What an insane Thursday night game. I had the Raiders plus three, and I was stewing over the 3rd-and-12, tipped touchdown to Albert Wilson that gave the Chiefs six-point lead. But the Chiefs blew it by going into a shell and trying to run clock rather than running their regular offense, punted it back to the Raiders who converted a 2nd-and-20 and a 4th-and-10 and had two untimed plays following penalties to win on a last-second throw. And then Giorgio Tavecchio, who missed two field-goals just barely made the game-winning PAT. Truly one of the more insane games I've watched, Thursday or otherwise.
• Derek Carr bounced back big this week, though he got bailed out on a fumble and threw a couple balls that should have been picked. But he had years to throw and picked apart the Chiefs defense for 417 yards and three TDs. Carr isn't a great quarterback, but he has great-QB poise - he rarely rushes throws or gets flustered. It certainly helped that he had so much time in the pocket.
• The buy-low window on Amari Cooper is closed. Watch your fingers. Funny thing is while Cooper went 19-111-206-2, he could have more as he nearly caught a ~50-yard pass on which he drew a PI. If a 23-year old star receiver is healthy, not in trouble with the law and paired with a competent QB, you leave him in your lineup, irrespective of the short-term production.
• Jared Cook had a great game, making key catches and fighting for extra yards after the catch. He's the No. 3 target in Oakland.
• Michael Crabtree caught the game-winning TD, but saw only seven targets and didn't do much. I couldn't tell from the condensed version of the game I watched, but it seems like the Chiefs put Marcus Peters on the wrong guy.
• Marshawn Lynch got ejected for shoving a ref, and Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington saw nine carries each. A few stuffs hurt their YPC, but both ran hard, particularly Washington on his TD. Richard was the more effective pass catcher.
• Giorgio Tavecchio nearly blew the game a few times. He has to be on the ropes.
• Alex Smith was sharp though his 342 yards and 9.2 YPA were aided by the 63-yard TD on a tipped pass that should have been picked. The Chiefs wisely attacked down the field, and Smith connected with Tyreek Hill on a beautiful deep ball.
• Kareem Hunt hasn't scored in a while, but 18-for-87 on the ground and another four-for-30 in the air keeps his 100-YFS streak going to seven games. He didn't have much room to run, but he almost never goes down on first contact. Very frustrating to root against.
• The Chiefs must have signed C.J. Spiller yet again when Charcandrick West was scratched. How many times can you sign and cut a guy in the same season?
• Hill beat the Raiders for a long TD, and the DB didn't even slip this time. He also made some key catches over the middle of the field. I was dubious of his route-running and ability to play as a full-fledged wideout, but he certainly passed the test against a weak Oakland secondary.
• Demarcus Robinson had the same number of targets (8) as Hill. Maybe he's their No. 2 now that Chris Conley is out for the year. Albert Wilson saw just two targets, one of which was the tipped ball for the long TD.
• Travis Kelce caught a TD early, but had a fairly quiet game with only five targets. If I were an opposing defensive coordinator, I'd try to take him away before Hill.
• Harrison Butker made all three field-goals, including a 53-yarder. Kickers are hard to handicap, but being attached to the Chiefs offense and having a big leg place Butker well inside the top 10.