Raiders Raise Eyebrows in Competitive Holiday Game

The (2-9) Raiders played a Friday Afternoon Thanksgiving Holiday Game in which nobody thought they could compete. Their opponent being the two-time champion (10-1) Kansas City Chiefs, everything was set for the hometown team to showcase all their dominance and glory against "the worst team in the league." As usual, Taylor Swift was there sporting blood red lipstick in support of Kansas City tight-end Travis Kelce.

It was a low scoring game which saw the Chiefs build a hard earned, yet convincing 16-3 lead by the bottom of the third quarter. The Raiders had given the home team a run for their money, but time, the competition, two missed field goals and penalties (9-101 yds.) seemed to sum up an overwhelmingly expected Chiefs victory.

But something happened along the way down KC's red-brick-road to 11-1. 

Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell, returning after six weeks with a broken thumb, was outplaying three-time super bowl MVP Patty Mahomes. With heavy defensive pressure on him all day, O'Connell found receivers for first downs and decent yardage. Two long touchdown passes put the Raiders ahead 17-16 by the start of the fourth quarter. O'Connell had clearly given Raiders coaches and fans something to finally feel good about since their abysmal seven game losing streak began. 

The Raiders running game looked fresh, creative and productive under new offensive coordinator Scott Turner, while the defense continued to bend and not break against Patty Mahomes and company. Max Crosby and the Silver and Black defense held the Chiefs to a field goal in the final quarter. They had a much needed four sack day. Meanwhile, another Daniel Carlson FG attempt (58 yds) came up short. He uncharacteristically went 1 for 4 on the day.

And so, it would be MVP of the day Aidan O'Connell, with just under two minutes left in the game, to lead the Raiders from their own 8-yard line to the KC 32-yard line to setup for a daunting Carlson game-winning field goal. 

Raiders fans.... I would like to say our team got to the KC 32-yard line, killed the clock with seconds remaining, kicked the field goal and celebrated another unforeseen holiday victory on Arrowhead turf. I would like to be able to claim in answer to the trivia question "who was the last team to date to have beaten the Kansas City Chiefs twice in a row on holidays at Arrowhead stadium?" it was the Raiders. 

What I would have liked and hoped for became a moot point once the Raiders hiked the ball on 3rd & 3 at the KC 32-yard line. 

But there is no joy in Mudville -

Mighty Casey has struck out

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