Las Vegas Raiders unable to cash-in on fragile Kansas City Chiefs.
Friday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs was an unusual one.
For two and a half quarters, this game was defined on the Chiefs inability to finish drives, keeping Las Vegas in contention.
A big kick return, followed by a game of ‘ Brock Bowers is down there somewhere’ brought the Raiders to within 15 seconds and a field goal attempt from beating the defending champions.
Some bad communication and a snapped ball while Aiden O’Connell was still barking out commands later, and the Chiefs escaped with another win.
A way forward for Pierce?
Coming into final games of the season, there has definitely been some pressure building on the Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce.
I am not his biggest fan, and I do not think he was the right appointment. However, this game showed there is potentially a way forward under the his guidance.
Although holding the Chiefs to under 20 points is not the achievement it was previously, this performance was excellent.
Outside of one big Isiah Pacheco run, they shut down the run game of Kansas City.
This kept the Chiefs off-schedule and allowed the Raiders’ pass-rush to hurry and harass Patrick Mahomes for the majority of the game.
Thinking back to August, this was the hope for the franchise. A stout defence and competent enough offense to be competitive.
Brock ‘Wow’ers
O’Connell out-played the face of the NFL in his own stadium, on Prime Time. This was a career performance from the second-year quarterback.
He looked generally calm and poised all afternoon with some fantastic outside-the-number throws.
Combine this with what should have been a game-winning drive, he should have been celebrating a defining win.
But ultimately, when O’Connell needed him, the target and star of the show was Brock Bowers.
Ten catches, 140 yards and a touchdown. He is that guy.
What comes next?
Typically, I advocate for building a team through the trenches and foundations before sprinkling in skill position talent.
Every so often players come along that transcend that. Think the Cincinnati Bengals picking Ja’Marr Chase over Penei Sewell.
This is another example of this. The Raiders picked the best player available and are reaping the rewards.
Fourth in receiving yards. As a rookie. As a rookie tight end. Bowers is a phenom and is going to be a force for a long, long time.
Build the team around him.
