What just happened in Chiefs-Raiders? Here are the grades from another wild finish

In a remarkable turn of events at the game’s conclusion, the Chiefs defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 19-17 on Sunday at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

Linebacker Nick Bolton recovered a bad snap to Las Vegas quarterback Aidan O’Connell with 11 seconds remaining, the Raiders already in field goal range.

The Chiefs (11-1), who clinched a playoff spot with the victory, have won five games this season on the final snap.

This one didn’t qualify as last snap, but it was close enough. Here’s our assessment of the game and a look ahead:

KC STAR OF THE GAME

Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones came up with two sacks, his first since Week 4. The second took the Raiders out of scoring range.

Next: The Chiefs get a couple of extra rest days before meeting the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night Football at Arrowhead on Dec. 8. Kickoff is 7:20 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on NBC (Channel 41 in Kansas City).

REPORT CARD

Passing offense: C

Nice execution on Patrick Mahomes’ touchdown pass to Justin Watson, who moved right to left and ran under the floater for a 10-3 KC lead.

For Mahomes, it was career scoring strike No. 238, moving him past Len Dawson on the team’s career list. The play was set up by a bit of trickery: A third-and-10 pass to Travis Kelce would have come up short of a first down, but Kelce lateraled to Samaje Perine just before going down for a 15-yard gain.

The Chiefs finally had enough of their left tackle problems. With 6:46 remaining, and Mahomes having been sacked for the fifth time, the Chiefs pushed Joe Thuney to left tackle and brought in Mike Caliendo to play guard.

Wanya Morris was out. We’ll see if this is the arrangement going forward.

The Chiefs drove to the red zone five times Sunday and settled for four field goals.

Rushing offense: D

The return of Isiah Pacheco didn’t yield returns early. Pacheco’s first carry went for four yards and the Chiefs didn’t have a longer run in the first half.

Things loosened up on the first series of the second half, though, when Pacheco followed the blocks of Creed Humphrey, Thuney and Trey Smith for a season-long 34-yard run that set up a field goal.

But the Chiefs couldn’t run out the clock late in the game and punted back to the Raiders for Las Vegas’ (ill-fated) final drive.

Passing defense: F

In a matter of minutes, the Chiefs turned a 16-3 lead into a 17-16 deficit.

A pair of O’Connell touchdown passes, including a 58-yarder to Tre Tucker over Justin Reid, did the damage Oof. A terrible day all around for the pass defense.

Things got so bad for the Chiefs in the second quarter that starting cornerback Nazeeh Johnson, burned on a 43-yard completion to Jakobi Meyers, was lifted for Keith Taylor. And Taylor was eventually was pulled for Joshua Williams.

O’Connell was playing in his first game since Week 7 and came looking for his first victory of the year. He almost got it after a 340-yard day through the air.

In addition to Jones’ big day, George Karlaftis pushed the Raiders out of reasonable field goal range with a 15-yard sack, his fifth of the season and first in a month.

Defensive end Charles Omenihu entered the game on the fourth defensive snap and got some pressures. It was Omenihu’s first action since tearing his ACL in last season’s AFC Championship Game.

Rushing defense: F

This should have been a game for the Chiefs to get healthy against the NFL’s worst rushing offense in both yards per game and yards per carry. Instead, the Raiders had one of their best ground games of the season, rushing for 116 yards.

Special teams: B

Long field goal attempts didn’t have a chance in the colder weather.

Matthew Wright, subbing for injured Spencer Shrader and Harrison Butker, came up short on a 59-yarder just before halftime. Wright earlier nailed a 25-yarder.

KC punter Matt Araiza, also the team’s holder for field goals and PATs, recorded two tackles on returns.

Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson twice missed from deep and the Chiefs managed to turn those short field possessions in the Wright field goals. Carlson missed three FGs in all on Sunday.

But disaster the Chiefs in kickoff coverage, when KC surrendered a 69-yard return late in the third quarter. That big gain by the visitors set up a Raiders short-field touchdown.