Seven years of misery at Arrowhead Stadium ended for the Raiders with a 40-32 win over the unbeaten defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs Sunday.
It was a signature win for quarterback Derek Carr, who was 0-6 at Kansas City, as well as the biggest win in the second tenure of coach Jon Gruden.
Carr had touchdown passes of 59 yards to Nelson Agholor, 5 yards to Darren Waller and 72 yards to rookie Henry Ruggs III, with Josh Jacobs (23 carries, 77 yards) adding touchdown runs of seven and two yards. Carr completed 22 of 31 passes for 347 yards, shaking off an early interception that led to a Chiefs touchdown.
It was a Carr quarterback sneak on fourth-and-1 with less than two-minutes to play at the Chiefs' 45 yard line to seal the win.
Daniel Carlson had field goals of 38 and 43 yards for the Raiders, who improved to 3-2 heading in to their bye week.
Kansas City, which matched the Raiders point for point in a 24-24 first half, stalled as the Raiders' much-maligned defense came out of nowhere to force three straight punts and get a huge interception and 48-yard return from safety Jeff Heath.
For the Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes had a three-yard touchdown run and scoring passes of 10 yards to Tyreek Hill and eight yards to Sammy Watkins. Harrison Butker also kicked a 32-yard field goal. Mahomes threw a third touchdown pass to Travis Kelce with remaining to and also hit Darryl Williams for a two-point conversion to cut the Raiders' lead to 40-32 late.
Mahomes was 22 of 43 for 340 yards.
Highs, lows and all you need to know:
_ Heath steals it: After the Raiders forced three straight punts, the Chiefs had to go for a first down on fourth-and-7 in their own territory and Mahomes threw an interception to reserve safety Jeff Heath. Heath returned it 48 yards to the 2-yard line, where Jacobs finished it off with a 2-yard run and a 40-24 lead with 5:26 remaining.
It was Mahomes' second interception of the season.
_ Third-and-18 ... yes, really: Carlson's 43-yard field goal for a 33-24 lead came on a drive where the big play was a 42-yard hookup from Carr to Hunter Renfrow on third-and-18.
On the previous play, a dubious tight end screen from Carr to Jason Witten netted two yards.
_ Jacobs brings it home: After a third quarter in which the Raiders had the ball for more than 10 minutes, Jacobs finished off a 13-play, 71-yard touchdown drive with a seven run. The bad news? Carlson missed the extra point, with the Raiders leading 30-24 with 14:14 to play. He had converted his previous 15 point-after-touchdowns.
The touchdown drive took eight minutes off the clock.
_ Third-quarter shift: The Raiders ended the third quarter with Carr sneaking for a first down behind Rodney Hudson on fourth-and-1 with the ball on the Chiefs 14-yard line.
Neither team scored in the quarter _ not what anybody figured after the fireworks in the first half.
_ Tying one on: Butker's 32-yard field goal with 28 seconds left in the half tied the score 24-24.
The Chiefs had a 4-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes to 4-yard to Edwards-Helaire nullified by an offensive pass interference penalty on Travis Kelce.
Carr finished the first half 11 of 13 for 246 yards, three touchdowns and an interceptions. Mahomes was 14 of 27 for 237 yards and a touchdown.
_ The mad bomber: On third-and-2 from the 28-yard line, Carr channeled his inner Daryle Lamonica with a 72-yard touchdown strike to Ruggs with 2:39 left in the half. It turned a 21-deficit to a 24-21 lead.
At that point, Carr was 9 of 11 for 235 yards and two touchdowns. It was Ruggs' second catch for 118 yards. The most yards Carr had ever thrown for at Arrowhead in a game prior to Sunday was 222 (twice).
_ Booker breaks out: A 43-yard run by Booker was the big play in a 75-yard, five play Raiders drive to pull within 21-17 with 6:25 left in the half.
Carr also completed a 23-yard swing pass to his right for 23 yards to fullback Alec Ingold and threw the 5-yard dart to Waller for the touchdown.
Mahomes magic: The Chiefs went up 21-10 with 9:04 left in the half when Mahomes escaped backside pressure from Maxx Crosby, rolled to his right and threw a bullet to Watkins for an 8-yard touchdown.
It was a seven-play, 75-yard drive taking just 2:44 off the clock in answer to the Raiders' touchdown pass from Carr to Agholor.
Mahomes also had a 37-yard pass to HIll over Trayvon Mullen to the Raiders' 9-yard line.
_ The bounceback: Carr's 46-yard touchdown strike to Agholor brought the Raiders within 14-10 with 11:48 to play. Coming as it did after a bad interception to set up a Kansas City touchdown, the Raiders did something they seldom do in Kansas City. Answered a score with a score.
Devontae Booker carried three times for 11 yards, including a short-yardage first down, and caught a 5-yard pass on the 75-yard, five-play drive.
_ Carr vs. Arrowhead: The Raiders got bold on third-and-1 from their own 37 late in the first quarter, with Carr play-faking and throwing a medium-deep pass to Waller. The ball sailed over Waller's head and in to the arms of Bashaud Breeland, who 28 yards to the Raiders' 28-yard line.
It was Carr's first interception of the season and first since Week 13 last season _ in Kansas City, of course.
The turnover set the Chiefs up for a short-field drive with Hill sweeping right from the 10 for the touchdown and a 14-3 lead 14:29 left in the half.
_ Littleton can't keep up: The Chiefs opening drive featured a 32-yard Mahomes-to-Kelce completion on third-and-7 to the Raiders' 3-yard line. Kelce was isolated on linebacker Cory Littleton, whose job description upon signing a three-year, $36 million free agent deal was to provide pass coverage against the running backs and tight ends _ such as Kelce _ that have tortured the Raiders for years.
Mahomes then scrambled to his left for the 3-yard run to put the Chiefs up 7-3 with 2:06 left in the first quarter. The drive covered 88 yards in nine plays.
_ The Ruggs factor: On the Raiders opening drive, Ruggs went up and grabbed a 46-yard, third-and-10 snag against Rashad Fenton to the Chiefs' 24-yard line. Carr missed Rico Gafford in a a subsequent shot at the end zone, and consecutive false starts from Kolton Miller and Brown led to setting for Carlson's 38-yard field goal.
_ Joyner hurt: Slot corner LaMarcus Joyner was injured on the first snap from scrimmage, an 8-yard run from Edwards-Helaire. That put Amik Robertson, who gave up a touchdown on his first NFL snap against Buffalo, in to the Chiefs' crosshairs. Joyner returned to the game.
