The Japan Times - Defense stars as Raiders stun Chiefs

With their own offense sputtering, the Raiders defense took full advantage of multiple miscues from the reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

The Raiders trailed 7-3 when defensive tackle Bilal Nichols recovered a fumble and ran eight yards for a touchdown with 4:55 left in the first half.

A two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful, but on the first play from scrimmage on the Chiefs' ensuing possession, Raiders cornerback Jack Jones intercepted Mahomes and raced 33 yards for a touchdown that put the Raiders up 17-7 with 4:48 remaining before the break.

It was the second pick-six in two games for Jones, who also returned an interception for a touchdown in the Raiders' 63-21 blowout of the Chargers.

Las Vegas' dominant defensive performance also included four sacks of a visibly frustrated Mahomes.

Harrison Butker also missed a field goal attempt and the Chiefs twice failed to convert on fourth-down plays in the second half.

Kansas City clawed back a touchdown when Mahomes hit Justin Watson with 2:42 to play.

But the Raiders offense -- which saw quarterback Aidan O'Connell pass for just 62 yards -- closed it out with a final drive that included a 43-yard gain from running back Zamir White, who finished with 145 rushing yards.

Mahomes completed 27 of 44 passes for 235 yards and the interception.

The Raiders had opened the scoring on the first of Daniel Carlson's two field goals, but Isiah Pacheco put the Chiefs in the lead with a 12-yard touchdown run from a trick play in which he took the snap himself.

But another direct snap to Pacheco backfired when his handoff to Mahomes ended in the fumble scooped up by Nichols.

Adding to the Chiefs' pain, Pacheco later left the game with a concussion after losing his helmet and taking a knee from a teammate to the head.

At 9-6, the Chiefs can still clinch an eighth straight AFC West title with a victory over the Cincinnati Bengals next week.

- Eagles snap skid -

Mahomes said the Chiefs still have a chance to finish the regular season on a strong note and carry some momentum into the playoffs.

"I still believe that we can go do what we want to do," Mahomes said.

"If we clean it up, we can beat anybody," he added. "I truly believe that, but we've got to prove that we can do it."

The Raiders improved to 7-8 and kept their playoff hopes alive heading into a clash with the Colts in Indianapolis next week.

In Philadelphia, the Eagles beat the New York Giants 33-25 to improve to 11-5, taking a one-game lead over the Dallas Cowboys atop the NFC East with two games to play.

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts scored a "tush push" touchdown -- his teammates behind him helping to shove him forward -- for his 15th rushing touchdown of the season. That set a record for quarterbacks, surpassing Cam Newton's 14 in 2011.

Hurts threw for 301 yards and a touchdown, and also saw an interception returned for a touchdown.

Running back D'Andre Swift had 92 rushing yards with a touchdown.

M.Saito--JT