© Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Game Day Live: Chiefs Hosting Oakland Raiders with AFC West Lead on the Line
The Chiefs haven't hosted a game at Arrowhead Stadium since beating Minnesota on Nov. 3, but you have to back even further for the last time Kansas City fans saw quarterback Patrick Mahomes on the field at home.
Mahomes hasn't played at Arrowhead since a 31-23 loss to Houston on Oct. 13. The Chiefs have won just one game at home this season with Mahomes at quarterback, a 33-28 win over Baltimore in Week 3.
Chiefs inactives
RB Damien Williams, QB Chad Henne, TE Deon Yelder, OL Nick Allegretti, OL Jackson Barton, DE Demone Harris and S Jordan Lucas
No major surprises for the Chiefs, who enter the game healthier than the club has been since Week 1. Williams (rib) is the only scratch due to injury. Rookie Darwin Thompson is active in his place, but head coach Andy Reid was noncommittal on Friday whether LeSean McCoy or Darrel Williams would start against the Raiders.
The Chiefs opt to carry two tight ends and six wide receivers in the game with tight end Blake Bell healthy. The Chiefs also have nine defensive backs active with both Kendall Fuller and Rashad Fenton active at cornerback.
Raiders inactives
WR Hunter Renfrow, QB DeShone Kizer, WR Rico Gafford, OL David Sharpe, DE Josh Mauro, LB Preston Brown and CB Isiah Johnson
Renfrow is a big loss for the Raiders. The rookie ranks second on the team with 36 catches for 396 yards on two touchdowns in 11 games. His absence means tight end Darren Waller and receiver Tyrell Williams must share a larger burden of the passing game with quarterback Derek Carr.
Chiefs 7, Raiders 0, 7:26 first quarter
The Chiefs picked up just 39 yards in the first quarter at Oakland in Week 2, and they've already topped that on their first drive this afternoon. Tyrann Mathieu picked off a bad throw from Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, and the Chiefs made the most of it. Mahomes drives the offense for 43 yards and the score.
The Chiefs did burn a challenge and a timeout challenging defensive pass interference against Sammy Watkins. Clearly looked like interference occurred, but no flag came and the replay official upheld the no-call on the field.
Chiefs 14, Raiders 0, 6:28 second quarter
Mahomes caps off an eight-play, 55-yard drive with a 13-yard scramble for a score to extend the lead. The Chiefs offense hasn't been spectacular -- Mahomes is 9-of-18 passing 89 yards and a touchdown pass. The Chiefs have a 132 yards of offense to the 125 for Oakland, but two turnovers have played a factor. A failed fourth-down conversion by the Raiders helped setup this Chiefs touchdown drive.
Chiefs 21, Raiders 0, 3:42 second quarter
Safety Juan Thornhill jumped a route perfectly for his second career interception, taking off to the races for a 46-yard pick six. That's the second interception of the day for Carr.
The Chiefs have created seven turnovers in their last five quarters including the last three quarters against the Los Angeles Chargers. The defense created only 12 turnovers in the first 10 games of the season.
HALFTIME: CHIEFS 21, RAIDERS 0
Keys to the second half
Keep the pedal down on offense
It's not just about keeping a defeated team down -- the Chiefs need an offensive spark for their psyche. Mahomes delivered one of the worst performances of his young career against the Chargers in Week 11, and at halftime he's 10-of-20 for 96 yards and a touchdown, very pedestrian numbers.
Slow down Josh Jacobs
The Raiders star running back rushed 14 times for 99 yards in the first half. The Chiefs haven't found an answer for the rookie Jacobs yet. The 21-0 lead makes it easier to keep Jacobs out of the offensive flow, but the Raiders offense has moved the best with Jacobs on the field.
Don't make mistakes
The Chiefs didn't draw a flag in the first half, a rarity for a team averaging more than seven flags per game. The only real blemish for the Chiefs in the first half was a failed fourth-and-1 conversion inside the red zone. A mistake-free second half should equally a win.
Chiefs 24, Raiders 0, 12:03 third quarter
Harrison Butker connects from 50 yards on a windy day at Arrowhead Stadium to extend the lead. A holding penalty on Darwin Thompson erased a 32-yard touchdown throw from Mahomes to Demarcus Robinson. The Raiders were also flagged on the play, so the down was replayed. Chiefs still haven't officially had a penalty assessed on them in this game.
Chiefs injuries
Chiefs have lost three players to injuries in this game, the most notable coming with defensive end Frank Clark exiting with a shoulder injury. The team listed him as questionable to return.
Running back Darrel Williams also left in the third quarter with a hamstring injury. He went down without contact on a run to the outside, and immediately grabbed his right hamstring. He limped off the field before collapsing on the sideline and then left for the locker room. The club listed him as questionable to return.
Cornerback Rashad Fenton also left with a hamstring injury. The team listed him as questionable but later downgraded to doubtful to return.
Chiefs 38, Raiders 6, 5:24 fourth quarter
Chiefs rookie running back Darwin Thompson picked up the first touchdown of his career on a 4-yard run. He leads the Chiefs with 11 carries for 44 yards, all of that coming on the 14-play, 62-yard fourth-quarter drive. Chiefs drained 9:32 off the clock on the drive, aided by a personal foul penalty on Raiders defensive back Trayvon Mullen that gave the Chiefs a first down.
