Raiders crushed as botched snap kills upset bid

Raiders’ Hopes Crushed by Botched Snap in Wild Finish Against Chiefs

KANSAS CITY — If you thought the NFL couldn’t script a more dramatic ending, think again. The Las Vegas Raiders were on the verge of pulling off a stunning upset against the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday, only to see their hopes fumbled away—literally—in the final seconds. The Chiefs, who were 13½-point favorites on ESPN Bet, escaped with a 19-17 victory, clinching their 11th win of the season and a playoff berth. Meanwhile, the Raiders dropped their eighth straight game, falling to a dismal 2-10 record.

Let’s set the stage: The Raiders had the ball at the Kansas City 32-yard line with just 16 seconds left on the clock. They were already in range for kicker Daniel Carlson, though it wasn’t exactly a sure thing. Carlson had missed three field goals earlier in the game—from 56, 55, and 58 yards. Despite the shaky kicking performance, Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce decided to run one more play. The plan? A quick pass to burn a few more seconds before attempting the game-winning field goal. But what happened next was a complete disaster.

The Botched Snap That Changed Everything

With the Raiders lined up in shotgun formation and the play clock ticking down to 4 seconds, rookie center Jackson Powers-Johnson snapped the ball unexpectedly. Quarterback Aidan O’Connell, who wasn’t ready, had the ball bounce off his upper right arm. Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton pounced on the fumble, and chaos ensued.

Initially, it looked like the Raiders might catch a break. Flags flew, and one official signaled a false start, which would have nullified the play and given the Raiders another chance. However, after a brief huddle, referee Clay Martin announced the penalty was actually for an illegal shift. The Chiefs declined the penalty, and just like that, the game was over.

What Went Wrong?

After the game, Powers-Johnson took full responsibility for the botched snap, calling it a “miscommunication” between himself and O’Connell.

“I thought he was calling for the snap, I snapped the ball,” Powers-Johnson said. “I’ve got to be better in that situation. We’re about to beat a really great team, and those miscommunications can’t happen. So I’m going to take full responsibility and I’m going to put that loss on me.”

O’Connell, who was making his first appearance since October 20 due to a broken thumb, also shouldered the blame. “It was completely my fault,” he said. “I was looking out to my right to make sure guys were set, and I started clapping to … get the ball. When I start clapping, that tells Jackson, basically, ‘Snap the ball.’”

However, replays showed that O’Connell had finished clapping two seconds before the snap. The timing was further complicated by Powers-Johnson being tapped by right guard Dylan Parham, which seemed to trigger the snap.

First-Time Pairing Adds to the Drama

This was the first game O’Connell and Powers-Johnson had worked together, with Powers-Johnson recently moved to center from left guard in Week 9. Despite the chaotic ending, O’Connell had a career day, throwing for 340 yards and completing 23 of 35 passes with two touchdowns. He was sacked three times but showed promise in his return.

Powers-Johnson admitted he thought the play had been blown dead and lost his composure when it wasn’t. “I kind of lost it and shouldn’t have lost it. I’ve got to keep my composure,” he said.

Reactions from the Raiders

Defensive end Maxx Crosby, who ended a four-game sack drought with one in this game, was visibly frustrated. “You can’t describe it,” Crosby said. “It’s so disappointing for the guys because it’s like everyone out there is literally putting their life on the line. … We’re 13½-point underdogs. Nobody believes we can go in there and win, and we had them f—ing right on the ropes. So disappointing, to say the least. But I’m so proud of my teammates. I’m proud to call them my brothers.”

Head coach Antonio Pierce declined to comment on the penalty explanation but praised his team’s effort. “We came up short yet again. That’s the world champs,” Pierce said. “The record is what it is, but this is a team that’s prideful, that’s playing for one another. There’s no quit. There’s no putting their head down and chin down.”

Takeaways

• The Chiefs clinched a playoff spot with their 11th win of the season.
• The Raiders fell to 2-10, extending their losing streak to eight games.
• Rookie mistakes and miscommunication proved costly for Las Vegas.
• Despite the loss, O’Connell showed potential with a career-high 340 passing yards.

For the Raiders, this loss will sting for a long time. For the Chiefs, it’s another step toward their ultimate goal of defending their Super Bowl title. But for fans, it was a reminder of why we love this game—because anything can happen, even in the final seconds.