Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Chandler Jones (55) celebrates as he leaves the field after an NFL football game against the New England Patriots at Allegiant Stadium Sunday, Dec. 17, 2022. Jones scored the winning touchdown. The Raiders won 30-24.
Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022 | 4:55 p.m.
In one of the most improbable, inconceivable, incredible and downright impossible finishes in the history of the NFL, the Raiders scored two touchdowns in the final 37 seconds — including a walkoff fumble return touchdown — to rally past the New England Patriots, 30-24.
Chandler Jones was the hero, as he stepped in front of a lateral and ran it back for a 48-yard touchdown on the final play.
What it means for Las Vegas:
Play of the year
Chandler Jones has been a massive disappointment this season, but for one day — one play — the veteran defensive end was worth his $51-million contract.
With the score tied, 24-24, and three seconds on the clock, the Patriots handed off to Rhamondre Stevenson at midfield, apparently content to let the game go into overtime. But Stevenson found some open field and got greedy, lateraling to receiver Jakobi Meyers in an attempt to extend the play.
Meyers reversed field and tried to throw a long lateral across the field to quarterback Mac Jones, but the toss came up short and Chandler Jones was there to pluck it out of the air. The 6-foot-5, 265-pounder stiff-armed Mac Jones to the turf and raced 48 yards for a game-winning touchdown as time expired.
It was a stunning end to a contest that, quite frankly, was poorly played by both teams for the first 59 minutes.
Chandler Jones has had a rough first campaign in Las Vegas, going without a sack for the first 11 weeks, and he was shut out again on Sunday. But his walkoff touchdown will be replayed for a long time, earning him, if nothing else, a place in Raiders’ lore.
Please, no more double-digit leads
Coming into this game, the Raiders had led by double digits at halftime on four occasions this year, and they somehow managed — against astronomical odds — to lose all four.
So Las Vegas fans were understandably conflicted when Derek Carr hit Mack Hollins for a 5-yard touchdown with four seconds left in the second quarter. Sure, the TD put the Raiders up, 17-3, but it also set the stage for another potential collapse.
And boy, did it almost come to fruition. Derek Carr threw a pick-6 on a screen pass to open the second half, and while the Raiders offense did nothing for the next 28 minutes, New England chipped away with two more field goals to pull within 17-16. With four minutes remaining, Mac Jones hit Meyers for a 39-yard gain across midfield, and on the next play Las Vegas native Stevenson rumbled 34 yards for a go-ahead touchdown.
All in all, the Raiders were outscored 21-0 in the second half — until the final drive.
Taking over with 1:51 on the clock at their own 19, the Raiders went the length of the field in nine plays, capped off by a 30-yard bomb from Carr to Keelan Cole in the back of the end zone to tie the game.
Carr was flustered by the New England defense and struggled through most of the second half, but he finished with 231 passing yards and three touchdowns. And he was clutch on the final drive, converting a 4th-and-10 deep in his own end before eventually dotting the back corner to Cole.
That drive — and Chandler Jones’ early Christmas miracle — helped Las Vegas avoid a fifth double-digit giveaway.
Playoff picture
It’s a flimsy case, but the Raiders will continue sneaking into the bottom of those “Playoff Picture” graphics, under the “In the Hunt” category. At 6-8, they are tied with Jacksonville for 10th place overall in the AFC, joining the Patriots (7-7) and Jets (7-7) as the last teams on the outside looking in.
The Los Angeles Chargers and Miami Dolphins are tied for the final two wild card spots with 8-6 records.
Las Vegas has a very difficult schedule down the stretch, with games against San Francisco and Kansas City still remaining, but for now, the Raiders are still alive.
Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.