When it comes down to it, no one in the NFL can stop the trio of Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, and Travis Kelce, and the Las Vegas Raiders certainly know they can’t.
For 58 minutes the Las Vegas Raiders were winning a football game. Good offensive production, stellar play-calling, and overall good play. However it is those final waning moments that define a team and define a legend, and on Sunday night it defined the Chiefs, as well as MVP front runner Patrick Mahomes.
34 of 45 for 348, two touchdowns, and a passer rating of 102.8, Mahomes dominated all game, and at times it looked incredibly easy, as the might of the Chiefs offense was on full display. Early on the offense was humming.
Now that brings me to Tyreek Hill, who also had another monster game. Hill hauled in 11 receptions for 102 yards, and one touchdown, and he once again dispelled the notion that he is only a deep ball receiver. His longest reception was only for 15 yards, but he killed the Raiders with quick patterns.
Hill’s presence was felt on the red zone play shown below, along with creative play-calling by Andy Reid to get into space.
I think this is a good time to talk about Travis Kelce, who might be having the best season of any tight end in the history of the NFL. He finished the game with eight receptions for a whopping 127 yards and one score. We will get to that one score later on, but his route running ability for a tight end is unmatched right now. One the season Kelce has 896 yards receiving and is third in yards on the season. This is as a tight end after all, and he might be able to lead the league by the time this season is over.
Le’Veon Bell also made an appearance this week, and for the first time we got to see the Chiefs really utilize him in the passing game. It might take some time, but he will play a huge roll for the Chiefs down the line. He is still adjusting to the Chiefs style of play, but I’ll get into that in an article later this week.
Mahomes and Kecle again showed their unreal chemistry. The toe tap is excellent, and so was Mahomes blocking. In an article later this week I will talk about the offensive lines improved play, and how the Chiefs ran the ball down the Raiders throats, which in return opened up all these great passing plays.
The ability to run the ball helped open back up the run action game and the RPO game which is where the Chiefs are at their best. The team has so many options, and it just makes it so hard for the defense to stop, but the play design by Reid was on point this week. Big Red wanted to win this one bad, he had made mention earlier in the week of the Rivalry.
There is a time to play, and there is a time to win. In the final seconds of the game, Patrick Mahomes decided that it was time to win.
I thought it was funny, an outgoing player like Johnathan Abram, who talked all night, and should have likely been kicked out of the game for penalties, suddenly grew quiet as the Chiefs marched the ball down the field. His energy was suddenly drained, but he still thought he could make a big play to force overtime or even seal a Raider win in regulation. That was when Patrick Mahomes used Abram’s aggression against him, and fired a game-winning strike to Travis Kelce. The harvester of sorrow and collector of souls added another bunch to his collection.
The Las Vegas Raiders are a good football team, nothing more, nothing less. Great always overcomes good in the end, and in the end, Patrick Mahomes was great on Sunday. Tyreek Hill was great on Sunday. Travis Kelce was great on Sunday. This might be the best football we have seen the Chiefs offense play yet.
Love your view of the game in your recaps. Keep it up. This is better than the news casters. Lol