Dec 8, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) returns a punt for a touchdown during the first half against the Oakland Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium. Photo Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
KANSAS CITY, Mo — Thanks to a strong first-half effort from its offense, the Kansas City Chiefs took control of the AFC West with a 21-13 victory over the Oakland Raiders in a Thursday night meeting at Arrowhead Stadium.
In chilly weather conditions, with a wind-chill factor in the low teens, these longtime rivals traded 60 minutes of football punches and the outcome left the teams with identical 10-3 records on the season. However, Kansas City has a major tiebreaker edge with their two victories over Oakland this season.
The loss snapped a six-game Raiders winning streak.
Although they won the game, the Chiefs suffered a big loss as the defense’s leading tackler, inside linebacker Derrick Johnson, left the field with an injury to his left Achilles. Johnson went down with five minutes to play in the first half and needed help getting off the field. The 34-year old first-round choice by Kansas City in the 2005 NFL Draft, missed 15 games in the 2014 season with a torn right Achilles.
The Chiefs controlled the game in the first half thanks to rookie receiver-returner Tyreek Hill. He scored on a 36-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Alex Smith and added a 78-yard punt return for a touchdown. Running back Charcandrick West also contributed a 3-yard scoring run.
But in the second half, Kansas City was suddenly in a giving mood as Smith threw an interception and then was stripped of the ball on a sack by Oakland’s Khalil Mack. The Raiders were not able to take advantage of the takeaways, scoring only on a 33-yard field goal from Sebastian Janikowski.
Another field goal attempt in the third quarter went awry due to a bad snap. Kansas City kept handing the ball back to the visitors, as its offense was unable to generate any first downs or long possessions.
Oakland quarterback Derek Carr had the worst statistical performance of what’s been a very good season, completing just 41.5 percent of his throws (17 of 41) for only 2.9 yards per passing attempt. Carr’s accuracy was in doubt throughout the game and his receivers didn’t help matters with many dropped passes.
The only reliable part of Oakland’s offense was the running game. The Raiders rushed for 135 yards as a team and Latavius Murray finished with 103 yards on 22 carries.
Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce posted his fourth consecutive game with 100-plus yards receiving, catching five passes for 101 yards.
In the first quarter, the Raiders had only one opportunity for points, and that came after they recovered a muffed punt by Hill at the Kansas City 38-yard line. Oakland picked up a first down before stalling out, and Janikowski entered to hit a 44-yard field goal, giving the Raiders an early 3-0 lead.
Kansas City’s offense hit some big plays, as Smith connected on six of 10 early throws for 88 yards. However, the Chiefs could not convert on fourth-and-1 at the Oakland 27, and then punted away their only other opportunity with the ball in the first quarter.
The Chiefs found the end zone on the first play of the second quarter. Smith hit a streaking Hill for a 36-yard touchdown, with the receiver running past Oakland cornerback David Amerson. The PAT kick gave the Chiefs a 7-3 lead.
The next time Kansas City’s offense took the field, Smith directed a 78-yard march on seven plays before West scored on a 3-yard run. Smith hit big completions in the drive to Chris Conley for 31 yards, Kelce for 28 and Hill for 16. Another PAT kick gave the Chiefs a 14-3 lead.
Then, Hill struck again. After an Oakland punt was nullified by a 5-yard penalty on the Raiders, the rookie sensation caught the re-kick at the 22-yard line and ran untouched for a 78-yard touchdown, boosting the lead to 21-3.
Being down 18 points lit a fire under the Oakland offense, which moved 92 yards on 14 plays before Murray scored on a 1-yard run. The Raiders went to the halftime locker room trailing 21-10.
NOTES: The Raiders were surprised before the game when an illness forced them to add starting LG Kelechi Osemele to the inactive list. Stepping into his spot on the first-team group was rookie Vadal Alexander. … Kansas City got WR Jeremy Maclin back on the field for the first time in over a month. Maclin finally recovered from a groin injury.
