Raiders' Second-Half Play vs. Chiefs Will be Critical

While the Kansas City Chiefs have won their last six meetings with the Las Vegas Raiders, some of the games have been closer than the three-plus years of dominance suggests.

In two out of their last three meetings against the Chiefs, the Raiders led by at least 14 points early in the game.

Of course, most recently, it happened in their 31-17 loss to Kansas City at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Week 12 this season, when the Silver and Black held a 14-0 lead up until around the 6:30 mark in the second quarter. In fact, the Raiders could have gone up 17-0 had it not been for a rare missed field goal attempt by All-Pro kicker Daniel Carlson.

The Raiders' touchdowns came at the end of two of their first three drives of the game. But after the Chiefs got on the board in the second quarter, it was all down hill from there. Las Vegas would not find the end zone again for the rest of the game.

The game had resemblances of the Raiders' 30-29 loss to the Chiefs the year before, when Las Vegas exploded for a 17-0 advantage.

It was Monday Night Football, and the Raiders were riding the momentum of their first victory of the season, 32-23 over the Denver Broncos the week before.

After their 17-0 start, the Raiders would head into the locker room at halftime still up, 20-10. Kansas City, however, went on to take the lead by the end of the third quarter.

Carlson's 47-yard e field goal would trim the deficit back to one point, but one more touchdown and a failed two-point conversion from the Chiefs would put them back up by seven points with about under seven and a half minutes left in the game.

The Raiders answered with a touchdown. but they, too, would fail on their two-point conversion attempt, leaving down by one point.

Las Vegas had a chance on the final drive to try to at least get into field goal range and win the game, but a lack of execution and miscommunication resulted in the one-point loss at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.

There's no question that Kansas City has been the Raiders' most formidable opponent over the last few seasons. When they get the rare opportunity to go up by double-digits early, they can ill afford to let their foot off the gas and allow the Chiefs to get back into the game.

Regardless of if the Raiders do get off to an early lead or not on Christmas Day, to steal this crucial game at Arrowhead Stadium, Las Vegas must play a full four quarters of competitive football.

The Silver and Black will return to action versus their AFC West rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs, on Christmas Day at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Don't miss it on Monday, December 25, at 1 p.m. EST/10 a.m. PST.

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