Raiders Stop Chiefs’ Reign

The Chief-Raider rivalry has been a one-sided affair in Kansas City’s favor in the 1990s. On a rainy Monday night, Oakland ended years of frustration with a lopsided victory of its own.

Jeff Hostetler threw three touchdown passes, Napoleon Kaufman ran for 109 yards and the Raiders kept their slim playoff hopes alive by holding Kansas City to 71 passing yards in a 26-7 victory.

The Chiefs (9-5) had dominated the rivalry in recent years, winning seven consecutive and 13 of their previous 14 games against the Raiders (7-7), including a playoff game in 1991.

“It wasn’t much of a rivalry in recent years, the way they beat us,” Raider defensive end Pat Swilling said. “We’re on a quest now, trying to get into the playoffs.”

Rich Gannon, who replaced Steve Bono as Kansas City’s starting quarterback two games ago, completed only 12 of 33 passes for 88 yards and was called for a safety on an intentional grounding penalty in the end zone. Gannon threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Sean LaChapelle in the fourth period.

Hostetler, who was 13 for 27 for 150 yards, had scoring passes of 34 yards to Tim Brown, 23 yards to Derrick Fenner and one yard to Andrew Glover. Cole Ford added a 43-yard field goal.

“People have to realize we’re a pretty good team and getting better,” Kaufman said. “We’re peaking at the right time.”

The Raiders, who seemed to be out of the playoff chase when they lost consecutive overtime games to Tampa Bay and Minnesota last month, have won three in a row since then.

Oakland still must win its final two games--at Denver and at home against Seattle--and hope for an Indianapolis loss to have any chance of making the playoffs as a wild-card team.

By losing, the Chiefs failed to clinch a playoff spot. Kansas City also had several players--including defensive linemen Dan Saleaumua (shoulder), Joe Phillips (shoulder) and Vaughn Booker (ankle)--injured in the game, though the extent of those injuries was not immediately known.

“We’re beat up and that’s something that always happens in a Raider game,” said Kansas City Coach Marty Schottenheimer. “They were a much better team than you’d expect.”

The Raiders have given up only 14 points in their last two games. They defeated Miami, 17-7, a week ago in Oakland.

Defensive tackle Chester McGlockton had another dominating game for Oakland, forcing the safety and sacking Gannon twice. He also caused havoc in the Chiefs’ backfield throughout the game.

“He’s the best inside tackle in the league.” Chief left guard Dave Szott said.

The Raiders held the Chiefs to 13 yards passing in the first half and used several big plays to build a 10-0 lead.

Brown returned a punt 36 yards to the Kansas City 46 to set up Oakland’s first score.

Kaufman avoided two tacklers while scampering 45 yards on the next play, and Glover caught his touchdown from a scrambling Hostetler two plays after that.

On Kansas City’s next possession, Gannon overthrew LaChapelle and safety Darren Carrington intercepted and returned it 21 yards to the Chiefs’ 29. The Raiders gained only four yards, but Ford kicked a line-drive field goal that barely cleared the crossbar.

The Chiefs came unglued at the start of the second half.

Tamarick Vanover started to return the kickoff, then stopped and tried to down the ball for a touchback. But he put his hand down beyond the goal line and, after hesitating for a few seconds, realized he had to keep going. He was tackled at the 10.

On the next play, Gannon was hit by Pat Swilling and then McGlockton in the end zone. He was flagged for intentional grounding when, while falling backward, he underhanded the ball to an open area.