The Kansas City Chiefs managed to escape with a win over the Las Vegas Raiders in a bizarre ending to their Thanksgiving weekend NFL game, featuring unusual decisions and a controversial penalty call.
With just 15 seconds left in the game, the Raiders stopped the clock with a spike on second down at the Chiefs’ 32-yard line. On the next play, center Jackson Powers-Johnson snapped the ball before quarterback Aidan O’Connell was ready. The ball hit the ground, and the Chiefs recovered it.
The Raiders fumble it, the Chiefs recover it to seal the game ‼️#LVvsKC on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/WvNvUONRM5— NFL (@NFL) November 29, 2024
Initially, it seemed the play was dead due to a false start penalty. However, after a long discussion among the officials, they ruled it as an illegal shift instead. This distinction was critical: a false start would have wiped out the fumble because it happens before the snap, but an illegal shift is a live-ball foul. The Chiefs declined the penalty, kept possession, and ran out the clock to secure the victory.
What a WILD ending on Black Friday 👀 pic.twitter.com/JtYRVva6Zy
— NFL (@NFL) November 29, 2024
The NFL later explained the reasoning behind the call. According to the league, if the clock had been running at the snap, the illegal shift would have been treated as a false start. But since the clock was stopped after the Raiders’ spike on second down, the illegal shift remained a live-ball foul, allowing the Chiefs to recover the fumble.
While the league’s explanation clears up the rule application, it’s unlikely to convince conspiracy theorists who believe the Chiefs benefit from favorable calls. For now, though, the game is in the books, and the Chiefs came out on top.