Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs (39) stops Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) in the second half at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Christmas Day Dec 25, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Las Vegas Raiders (7-8) pulled off a Christmas Miracle Christmas Day Beating the Kansas City Chiefs (9-6) 20-14. The Raiders passing game was awful with 62 total yards. It was their rushing game in the final minutes of the fourth quarter that sealed this win along with some amazing defense which included two defensive touchdowns 7 seconds apart in the second quarter. 

Christmas Day bright and early, the Raiders took on the Chiefs under cloudy skies. The Raiders came into this game on a high after annihilating the Los Angeles Chargers 63-21 a few weeks ago in a national Thursday night matchup. Last Sunday the Chiefs took care of the New England Patriots 27-17. The Chiefs came into this game favored they have seen Kansas City stumble at times this season and Sunday was no different coughing up two touchdowns to the Raiders defense in just seven seconds in the first half.

In a most unlikely first half of football, the Raiders took a 17-7 lead into the locker room. The first quarter was not a great one for either team although Las Vegas did take a slim 3-0 lead after the first fifteen minutes of play thanks to the 24 yd field goal from Daniel Carlson. 

The second quarter unveiled a shocking reversal of fortune for Las Vegas in an insane defensive effort. The Chiefs scored a touchdown at 7:34 when Isiah Pacheco rushed for 12 yards, the touchdown, and this game began to indicate a Kansas City turnaround; that is when the Raider defense began to flex its muscle, not once but twice. 

With just under five minutes left in the first half, Bilal Nichols recovered a Chief fumble and took it eight yards for a touchdown. Las Vegas regained the lead 9-7 but did miss their two-point conversion attempt. 

Seven seconds later the Raider defense struck again when Jack Jones intercepted an attempted Mahomes pass returning it for 33 yards and a second touchdown. Nothing was going right for the Chiefs offensively and the Raiders offense was not much to brag about either. It was the defensive effort by Las Vegas that had given the Raiders the lead at the half.

There was not much going on for either team in the third quarter and it looked pretty much like the opening quarter of the game. Once again, the Raiders did score in the quarter, a 35 Yd field goal extending their lead 20-7.

It all came down to the fourth quarter. Could Las Vegas hold onto the lead and hand the Chiefs a loss and actually give themselves a chance to win their division? This was a game of incredible defensive at times and horrendous missed tackles at other times from the Raiders; a real mixed bag. 

With 9:47 left in the game, the Chiefs with no other choice went on a fourth and goal. The Raider defense stepped up yet again breaking up the pass intended for Rashee Rice in the end zone and took over on downs. 

Las Vegas was seven minutes away from a most unlikely win. The defense continued to put leverage on the Chiefs offense making life pretty miserable for Patrick Mahomes. The Las Vegas defense continue to make great plays in the end zone breaking up touchdown possibilities. 

At 2:42 Kansas City found the end zone for the first time since the second quarter and had pulled to within six points 20-14.

Las Vegas picked just the right moment to get their rushing game going. Zamir White had some game clinching runs. He started slow with a six yard rush followed by a 43 yard rush and finished it off with a 15 yard run and that was the ball game. 

The Raiders had pulled off a Christmas miracle. White finished the game with 145 yards rushing and along with the Las Vegas defense stunned Kansas City. The Chiefs were just plain sloppy with a capital S.

Next Sunday, the Raiders will take on the Indianapolis Colts looking for their third win in a row. They will play that game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 10:00 AM.