On Christmas Day, the Kansas City Chiefs are hosting the Las Vegas Raiders for a Week 16 game that is the 127th regular-season game between these two division rivals since the American Football League was founded in 1960. The Chiefs have won 71 of these matchups — including the last six in a row— and with a 72nd, will clinch their ninth consecutive playoff berth, claim their eighth consecutive AFC West title and remain alive in the race for the AFC’s top postseason seed
The Raiders won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. Richie James fielded Daniel Carlson’s kickoff at the two-yard line. He returned the kick 30 yards to begin the “Mahomes and Kelce Holiday Special” at the Chiefs’ 32-yard line.
Las Vegas was not in a giving holiday spirit on the Chiefs’ first drive. Running back Isiah Pacheco’s first touch after a two-game absence went for a two yard loss. Patrick Mahomes was not able to get the ball off on the next two plays, losing a combined 11 yards to end the drive with an ugly three-and-out. Tommy Townsend came on to let off a 56-yard punt to the Las Vegas 23-yard line. Return man DeAndre Carter muffed the punt, but the Raiders were able to recover the fumble to start their first drive at the 22-yard line
Running back Zamir White gained four yards on first down. Chiefs safety Mike Edwards was injured during the play. After Edwards was helped off the field, Chris Jones came through with an eight-yard sack of rookie quarterback Aiden O’Connell. O’Connell threw the ball to the ground on third down under pressure, and the Raiders matched Kansas City in starting Christmas Day with a three-and-out. Raiders punter AJ Cole sent the ball to the Kansas City 36-yard line, and a 13-yard return by James brought the ball to the 49-yard line. After a Las Vegas illegal formation penalty was assessed, the Chiefs would start their second drive at the Las Vegas 46-yard line.
Despite outstanding field position, the Chiefs’ second drive was just as ugly. Travis Kelce dropped a pass on first down, before a false start on Rashee Rice set up a second-and-15 back at the Raiders’ 49-yard line. A seven-yard Mahomes scramble was then followed with a nine-yard Mahomes sack. Townsend’s second punt would be downed at the Las Vegas seven-yard line, putting the Raiders deep in their own territory to start their second drive.
White gained 11 yards combined on the drive’s first two plays, giving the Raiders a first down at the 18-yard line. O’Connell then hit tight end Cole Fotheringham and wide receiver Davante Adams on back-to-back throws for a new set of downs. Jones nearly had his second sack of the
