The Christmas Day magic wasn’t on the Kansas City Chiefs side at Arrowhead Stadium as they dropped a crucial game to the Las Vegas Raiders. The defeat showed the team was not being disciplined or coordinated, as miscues ruled the day.
Patrick Mahomes struggled with turnovers, leading to fourteen Raiders points, digging a hole for which they couldn’t climb out of on Monday. Poor decisions and constant pressure by the Raiders’ defense had the reigning league MVP scrambling more than looking down the field. Injury to Isiah Pacheco in the second half and multiple defenders covering Travis Kelce stalled the offense all day.
The defense was solid throughout the game, only surrendering two field goals and keeping the game close. Chris Jones got an early sack to set the tone as the Raiders offense was held until Zamir White’s big runs to clinch the Las Vegas victory.
The loss takes Kansas City out of the running for the top seed in the AFC and a first-round bye in the postseason. The Chiefs still have a chance to clinch the AFC West title in their next game on New Year’s Eve against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Here’s a look at how the stock is trending for some players after the Week 16 loss at Arrowhead Stadium:
Dec 10, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) celebrates after a touchdown during the second half against the Buffalo Bills at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
It was not a pleasant or efficient day for Mahomes, who faced pressure throughout the game and turned the ball over, leading to Raiders points. He did make positive plays with his legs, with 53 yards rushing to lead the team and passing for 235 yards and a touchdown.
Dec 24, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones (95) gestures toward the fans against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
The veteran All-Pro defensive lineman ended his sackless slump with an early takedown of Aiden O’Connell in the first quarter. He was part of the pass rush that disrupted the rookie quarterback to only nine completions for 62 yards.
Oct 10, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) catches a pass over Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs (39) in the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff JB-USA TODAY Sports
It was another tough outing for the veteran receiver, as he didn’t record a catch throughout the game. Tony Romo called him out late in the game on a poorly run route during a potential interception in the second half.
Oct 12, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor (74) lines up against the Denver Broncos during the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
The penalties continued to pile up against the veteran offensive tackle as he added to his league-leading total. The offensive line struggled to get any push on short yardage or protection as Mahomes was forced to scramble out of trouble often.
