Chiefs Lose On The Home Ground Against Raiders, Was The Focus Diverted?

Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs had a very different Christmas Day than they had anticipated when they played the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday afternoon.

Both players showed their emotions on the sidelines as they struggled against the formidable Raiders defense.

Chiefs Lose On The Home Ground Against Raiders, Was The Focus Diverted?

For the second straight week, the Raiders’ defense scored two touchdowns, one of which came off a pick-6 from the failing Patrick Mahomes, and Las Vegas managed to hold off the hapless Chiefs 20-14 on Monday to maintain their slender postseason aspirations.

Even after Reid took responsibility for the incompetent and occasionally self-defeating offense, the Kansas City Chiefs were such a letdown on Christmas afternoon that it is reasonable to question if they will have a chance to compete in the postseason.

“Our offense, we struggled, that’s my responsibility to make sure I’m putting the guys in the right position to make plays,” Reid said. “And it didn’t happen the way I wanted it to … I take full responsibility for the way we played offensively there.”

This game appeared to expose more, not fewer, weaknesses in the Chiefs as the season progresses into the postseason.

“We haven’t consistently done it enough game in and game out,” Mahomes said. “At this end of the season we’ve had one good game, one bad game, one good game, one bad game. We have to be more consistent because when we get to the playoffs you have to string some together.”

However, the Raiders scored touchdowns after the Chiefs fumbled the ball on two straight drives. Jack Jones intercepted Mahomes and returned the ball 33 yards for a score, while Raiders defensive lineman Bilal Nichols recovered a fumble for a touchdown.

Kelce was experiencing the same aggravation. He carried his helmet as he left the field. With a backward tilt, he forcefully struck the watercooler stand with his helmet.

“Things happen,” Reid said. “Emotional game. Travis is emotional. Sometimes my red hair gets to me a little bit. So, it all works out.”

That transfer hinted to a more serious issue. It happened when yet another mishandled pass resulted in a turnover and a score for the defense.

“I was supposed to take the handoff,” Mahomes said. “And we didn’t have a good exchange. We worked on it all week, they got good penetration with their defensive line and we didn’t make it happen.”

Of course, there’s also Kelce’s podcasting and his well-documented romance with singer Taylor Swift. Trips to concerts both domestically and overseas, as well as occasional seemingly fruitless attempts to elude the paparazzi, are all part of that connection.

Is it feasible that the three key players in the Kansas City offense are suffering because of the numerous outside interests?

 

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