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- Paul Gutierrez
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Paul Gutierrez
ESPN staff writer
- Paul Gutierrez joined NFL Nation in 2013 and served as a reporter for the Las Vegas Raiders. He has a multi-platform role – writing for ESPN.com, television appearances on NFL Live and SportsCenter, and podcast and radio appearances. Before coming to ESPN, Gutierrez spent three years as a multi-platform reporter at CSN Bay Area, covering the Raiders and Oakland Athletics as well as anchoring the SportsNet Central cable news show. Gutierrez was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame and is also a member of the Professional Football Writers of America and currently serves as president of the Las Vegas Chapter of the PFWA. He is also a member of the California Chicano News Media Association and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Gutierrez has authored three books: Tommy Davis stories from the Dodgers dugout, 100 Things Raiders Fans Should Know and Do Before They DieAnd ifThese Walls Can Talk: Stories from the Raiders’ Sideline, Locker Room and Press BoxWith Lincoln Kennedy. You can follow Paul on Twitter @PGutierrezESPN.
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Adam Teacher
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Adam Teacher
ESPN staff writer
- Covered Chiefs for 20 seasons of Kansas City Star
- Joined ESPN in 2013.
Kansas City Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs clinched their first goal of 2024 on Black Friday with a 19-17 win to clinch a playoff berth. Las Vegas Raiders.
It was another ugly and very comfortable victory for the defending Super Bowl champions, as they took a 13-point third-quarter lead to one possession heading into the fourth quarter. The Raiders appeared in position to pull off a major upset as they found themselves in field goal position with 14 seconds left in the game trailing by 2 points. But an illegal shift penalty and turnover by the offense cost them a chance to kick the game-winning field goal.
After the Chiefs, they hope to win their ninth straight AFC West Division Championship. can win the division title by defeating Los Angeles Chargers Next Sunday night at Arrowhead Stadium. The 11-1 Chiefs also lead the rest of the AFC in pursuit of the conference’s No. 1 playoff seed.
Describe the game in two words: The return of Pacheco. running back Asia Pacheco Played for the first time since breaking his leg in the Week 2 game. Pacheco had a big play with a 34-yard run on a third-quarter field goal drive.
Promising trend: The Chiefs, who had just two sacks in their last two games, sacked the Las Vegas quarterback. Aidan O’Connell Three times Chris Jones The Week 4 game against the Chargers was held without a sack but dropped O’Connell twice.
Eye-popping condition: The quarterback Patrick Mahomes ‘ Second quarter touchdown pass to receiver Justin Watson According to the Next Gen statistics, the probability of completion was 26.6%. That’s his least likely to complete a touchdown pass since 2021, when he scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Daryl Williams (22%) in Week 10 against the Raiders.
Next week’s forecast: CB Josh Williams will remain in the starting lineup. He changed. Nazia Johnson After badly beating Johnson on a long pass against the Raiders in the second quarter. Williams, who has played well for the Chiefs in the past, was an upgrade over Johnson. — Adam Teacher
Next game: vs. Chargers (Dec. 8, 8:20 p.m. ET)
Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce raised more than a few eyebrows when he acknowledged a certain narrative about the Black Friday game, saying it was “the best team in football against the worst team in football.” Neither team, though, saw their share of the Chiefs win. Everything goes out the window in rivalry games and there’s something about holiday weekend games in Arrowhead, which upset the Chiefs here last Christmas. Practically, a scare over the two-time defending Super Bowl champions is a moral victory for Las Vegas, while the loss puts the Raiders, in need of a rebuilding boost, on pace for a top-3 draft pick. .
Most surprising performance: Cooker Daniel Carlson Missing three field goals. Sure enough, those were a trio of long attempts — from 56, 55 and 58 yards — and in the cold. But what made the decline so surprising was that Carlson had already made 18 straight field goals before going first and third and hooking the second wide left.
Promising trend: The Raiders entered the game with the top rushing attack in the NFL, averaging 74.6 yards on the ground per game. He rushed for 116 yards against the Chiefs, who entered the day with the No. 3-ranked rush defense.
Next week’s forecast: More deep balls. Indeed, vertical play is embedded in the Raiders’ DNA so it shouldn’t be a surprise for Las Vegas to take more deep shots at Tampa Bay. But Aidan O’Connell back, and with his ability to throw the ball deeper than injured Gardner MinshawThere’s hope for a future with the Buccaneers’ wide receiver, authored by interim offensive coordinator Scott Turner and the help of his father, Noor. Tree Tuckerwho had a 58-yard TD drive in Kansas City.
QB Malfunction: O’Connell is who we thought he was. Making his first appearance since breaking his right thumb on Oct. 20, O’Connell was comfortable in the pocket and throwing deep but also showed his trademark lack of mobility. He rushed for 340 yards, completing 23 of 35 passes, but had three sacks, one of which put the Raiders out of field goal range.
Main game: O’Connell wasn’t prepared for that. Jackson Powers-JohnsonWith 14 seconds to play at the Chiefs’ 38-yard line, and, with the Raiders poised to attempt a game-winning field goal, the ball bounced off his chest and was recovered by the Chiefs LB. Nick Bolton. Ball game. — Paul Gutierrez
Next game: at Buccaneers (Dec. 8, 1 p.m. ET)
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