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Arrowheadlines: NFL explains ruling on game-ending fumble

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Las Vegas Raiders v Kansas City Chiefs
Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Chiefs headlines for Saturday, November 30

The latest

NFL issues statement on bizarre penalty at the end of Chiefs’ Black Friday win over Raiders | CBS Sports

After the game, the NFL explained why the play was ruled that way.

“Had the clock been running at the snap, then by rule an illegal shift would convert to a false start,” a league spokesman said, via The Athletic. “Since the clock was stopped (spike on the second-down play), an illegal shift is a live ball foul.”

Surely, that explanation will satisfy all the conspiracy theorists who are convinced that the league just gifts calls (and wins) to the Chiefs, so there’s nothing more to worry about on that front.

Aidan O’Connell Had Classy Response to Raiders’ Game-Ending Fumbled Snap vs. Chiefs | SI

As any savvy veteran quarterback would do, O’Connell took full responsibility for the botched snap in his postgame press conference.

“It’s completely my fault,” O’Connell said. “I was looking out to the right making sure guys were set, and I started clapping. In my head, I was thinking signal the ball to get the ball, but when I start clapping, it basically tells Jackson to snap the ball.

“Jackson did exactly what he should’ve done. I clapped too early. That’s just how the football bounces sometimes; it didn’t go our way. Super tough, but there’s really nobody to blame but myself. That’s probably the hardest part to swallow.”

Raiders-Chiefs on Black Friday: What We Learned from Kansas City’s win over Las Vegas | NFL.com

Welcome back, Chris Jones. The Chiefs’ star defensive tackle has affected most every game in which he’s played this season, but he’d gone without a sack since Week 4. That seven-game drought — tied for the longest within a season of his career — ended Friday when Jones sacked O’Connell on a third-down play that began at Kansas City’s 4-yard line, forcing the Raiders to settle for a field goal. Jones added another sack later in the same quarter, ending a drive near midfield by taking down O’Connell on third-and-9. He’s obviously a massive part of this Chiefs defense, and seeing him get back in the sack column is an encouraging sign for a defense that — judging by the current state of their offense — might be counted on even more in the 2024 postseason than it was a year ago.

Mahomes dethrones Dawson as Chiefs’ career TD passing leader | ESPN

Patrick Mahomes became the Kansas City Chiefs’ career leader in touchdown passes during Friday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Mahomes threw the 238th touchdown pass of his career in the second quarter on a 6-yard throw to wide receiver Justin Watson. The play gave the Chiefs a 10-3 lead, and they went on to win 19-17 to clinch their 10th consecutive playoff berth.

Mahomes had been tied for the team record with Len Dawson. He finished 26-of-46 passing for 306 yards.

2025 NFL mock draft: Giants, Raiders thankful for new QBs in Thanksgiving projection | CBS Sports

Round 1 – Pick 31

Denzel Burke CB

Ohio State • Sr • 6’1” / 193 lbs

In the spirit of the holidays, Kansas City begs the question, ‘What do you get the kid that has everything?’ Sure, the Chiefs have positions of weakness, but it hardly seems to matter for the back-to-back Super Bowl champions. Cornerback is a spot that was not adequately addressed once L’Jarius Sneed was traded last offseason.

Around the NFL

Bears fire HC Matt Eberflus in unprecedented move | Yardbarker

Eberflus has been fired, as first reported by Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. His tenure in Chicago ends after two-plus years at the helm. He compiled a 14-32 record along the way, and the latest contribution to the team’s current six-game losing streak has marked the end of his first NFL head coaching gig. Recently promoted offensive coordinator Thomas Brown will serve as interim head coach, and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network adds.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride

Chiefs-Raiders: 5 winners, 7 losers from Week 13 victory

Losers

Offensive tackles Wanya Morris and Jawaan Taylor: This is probably what you came here to read. It has been a concern all season — and a problem in a few games. That problem became dire on Friday. Morris had no chance against the Raiders’ edge rushers. Many fans got their wish when left guard Joe Thuney slid out to take Morris’ place. Newly-signed tackle D.J. Humphries will have a low bar to clear when he takes over as the starting left tackle — perhaps as soon as next Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Head coach Andy Reid: Starter Isiah Pacheco returned to pair with Kareem Hunt against the Raiders in a close game — and the two backs got seven carries each? When the offensive tackles were struggling mightily — with Mahomes was once again taking five sacks — Reid chose to pass the football almost 80% of the time. They punted from the Raiders’ 37-yard line, then tried (and failed) a field goal from the 41. On a third-and-two with 2:03 left — with a chance to ice the game — the team dialed up a deep shot to Worthy that missed. Then the punting team came out, a timeout was called — and then the team punted. We saw a baffling game plan, sloppy execution and not a lot of answers for the same problems we keep seeing on the team.

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