Chiefs' Tamba Hali on loss: Raiders 'wanted it more than we wanted it'
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Tamba Hali said the Oakland Raiders "wanted it more than we wanted it" during Thursday night's 24-20 loss, ESPN's Adam Telcher reports.
The Chiefs dropped to 7-4 on the season with the loss to the previously winless Raiders in Oakland. After falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter, the Chiefs took a 20-17 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Raiders responded however with a 17-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a James Jones touchdown to win the game.
Hali, who had five total tackles, credited the Raiders for outworking the Chiefs on Thursday night.
“You can sit here and make excuses," linebacker Tamba Hali said. “But they played better than us and wanted it more than we wanted it."
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While acknowledging the difficulty of playing on a short week and having to travel west, Hali said the team couldn't use the schedule as an excuse for its poor play.
“Yes, it was draining, but this is the type of business we’re in. You have to turn it around and muster the same type of energy."
The Chiefs are No. 27 in the league in rushing defense, and the Raiders piled up 179 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Raiders running back Latavius Murray had 112 rushing yards, including 11- and 90-yard touchdowns in the first quarter alone.
• WATCH: Raiders linebackers celebrate as Chiefs snap ball
Kansas City managed just 313 yard of total offense as the league's No. 5 rushing offense was held to just 96 yards on 24 carries.
The Chiefs are in second place in the AFC West and play the first-place Denver Broncos in Week 13.
- Paul Palladino
