeating the Super Bowl defending champion Seattle Seahawks just four days prior to Thursday night’s game.
While the short week of preparations could be a cause for the team’s slow start, Reid scoffed at the notion after the game.
“They had the same thing we had,” Reid told reporters. “We got to play better.”
NOTES: Chiefs outside linebacker Justin Houston recorded a sack to push his league-leading total to 13 … Chiefs wide receiver Junior Hemingway (concussion), offensive lineman Donald Stephenson (shoulder) and defensive lineman Kevin Vickerson (calf) did not finish the game … The Chiefs have 10 days before hosting the Denver Broncos, currently 7-3 pending Week 12 results, at Arrowhead Stadium on Nov. 30.
