Mahomes sets record, Chiefs beat Raiders for AFC’s top seed

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LAS VEGAS — Patrick Mahomes set the NFL record for total yards in a season, and the Kansas City Chiefs notched a 31-13 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday to secure the AFC’s No. 1 pick.

Mahomes passed for 202 yards and rushed for 29 against the Raiders, giving him 5,608 total yards this season. That surpassed the record of 5,562 yards set by Drew Brees with the New Orleans Saints in 2011.

In addition to setting the standard, Mahomes helped earn the Chiefs first place (14-3) and a bye in the first round of the playoffs, which begin next weekend. However, Kansas City is not guaranteed home field advantage throughout the postseason.

With Monday night’s Buffalo-Cincinnati game canceled, the Chiefs could face the Bills or Bengals on a neutral field in the AFC Championship. The Buffalo-Cincinnati game was initially postponed after Bill’s safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest. Hamlin remains in critical condition but is improving.

The Chiefs matched their 2020 franchise record for regular season wins and set a team mark with their 17th straight game with at least 300 yards in offense.

The Raiders (6-11) ended their first season under coach Josh McDaniels with three straight losses and four losses in five games. They made the playoffs a year ago but now face serious questions at quarterback, offensive line and overall defense.

Jarrett Stidham started his second straight game in place of the eliminated Derek Carr, and that performance didn’t fare nearly as well as the first. Stidham completed 22 of 36 passes for 219 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He was fired six times.

A week ago, He threw for 365 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-34 overtime loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Raiders running back Josh Jacobs, who was dealing with hip and oblique injuries and a reported family emergency, was a game-day decision but played. He rushed for 45 yards and could potentially win the NFL rushing title with 1,653 yards.

But Jacobs fell short of the franchise rushing record of 1,759 yards set by Marcus Allen in 1985. This may have been Jacob’s last game as a member of the Raiders as his fifth-year option was not taken. His performance this season has given those in charge in Las Vegas a lot to think about.

REMARKS

Both teams warmed up wearing black shirts in honor of Hamlin that read “LOVE FOR DAMAR” with his #3 in the middle. Mahomes also wore a hoodie with a drawing of the player saying “HAMLIN STRONG” underneath. … Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton made 16 tackles, giving him 180 for the season and breaking the team record of 179 set by Derrick Johnson in 2011. … Kansas City running back Jerick McKinnon has caught a touchdown pass in six straight games. He has a total of nine TDs over that span. … Chiefs rookie defensive end George Karlaftis has 5½ sacks in seven games. … Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce caught six passes for 38 yards, giving him 110 receptions this season, just one off the Chiefs mark set by Tyreek Hill last season.

INJURIES

Chiefs: DE Frank Clark (groin) went out in the second quarter.

Raiders: CB Nate Hobbs (hand) and LB Harvey Langi (concussion) went out and didn’t return.

NEXT

Chiefs: The regular season is over. Kansas City is waiting for its first playoff opponent.

Raiders: Las Vegas has some important decisions to make with its roster now that the season is over.

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