In an attempt to prevent their second loss of the 2024 season, the Kansas City Chiefs play the Las Vegas Raiders on Black Friday in a game that is closer than anticipated.
The Raiders are giving the two-time defending Super Bowl winners everything they can handle, and it looks like quarterback Patrick Mahomes might be experiencing some discomfort in the second half.
When one of his linemen accidentally stepped on Mahomes’ left hand late in the third quarter, the quarterback grimaced and tried to flex out the damage.
.@KayleeHartung provides the latest on Patrick Mahomes’ hand.#BlackFridayNFL pic.twitter.com/M4k3bX7pwU
— NFL on Prime Video (@NFLonPrime) November 29, 2024
According to sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung, Mahomes continued to work out his hand while watching film on a tablet, but he did not obtain medical assistance after his hand was stepped on.
After the Raiders’ long touchdown on their final drive, Mahomes returned to the game, and the Chiefs need another score to extend their lead.
Despite starting as overwhelming favorites, Friday’s game has been low-scoring, but it appears to be going along similarly to the Chiefs-Raiders game on Christmas Day of last year.
On that day, Mahomes suffered one of his few career losses to the remainder of the AFC West and his second career loss to the Chiefs. The Chiefs are in risk of a similar performance after their sluggish start against Las Vegas, but they haven’t lost at home since that game.
With a 10-1 record this season, the Chiefs sit atop the AFC, but Mahomes hasn’t performed at his typical MVP level. This season, he has thrown 18 touchdowns and recorded 11 interceptions, which is second only to Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith.
Next week, the Chiefs will play another divisional game against the Los Angeles Chargers, who, with a 7-4 record, are battling to survive in a congested AFC Wild Card battle.
Mahomes and the Chiefs will have won the division for the ninth straight season if they can pull it off this year.
With 11 consecutive AFC East wins from 2009 to 2019, the New England Patriots hold the record, which the Chiefs are attempting to surpass every year.
As Friday’s game approaches its climax, we’ll see if Mahomes’ minor injury has a greater impact on him and if it continues to harm him in subsequent weeks or games.
