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