Like many of them, including last week’s last-second win over Carolina, the Chiefs seemed to be in no mood to celebrate.
”I mean, we just hold ourselves to such a high standard. We don’t feel like we’re playing our best football,” Mahomes said. ”We have to find a way to build up to play great (as) a full, entire team. It’s awesome that we’re finding ways to get wins. That’s what you’re going for. But our goal is to get to the Super Bowl.”
The Raiders had a chance to take the lead earlier in the fourth quarter, too, when O’Connell drove them across midfield. But the Chiefs forced three incompletions — George Karlaftis and Justin Reid batted down two — to bring up fourth down.
Carlson headed onto the field, but his 58-yard try with 2:21 remaining never got near the uprights.
O’Connell finished with 340 yards passing and two touchdowns for the Raiders, who have lost eight of nine to their bitter AFC West rivals. Brock Bowers had 10 catches for 140 yards and one of the scores.
”These guys battled until the very end, until the clock hit zero,” Pierce said. ”They believed we were going to win and fought their (butts) off to the very end. All phases contributed to help us get in that position, but Aiden did hell of a job. He stayed in the pocket, made big-time throws for us, pushed the ball down the field. The numbers say what they’re going to say. I’m proud of my team, our team. I’m proud of the fight. We came up short yet again against the world champs. Twice now.”