LAS VEGAS — Patrick Mahomes threw for 262 yards and secured two touchdowns, leading the Kansas City Chiefs to a 27-20 win against the struggling Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. This victory keeps the Chiefs undefeated at 7-0 this season, extending their winning streak to 13 games, which encompasses both regular season and playoff matches. Interestingly, the Chiefs have not lost to the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium, maintaining a 5-0 record there, which also includes their Super Bowl win in February.
As for the Raiders, now at a disappointing 2-6, they are currently on a four-game losing streak. This match marked a faint bright spot for the team, as it was the first time since their narrow victory over Cleveland on September 29 that they managed to score over 20 points in a game.
Mahomes also set a significant record during the game, becoming the quickest quarterback in NFL history to reach 30,000 passing yards, achieving this milestone in just 103 games, surpassing the previous record set by Matthew Stafford at 109 games.
Travis Kelce was Mahomes’ primary target throughout the game, recording 10 receptions for 90 yards—both of which are season highs for him. Kelce’s performance marked his first game with double-digit catches since October 22, 2023, and was also his most productive yardage display since November 26 of last year. Additionally, Kelce’s touchdown catch was his 75th career touchdown, moving him ahead of Jason Witten for fifth place among NFL tight ends. He is now just two touchdowns shy of breaking Tony Gonzalez’s franchise record.
For the Raiders, Gardner Minshew had a decent outing, completing 24 of 30 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns, but faced considerable pressure, getting sacked five times throughout the game. Wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, who had been sidelined for two games due to an ankle injury, contributed with six receptions totaling 52 yards, including one touchdown. However, the team’s ground attack faltered, managing only 33 rushing yards at an average of just 1.6 yards per carry.
Despite being the defending champions, the Chiefs faced a challenge from the Raiders, who had opportunities but ultimately failed to capitalize on them. At the end of the first half, the Raiders had possession with 1:57 remaining but opted for two running plays that resulted in minimal gain, followed by an incomplete pass on third down. This allowed Kansas City to regain control and drive down the field within nine plays for a 42-yard field goal from Harrison Butker, increasing their lead to 17-10 just before halftime.
In the third quarter, the Raiders narrowed the gap to 17-13 after safety Tre’von Moehrig intercepted a pass from Mahomes, giving them possession at the Chiefs’ 3-yard line. Unfortunately for Las Vegas, they could not convert on this opportunity, managing only two yards from three running attempts before Minshew was sacked on fourth down.
The Chiefs responded decisively by methodically marching down the field for 87 yards on 19 plays, taking up over nine minutes before converting another field goal, this time from 24 yards, pushing their lead to seven early in the fourth quarter. A crucial strip sack of Minshew allowed Kansas City to score again with less than five minutes remaining, effectively sealing the win. Although Las Vegas managed to score a touchdown just before the two-minute warning to create a flicker of hope, Kansas City recovered the ensuing onside kick, squashing any last-minute comeback efforts.
In terms of injuries, the Chiefs lost safety Nazeeh Johnson to a concussion during the first half, while the Raiders’ center Andre James was injured in the second half of the game.
Looking ahead, the Chiefs are set to host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, November 4, while the Raiders will travel to Cincinnati next Sunday.