Raiders' last-second TD hands Chiefs 2nd-straight loss
Marshawn Lynch ejected for running off sideline, making contact with official
Wins have been so hard to come by for the Oakland Raiders that it took three tries at the final play for them finally to pull this one out and possibly save their season.
Derek Carr threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Michael Crabtree on the final play after the game was extended by two straight defensive holding calls and the Raiders snapped a four-game losing streak with a 31-30 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday night.
MICHAEL CRABTREE FOR THE WIN! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KCvsOAK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KCvsOAK</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RaiderNation?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RaiderNation</a> <a href="https://t.co/X1PotZ1KtV">pic.twitter.com/X1PotZ1KtV</a>
—@NFL
"We didn't give up," Crabtree said. "We got a team full of fighters. We believe. ... No matter how hard the game was, we believed. We came out with the W and I'm excited. It's a good way to win, a great way to win."
With their season on the line following the recent slump, Carr led an 85-yard touchdown drive in the final 2:25 to give the Raiders (3-4) the thrilling comeback in a game they trailed by nine points heading into the fourth quarter.
'Special, win'
Carr finished 29 for 52 for 417 yards and three touchdowns, with Amari Cooper catching 11 passes for 210 yards and two of the scores. The Raiders had struggled to get the ball downfield while being held to 17 or fewer points in four straight games but Carr repeatedly beat the Chiefs with deep passes.
"No. 4 kept making plays," coach Jack Del Rio said. "This is a special, special win."
Alex Smith threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns but it wasn't enough for the Chiefs (5-2). They lost consecutive games for the first time since Oct. 11-18, 2015, and had their 12-game winning streak in the AFC West snapped in a thrilling finish.
Did that just happen?!<br>Unbelievable.<a href="https://twitter.com/iThinkIsee12?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@iThinkIsee12</a> off the deflection for the 63-yard TD!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChiefsKingdom?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChiefsKingdom</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KCvsOAK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KCvsOAK</a> <a href="https://t.co/coW9uboXgE">pic.twitter.com/coW9uboXgE</a>
—@NFL
"I've never been part of a game that came down so dramatic," linebacker Derrick Johnson said. "But, still had a chance to win. Period. Just have to make a play. One play. One play."
The Raiders had an apparent go-ahead touchdown pass to Jared Cook with 18 seconds left overturned when replay ruled he was down at the one. An offensive pass interference on Crabtree wiped out another touchdown on the next play.
But holding calls on Ron Parker and Eric Murray set the stage for the final play. Carr hit Crabtree in the front corner of the end zone to tie it at 30. Giorgio Tavecchio won it with the extra point , setting off a celebration on a wild night that included Oakland running back Marshawn Lynch getting ejected in the second quarter for shoving an official.
Lynch ejected for pushing official
Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch was ejected after shoving an official when he ran onto the field during a scuffle against the Kansas City Chiefs.
It all started when Oakland quarterback Derek Carr was hit late on a run by Kansas City's Marcus Peters midway through the second quarter. Raiders offensive linemen Kelechi Osemele and Donald Penn immediately confronted Peters.
Lynch, who is close friends with his fellow Oakland native Peters, then sprinted onto the field from the bench to join the fray. Line judge Julian Mapp tried to break up the fight but Lynch pushed him and grabbed his jersey.
"I was disappointed he ran out because I knew we had a 15-yard penalty and we'd be in good shape," coach Jack Del Rio said. "I told him you can't leave the bench like that. That was about it. Next thing I knew, he was being tossed. The referee told me he had actually put his hands on him."
Peters was called for a personal foul for the late hit. Lynch got a personal foul and was ejected for making contact with the official. Lynch will face a hefty fine and a possible suspension for his actions.
Lynch finished the game with two carries for nine yards.