Christmas Day loss to Raiders fueled Chiefs' postseason run to Super Bowl LVIII

Over a month ago, the Kansas City Chiefs lost to their nemesis Las Vegas Raiders at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Christmas Day. It was their fourth loss in a span of just six games. Things were looking incredibly bleak, and many members of Chiefs Kingdom's most faithful began to lose hope that this […]

Charles Goldman — NFL Managing Editor
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Over a month ago, the Kansas City Chiefs lost to their nemesis Las Vegas Raiders at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Christmas Day. It was their fourth loss in a span of just six games. Things were looking incredibly bleak, and many members of Chiefs Kingdom's most faithful began to lose hope that this team could get the season turned around and headed in the right direction. 

For the people in the building, that game was viewed as the turning point. 

"We talked about this as a staff after that game," Chiefs GM Brett Veach told reporters on Sunday. "It's what you do with adversity and how you handle it. And I actually think that a big reason that we're here tonight is because of that Vegas game. Sometimes the worst things that happen to you in your season turn out to be the best thing. We were finding ways to win games, but something was off whether it be offense or defense or special teams, it just wasn't in sync. But we were winning and sometimes, I think that was just deodorant, and you keep going and going and going. That loss really hit us and I think it allowed the whole organization to take a look in the mirror. So, I really point to that game as being one of the key motivating factors to get everyone dialed in here." 

This isn't the first time the Chiefs have had a game like this occur during a season. If you look back to 2021, this Raiders game was a lot like the Week 7 loss to the Tennessee Titans. That game spurred a massive turnaround and an eight-game winning streak after a 3-4 start to the regular season.

“I think that was a good wake-up call for us," Chiefs HC Andy Reid told reporters on Monday. "They (the Raiders) came out with great emotion, (Raiders Head Coach) Antonio (Pierce) had them ready to go. That emotion was the thing that jumped out at you – that they played with – I think it gave our guys a nice little – for (lack of) a better term a wakeup call that, ‘Listen we need to step things up here. Things aren’t just going to fall in our lap.’ We’re taking everyone’s best shot, here’s a team that went through some adversity, and they stepped up and were able to present themselves like they did. We were able to learn from it and move on. I felt all along though (that) we had the ability to do that, like I said, we need a little kick in the tail there.”

How this team has stuck together through adverse situations, such as the Christmas Day loss to the Raiders, is what Reid believes makes this particular group special. They've rallied around each other when they need it most and it has culminated in yet another championship run for this team.

“I’d tell you yes. It’s a group that has a – there’s a great spirit about them," Reid said. "There’s a certain toughness that they have to where they don’t get down on each other, they challenge each other, they support each other, and it’s been that way through the highs and the lows. I mean nothing has changed. (The) Raiders game, well they just said, ‘Hey, we have to up our game.’ It wasn’t us as coaches jumping up and down on them, they took it within themselves to say, ‘We know what we are and can be, we’ve got to do it.’ That jumps out at me, just that attitude. I mentioned after the Buffalo game, I mentioned yesterday afternoon that there’s a grit to that and maybe you’re not the most talented, maybe you’re not the fastest or the quickest of whatever, but let’s go maximize what we are and let the chips fall where they may.”

The team will look to continue that trend of rallying and maximizing their opportunities as they head to Las Vegas, Nevada to play in the Raiders' Allegiant Stadium against the San Francisco 49ers during Super Bowl LVIII. 

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