Raiders lose late lead as Walker and kickoff fumble turn Chiefs win

Monday update: Tyquan Thornton is expected to undergo surgery within the week and face a 12–16-week recovery after dislocating his ankle against Las Vegas, Ian Rapoport reported following further tests. NFL.com’s Monday injury roundup carries the same timetable. Rapoport described a possible late-season or postseason return; that remains a recovery projection, not a clearance to play or an announced return date.

The Raiders had more yards, more first downs and the lead with less than five minutes left Sunday. They still lost 30–27 to Kansas City after Kenneth Walker III scored two touchdowns in 19 seconds of game time, with a kickoff fumble between them. Las Vegas fell to 3–1 as the Chiefs moved to 4–0.

The final box score captures the opportunity Las Vegas let slip. The Raiders gained 437 yards to Kansas City's 399 and held the ball for 35:42. They finished with 28 first downs against the Chiefs' 18. But Las Vegas went 0-for-2 in red-zone touchdown opportunities, committed two turnovers and allowed the explosive plays that changed the fourth quarter.

Kansas City was behind 13–10 entering the final period. Walker's 76-yard run on the last play of the third carried the Chiefs from their own 16 to the Raiders' 8. Two plays later, Patrick Mahomes threw an 8-yard touchdown to Tyquan Thornton for a 17–13 lead. Thornton had also caught a 2-yard touchdown in the first quarter.

Matt Gay's fourth field goal of the afternoon, from 48 yards, restored a 19–17 Las Vegas lead with 4:53 remaining. The Raiders needed one more defensive stop. Instead, Mahomes found Thornton for 55 yards on third-and-5, and a penalty moved Kansas City to the 2. Walker's touchdown run put the Chiefs back ahead at 3:21.

The ensuing kickoff made the task much harder: Jeffrey Bassa forced Dareke Young to fumble, and Jack Cochrane recovered at the Raiders' 22.

Walker scored on the very next snap. With 3:02 remaining, Kansas City's lead had grown to 30–19.

Walker finished with 177 yards on 22 carries, extending the form that earned him AFC Offensive Player of the Month, as the Chiefs reported Thursday. Mahomes completed only 15 of 30 throws, but his 225 passing yards included the two Thornton touchdowns and the long third-down completion that set up the lead change.

Kirk Cousins gave Las Vegas another chance by finding Brock Bowers for a 20-yard touchdown with 1:46 left. A two-point pass to Cody White made it 30–27. Kansas City recovered the onside kick, then failed to move the chains. Matt Araiza's punt put the Raiders at their own 1 for a final drive.

Cousins moved the offense near midfield before Xavier Nwankpa intercepted his last pass with 10 seconds left. The quarterback finished with 365 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Bowers had six catches for 86 yards, and Michael Mayer caught eight passes for 82.

The Chiefs' victory also carried an injury cost. Thornton was carted off following his 55-yard catch, after totaling five receptions for 111 yards and two scores. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday night that Thornton dislocated his ankle and doctors put it back in place. He flew home with the team, with a full evaluation and second opinion planned for Monday. NFL.com reported that he is out indefinitely, without a specific return date. Rashee Rice had already left with a hamstring injury. The Chiefs enter their bye; the Raiders visit New England next Sunday.