Raiders Crushed As Botched Snap Kills Upset Bid Against Chiefs
The game started with a costly mistake for the Raiders. Just three plays into the contest, center Andre James snapped the ball high over quarterback Derek Carr's head, resulting in a safety for the Chiefs. The 2-0 deficit put the Raiders in a hole that they were unable to overcome.
The Chiefs took full advantage of the early miscue and never looked back. Led by Patrick Mahomes, they scored touchdowns on their first four possessions to build a commanding 28-0 lead at halftime.
The Raiders showed some fight in the second half, scoring a pair of touchdowns to cut the deficit to 28-14. However, their comeback hopes were extinguished in the fourth quarter when another botched snap by James resulted in a fumble that was returned by Chris Jones for a touchdown.
"It was a devastating play," said Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels. "Andre's been a great player for us, but that's one that we'll have to learn from."
James, who had been a reliable presence for the Raiders throughout his career, was visibly shaken after the game. "I feel like I let my team down," he said.
The loss dropped the Raiders to 0-2 on the season and cast doubt on their playoff aspirations. They will face a tough test next week when they host the Tennessee Titans.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs improved to 2-0 with the victory. They will look to continue their winning ways when they host the Indianapolis Colts next week.