On Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs returned to their winning ways on the road against the Las Vegas Raiders. The victory in the division is critical as the team continues to keep pace with the top teams in the AFC, as seeding is essential heading into the postseason.
The defense was caught off balance in the first half, with the Raiders marching down the field for two touchdowns. Trent McDuffie provided more pressure blitzing from the cornerback position, while Chris Jones, George Karlaftis, and the defensive line held strong after Josh Jacobs’ touchdown run. The play of the day was the stop on fourth down late in the final quarter to seal Las Vegas’ fate.
Patrick Mahomes and the offense started slow but picked things up in the second quarter with a steady dose of Isiah Pacheco leading the ground game. Travis Kelce made big plays alongside rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice, who appears more confident in the system as a standout target. Justin Watson has proven to be a top red zone option for the second consecutive game.
The Chiefs didn’t let the tough loss at home last Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles change their mindset on offense. Marquez Valdes-Scantling showed value outside of catches, with several key blocks on scoring drives.
Here’s a look at how the stock is trending for some players after the Week 12 victory at Allegiant Stadium:
Stock Up: Travis Kelce
Kelce bounced back on Sunday with a strong showing, collecting six more catches for 91 yards. He goes over 11,000 career receiving yards and is the only player in Chiefs history to hit that mark. He is the fastest tight end to 11,000 yards in NFL history.
Stock Up: Isiah Pacheco
Pacheco set a new single-game career high with two touchdowns on Sunday. His five rushing touchdowns this season tie his total on the ground from his rookie year. He ended the day with 55 yards on 15 carries and those two touchdowns.
Stock Up: Patrick Mahomes
It was an efficient outing for Mahomes as he didn’t turn the ball over and still connected with multiple receivers. He finished the victory with 298 yards through the air and two touchdowns.
Stock Up: Rashee Rice
Rice tallied his first career 100-yard receiving game on Sunday as he frustrated the Raiders secondary. He finished the game with eight catches for 107 yards and a touchdown.
Stock Up: George Karlaftis
Karlaftis’s 13-yard sack on former Purdue teammate and current Raiders quarterback Aiden O’Connell clinched a new single-season career high of eight. The second-year player continues to improve every game, becoming a problem for opposing offenses in the league.
Stock Down: Jawaan Taylor
Taylor added two more penalties on Sunday, pushing his season total to fourteen. He currently leads all position players in infractions so far this season.
