For most teams in the National Football League, it takes all four quarters of solid play in order to come away with a victory. For quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, all that was needed was one in order to snuff out the fire that was brewing in Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
For the first time in a long time, the Oakland Raiders played pretty well and the Chiefs looked as if they may be mortal after all. Oakland jumped out to an early 10-0 lead in the first quarter. Quarterback Derek Carr drove the Oakland offense 31-yards on six plays and capped off the drive with a 4-yard touchdown pass to rookie receiver Tyrell Williams in the middle of the end zone.
Just like that, there was no doubt about it: the Raiders had come to play and now with the 10-point lead to begin the second quarter, all hell was about to break loose inside Raider Nation, for the Black Hole had come alive.
The hostile environment didn’t phase the Chiefs. On 1st and 10 at the Oakland 44-yard line, Mahomes began his aerial assault with a 44-yard bomb to receiver Demarcus Robinson, who stepped up in the absence of Tyreek Hill with 6 receptions for 172 yards and 2 TDs.
Following a quick four-play drive, Oakland punted the ball back to Kansas City. From his own 5-yard line, Mahomes drove the offense back down the field to the OAK 32.
On 3rd and 10, Mahomes completed a 22-yard pass to Demarcus Robinson that would be called back because of a holding call on center Austin Reiter, setting the Chiefs back ten yards to replay 3rd down and 20. The next play, Mahomes drops a 42-yard dime down the middle of the field to rookie Mecole Hardman for the touchdown to put the Chiefs out in front 14-10 with 5:57 left in the half.
Oakland would get the ball back but was forced to punt four plays later.
From his own six, Mahomes would hit Damien Williams on a 32-yard pass play to the KC37. On the next play, Mahomes fired for Demarcus Robinson and a 43-yard completion to the OAK 20. A 3-yard run by LeSean McCoy would push KC to the seventeen but and holding penalty by tackle Cameron Irving on the following play would set up 2nd and 17 for the Chiefs at the 27-yard line.
For the third time this drive, Mahomes launched another deep pass, this time looking for Travis Kelce down the left sideline, Kelce reels in the catch on the goal line for the 27-yard score and Mahomes’ third TD of the half.
Raider Nation quieting down, Oakland’s offense desperately tried come up with an answer to get things under control and end the Chiefs’ air raid. Instead, the Raiders were a quick three and out and the ball was back in Mahomes’ hands with under a minute left in the first half. Mahomes rockets the football 39 yards to Demarcus Robinson, who makes his second touchdown reception with Raiders defensive back Gareon Conley draped all over him. The score would come 61 seconds later after Kelce scored the previous touchdown.
Patrick Mahomes’ incredible performance in the second quarter would be enough for the Chiefs to leave Oakland with the 28-10 victory, improving to 2-0 on the season. Mahomes would finish the game completing 30-44 passes for 443 yards and four touchdowns. Kansas City’s defense would hold Oakland scoreless for the remainder of the game, forcing Oakland passer Derek Carr to throw two interceptions, one by Braushad Breeland, who took away potential points by picking off a pass in the end zone. The Chiefs defensive line was also able to get Carr, sacking him three times.
Following the victory in Oakland, the Chiefs permanently own the all-time series at the Oakland Coliseum, 22-20-1.
The 121st meeting between these two historic rivals also marked Head Coach Andy Reid’s 209th game as a Head Coach tying Chuck Null for the sixth-most wins in NFL history.
The Chiefs and Raiders will meet again later this season at Arrowhead for round two on December 1st.
