As the Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs meet for the NFL’s Black Friday clash, memories from their most recent holiday matchup still linger. The Raiders’ 20-14 upset win on Christmas was more than a surprise — it was a pivotal moment that reshaped the Chiefs’ road to the Super Bowl.
Then-interim head coach Antonio Pierce and his team delivered a wake-up call that echoed throughout Kansas City. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid didn’t mince words about its impact.
“I texted him,” Reid later shared. “I just said, ‘Beautiful facility, first of all. And thank you for kicking our tail — you taught us a lesson. Complacency is dangerous in this business, and the line between winning and losing is razor-thin.'”
The Chiefs responded by ending their season on a six-game win streak that was capped with a Super Bowl title — fittingly, at Allegiant Stadium, the Raiders’ home turf.
Kansas City carried that momentum into this season, opening with a dominant nine-game win streak.
The 2-9 Raiders might have less on the line than the 10-1 Chiefs — but as Reid reminded us last year, there are always lessons to be learned, especially against divisional rivals.
Follow along for live updates of the Black Friday showdown between the AFC West foes.