Kansas City Turns Gifts (7 Raider Turnovers) Into a 20-17 Victory

The last time the Kansas City Chiefs were in postseason play, Richard Nixon was president and Kansas City Coach John Mackovic’s responsibility was to Army running backs.

“We haven’t been to the playoffs in a long time,” Mackovic said Sunday after the Chiefs forced seven turnovers to move within a victory of their first playoff berth in 15 years with a 20-17 triumph over the Raiders.

“This gives us a winning season. I’m real proud of these guys.”

The Chiefs (9-6) are assured of their first season above .500 since 1981 and will be in the postseason as a wild card if they beat the Steelers next Sunday at Pittsburgh.

“We know we have to win,” Mackovic said. “Pittsburgh is playing really well. We’ve played all year to get to this spot.”

The Raiders lost for the third straight week and fell to 8-7. They need an unlikely string of events to qualify as a wild card team. The Raiders must beat Indianapolis, the Chiefs must lose, Seattle must lose to Denver and Cincinnati must lose to the Jets.

Kansas City led 17-0, but the Raiders got into position to go ahead midway though the final period. Trailing 20-17, the Raiders went from their 31-yard line to the Chief 16, but Napoleon McCallum fumbled when hit by cornerback Lloyd Burruss and linebacker Tim Cofield recovered with 6:16 remaining.

Marcus Allen had fumbled on the Raiders’ first two possessions and Jim Plunkett threw four interceptions--the final one with 1:45 to play and the Raiders deep in their own territory.

“You can’t turn the ball over that many times and expect to win the game,” Raider Coach Tom Flores said. “Once again, we self-destructed and hurt ourselves. I wish I had an explanation for it.

“When you give them that many opportunities, you’re just going to kill yourself.”

Bill Kenney threw one touchdown pass, a 26-yarder to Stephone Paige in the first quarter. Kansas City also scored on Jeff Smith’s 2-yard run and Nick Lowery field goals of 40 and 20 yards.

The Raiders’ points came on a 34-yard pass from Plunkett to Rod Barksdale, Allen’s 2-yard run and a 19-yard field goal by Chris Bahr.

The game was relatively mild considering the teams brawled when the Raiders came back from a 17-0 deficit to win 24-17 on Oct. 5 at Kansas City.

The Raiders closed to 20-17 with 45 seconds left in the third quarter on Allen’s touchdown. It appeared the Chiefs had stopped a long Raider march when Deron Cherry intercepted a Plunkett pass near the goal line. But defensive end Pete Koch was called for roughing Plunkett. Four plays later, Allen stormed in.

Kenney completed 15 of 31 passes for 180 yards with no interceptions. Plunkett was 15 of 29 for 143 yards. Allen rushed for 60 yards and McCallum gained 55.

Kansas City took a 3-0 lead 3:53 into the game when it took advantage of Allen’s fumble at the Raider 26 and scored on Lowery’s 40-yard field goal.

Allen fumbled again three plays later and the Chiefs took over at the Raider 36. Three plays later, Paige raced by Mike Haynes down the left sideline and Kenney hit him with the 26-yard scoring strike.

Kansas City got the ball back following a Raider punt and used 5:18 in going 78 yards for a 17-0 lead. Kenney completed four passes in the drive, the final one to Boyce Green, who eluded linebacker Jeff Barnes to catch a 7-yard pass on third-and-5 at the Los Angeles nine. Smith then ran right for the score.

The Raiders, who had given up 60 straight points over three games, finally got a touchdown with 12:05 remaining in the half. Vance Mueller moved the Raiders to the Kansas City 38 when he took a reverse on the kickoff and rambled 46 yards. Plunkett’s 34-yard scoring toss to Barksdale came four plays later.

Bahr moved the Raiders within 17-10 when he hit a 19-yard field goal with 3:57 to go. But the Chiefs got the points back when Lowery kicked a 20-yarder with 42 seconds left.