Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell had a blunt and honest answer as to who should be blamed for the team’s heartbreaking loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Black Friday.
The 2-9 Raiders were close to upsetting the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs, thanks to a remarkable effort by the second-year quarterback. Aidan O’Connell threw for 340 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in a 19-17 loss.
Las Vegas was in field range (at the Kansas City 32) for Daniel Carlson. Facing a 3rd-and-3 situation with 15 seconds left, O’Connell couldn’t corral the snap from center Jackson Powers-Johnson, and the Chiefs scooped up the ball to seal the win:
The Raiders fumble it, the Chiefs recover it to seal the game ‼️#LVvsKC on Prime Video
— NFL (@NFL) November 29, 2024
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/WvNvUONRM5
There was confusion for several moments, as everyone anxiously awaited the penalty call. The Raiders were flagged for an illegal shift, so the Chiefs’ takeaway was upheld in a tight two-point win.
Aidan O'Connell : 23/35 for a career-high 340 yards, 2 TD's & a 116.4 QB Rating (Game-ending lost fumble with 11 seconds left after the Center Andre James snapped the ball while O'Connell wasn't looking) pic.twitter.com/WbMm7rPYqW
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After the game, Aidan O’Connell pointed the finger at himself and shifted the blame away from Powers-Johnson.
“It’s completely my fault,” O’Connell said, per Nick Walters of KTNV. “Jackson did exactly what he should have done, and I clapped too early…there’s nobody to blame but myself.”
#Raiders QB Aidan O'Connell takes the blame for the early snap that led to the Chiefs recovery
— Nick Walters (@nickwalt) November 30, 2024
"It's completely my fault… When I start clapping that tells Jackson (Powers-Johnson) basically to snap the ball. Jackson did everything he should've done. I clapped too early." @KTNV pic.twitter.com/dTgUYB6OLY
Aidan O’Connell Gave The Raiders A Chance
Aidan O’Connell will be commended (as he should be) for refusing to blame his teammates in the loss. But it’s also hard to put the blame on a quarterback who dominated one of football’s best defenses and gave his team every opportunity to win, despite being vastly short-handed against the defending champs.
Las Vegas is in the running for the first-overall pick. The fact that O’Connell nearly led Vegas to victory should only inspire his confidence.
