Las Vegas Raiders fall to 1-4 after wild 30-29 MNF loss to Chiefs
The Las Vegas Raiders suffered a wild 30-29 loss to the Chiefs in a game of missed opportunities and blunders by the officials.
The Las Vegas Raiders fell to the Kansas City Chiefs in a 30-29 loss on Monday Night Football. And with the latest defeat, the Silver and Black fall to 1-4 on the season, last in the AFC West, and currently in line for the first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
No one could have imagined that would be the reality for this Raiders team through the first quarter of the season.
Granted, there are a number of reasons one can point to as the culprit for Las Vegas’ latest loss. There was Josh McDaniels’ decision to go for two points as opposed to kicking the extra point and tying the game at 30 points apiece.
There were numerous blunders by officials, including a controversial holding call on Malcolm Koonce that negated a missed field goal by the Chiefs. And then there was the botched final play where Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow ran into each other, causing the Raiders to fail to convert a fourth-and-one.
Raiders blow another huge lead in loss to Chiefs
Regardless, in a league where there is little margin for error and against an opponent in which one must play near perfection, the Raiders could not keep their foot on the gas pedal after holding a 17-0 lead at one point. That in itself is a recipe for collapse, and it resulted in the Chiefs doing what they usually do: storm back for a comeback win.
There will be many questions about what Las Vegas could have done better or should have done instead, but only one question truly matters: where do the Raiders go from here? At 1-4, they find themselves in a hole that may be too big to crawl out of. And yet simultaneously, going forward the Raiders remaining strength of schedule is .442, tied for the fourth-easiest in the NFL.
The Silver and Black overcame a chaotic season and tremendous adversity a year ago to make the playoffs. Can they channel enough motivation and momentum to conquer the disappointing start they’ve compiled so far?
After this latest disheartening loss, perhaps the best medicine in the short term is time away to clear one’s head. From a certain point of view, the bye week could not have come at a more opportune time.
With the Raiders’ four losses combining for a total of 14 points, one knows that the players can use the week off to blow off steam. At this point in the season, the Raiders fanbase may need the time off just as well.