Sunday, October 11, 2020, brought us an NFL game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium.
These two teams couldn’t seem much different on paper but quickly gave credence to the term “that’s why we play the game” to show that sometimes the favorite falls and the underdog rises up to finish the game victorious in their efforts. This was the case on the Sunday being discussed.
The Differences Were Significant
The Strength of the Chiefs
Coming into the game, the Chiefs were unbeaten, reigning Super Bowl Champions, and seemed destined for an undefeated season with superstar Patrick Mahomes at the helm. The most recent draft allowed the Chiefs to solidify their one weakness, a running game, with a star out of LSU, Clyde Edwards-Helaire who was taking the league by storm. All indications were that the 4-0 Kansas City Chiefs would come out of this game victorious once again.
Up and Down Raiders were Questionable
Entering this contest, the Las Vegas Raiders were riding a 2-2 record and didn’t seem to have a complete team that seemed to be playing together. While the interior of both offensive and defensive lines have been solid all season, it appeared the Raiders were once again going to be outmanned by the Chiefs in Kansas City.
Jon Gruden Would Have None of It
Jon Gruden, head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders must have given his team the motivation needed to push them through the game and give them the confidence needed to play a game that, by all accounts, seemed to be heavily topped toward the Chiefs. Gruden uttered the statement before the game as to how he was approaching it as “I love Andy Reid (head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs), but I hate the Chiefs.” This vitriol dates back to a time almost twenty years ago during Gruden’s first stint as coach of the Raiders.
The Driving Force Behind a Raiders Victory
While Gruden was the force of motivation for the Raiders, there’s no denying the person responsible for the victory on the field was Derek Carr. As the quarterback for the Raiders, he threw touchdown passes of more than fifty yards to Nelson Agholor and Henry Ruggs III to help solidify the victory. Overall, Carr tossed three touchdown passes and had 347 total yards passing when the game was done.
A First for Derek Carr in a Raiders Uniform
Derek Carr has been the quarterback for the Las Vegas (formerly Oakland)Raiders for several years. Sunday wasn’t his first time playing the Kansas City Chiefs, in fact, these two teams butt heads twice a year as divisional rivals. It was, the first time Derek Carr came away victorious at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Chiefs, and it was a glorious victory for him and the Raiders.
An Addition that Made a Huge Difference to the Raiders
While we could talk about the skill positions and the stout defense that helped the Raiders leave victorious on Sunday, there was one addition that made a huge difference to the men in the trenches. Offensive right tackle Trent Brown suited up for the first time this season and seemed to give the Raiders offense new life. This gave the running game better blocking than before and allowed Carr to have the protection needed to get the ball to the receivers with ease.
A Glaring Stat the Rest of the League Should Watch
Through the first four games of the season, the Las Vegas Raiders had one play of forty or more yards on offense. During the game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, the Raiders had four of these plays. This single statistic, along with the return of Trent Brown, could be something to watch going forward if you love to see high-flying football with deep passes down the field.
The Final Drive Made all the Difference
Ahead 40-32, the Las Vegas Raiders took the field on offense for one final drive to secure the victory. During this drive, the Raiders were faced with a fourth down and the decision to either punt the ball and put it back in the hands of the deadly Mahomes and the weaponry of the Chiefs or to take a chance, bet on themselves, and cross the line to gain for a first down. Gruden made the call and put his faith in Carr and the offense to complete another first down and they did. The victory was theirs and the Las Vegas Raiders got to travel home with a 3-2 record after giving their rivals the first loss of the 2020 NFL football season.
This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning a commission is given should you decide to make a purchase through these links, at no cost to you. All products shown are researched and tested to give an accurate review for you.