The Associated Press
Josh Dubow
OAKLAND, Calif.–Wins have been so hard to come by for the Oakland Raiders that it took three tries at the final play for them finally to pull this one out and possibly save their season.
Derek Carr threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Michael Crabtree on the final play, after the game was extended by two-straight defensive holding calls, as the Raiders snapped a four-game losing streak with a 31-30 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs last night.
“We didn’t give up,” Crabtree said. “We got a team full of fighters.
“We believe,” he noted. “No matter how hard the game was, we believed.
“We came out with the ‘W’ and I’m excited,” Crabtree added. “It’s a good way to win, a great way to win.”
With their season on the line following the recent slump, Carr led an 85-yard touchdown drive in the final 2:25 to give the Raiders (3-4) the thrilling comeback in a game they trailed by nine points heading into the fourth quarter.
Carr finished 29-for-52 for 417 yards and three touchdowns, with Amari Cooper catching 11 passes for 210 yards and two of the scores.
The Raiders had struggled to get the ball downfield while being held to 17 or fewer points in four-straight games, but Carr repeatedly beat the Chiefs with deep passes.
Alex Smith threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns but it wasn’t enough for the Chiefs (5-2).
They lost consecutive games for the first time since Oct. 11-18, 2015, and had their 12-game winning streak in the AFC West snapped in the thrilling finish.
“I’ve never been part of a game that came down so dramatic,” said linebacker Derrick Johnson.
“But [we] still had a chance to win. Period,” he stressed.
“Just have to make a play. One play. One play.”
The Raiders had an apparent go-ahead touchdown pass to Jared Cook with 18 seconds left overturned when replay ruled he was down at the one-yard line.
An offensive pass interference on Crabtree wiped out another touchdown on the next play.
But holding calls on Ron Parker and Eric Murray set the stage for the final play.
Carr hit Crabtree in the front corner of the end zone to tie it at 30.
Giorgio Tavecchio then won it with the extra point–setting off a celebration on a wild night that included Oakland running back Marshawn Lynch getting ejected in the second quarter for shoving an official.
