Maxx Crosby learned the hard way that firing up Patrick Mahomes can backfire.
But while the Las Vegas defender ignited a huge Kansas City comeback in 2022, the Raiders proved last season they could back up their trash talk with a stunning victory.
“We’re not worried about them,” Las Vegas defensive back Jack Jones said.
“It’s Patrick Mahomes we’ve got to stop. You stop the magician, then the act is over.”
Calling Mahomes a 'magician' and referring to the Chiefs as an 'act' was ultimately proven wrong last season.
Kansas City found its rhythm at the perfect time, turning a 9-6 record into the AFC crown and a Super Bowl overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers in a Las Vegas thriller that Crosby could barely watch.
But on Christmas Day in 2023, the struggling Raiders fully believed in then-interim head coach Antonio Pierce and pulled off a victory over the Chiefs that few predicted.
With 73,480 fans packed inside Arrowhead Stadium on December 25, Las Vegas led 17-7 at halftime.
Despite Aidan O'Connell only completing 9-of-21 passes for 62 yards and a 50.3 rating, Pierce's Raiders won 20-14 to improve to 7-8 and remain in playoff contention.
Las Vegas celebrated the upset by smoking victory cigars in the road locker room. The game remains the last home defeat suffered by the Chiefs, 11 months ago.
“One of our mantras (was) by any means necessary," Pierce said.
After Jones teased the Chiefs by calling Mahomes a magician, Las Vegas became the first team since 2000 to win without completing a pass after the first quarter.
The gutsy Raiders also became only the fifth team to beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead without scoring an offensive touchdown.
“They played a better game than we did today,” Kansas City coach Andy Reid said.
“On offense we struggled. That’s my responsibility to make sure we put the guys in the right position to make plays, and that didn’t happen the way we wanted it to.
"I take full responsibility for the way we played offensively there."
It was a season low point for the Chiefs -- and is now a reminder that being 10-1 isn't that bad.
Jones was criticised at the time for messing with Kansas City
But Las Vegas had inner confidence in December 2023 and was on the verge of fully giving the team to Pierce.
A year later, Kansas City is the AFC's top seed, while the Raiders (2-9) could move on from Pierce after just one season.
“Let’s call a spade a spade, right? Best team in football against the worst team in football,” Pierce said.
“Let’s change the narrative. Let’s make it a dog fight, make it ugly, make it scrappy.
"It’s Black Friday. Let’s create a little chaos, let’s get back to Raider football, have some fun, win or lose.”
Maybe the Raiders just need to call Mahomes a "magician" again and play tough in Kansas City.
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