Page 21 - ARUBA TODAY

A21
SPORTS Saturday 10 december 2016

Chiefs come through to take control of division race

BY DAVE SKRETTA Del Rio declined to say
AP SPORTS WRITER what was wrong, but did
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- say that Osemele was go-
Charcandrick West was ing to be able to return to
playing for Joe McKnight. Oakland with the team.
Tyreek Hill was playing “Not trying to get into spe-
for the fans chanting his cifics,” Del Rio said, “but
name. The Chiefs defense it was significant enough
was playing for its injured we wanted to make sure
leader. we got him to the proper
Everybody on the Kan- care.”
sas City sideline was play- MACK TRUCKING: Khalil
ing for control of the AFC Mack had a strip-sack
West. for the third consecutive
“This was a big game,” game, though for the first
Chiefs cornerback Steven time he didn’t recover
Nelson said, stripping off his own fumble. The sack
his uniform after a 21-13 also gave him one in eight
victory over the Oakland straight games, matching
Raiders on Thursday night. Lance Johnstone for the
“It means a lot of things longest streak in franchise
down the road.” history since sacks be-
The ramifications begin came official in 1982.
with the division race, TRY SOME STICKUM: The
where the Chiefs (10-3) Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Keith McGill II (39) nearly intercepts a pass intended for Raiders were plagued by
forged a tie with Oakland Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper (89) during the first half of an NFL football game dropped passes, including
(10-3) at the top. But they in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016. The pass was incomplete. one by Seth Roberts that
also hold the tiebreaker by Associated Press would have resulted in a
virtue of their two head- “He was out there with me first half. after, they’re still there for touchdown. Roberts only
to-head wins and are po- tonight,” West said. “It was one of those next- us.’ We won’t let this de- hauled in two catches on
sitioned for a first-round Hill scored twice, once on man-up things,” Nelson termine who we are and nine targets, while Coo-
playoff bye with three reg- a long touchdown recep- said. “Fill your role.” what we want to accom- per had five catches on
ular season games left. tion and later on a punt The Chiefs did that per- plish.” 10 targets and Crabtree
“It’s huge,” Chiefs line- return. The dynamic score fectly in beating Oakland Here are some of the oth- had four catches on sev-
backer Dee Ford said. “It on special teams came af- for the seventh time in er takeaways from the en targets. “We just didn’t
probably won’t hit until ter Hill had fumbled a punt eight meetings. They held Chiefs’ crucial victory: execute how we normally
afterward and we are un- earlier in the game, and as Derek Carr to 17 of 41 for CATCHING KELCE: Chiefs could,” Cooper said. “We
winding. We have 10 days thousands of fans who had 117 yards passing, pre- tight end Travis Kelce had just have to find a way to
to actually enjoy it and bundled up against the vented Amari Cooper and five catches for 101 yards, execute and move the
celebrate it.” cold had a begun to say Michael Crabtree from his fourth straight game ball.”
There were plenty of story his name in unison. having any impact on the with at least 100 yards. That NO EXCUSES: Even though
lines at cold, wind-swept “It was crazy, man. I didn’t game, and held Latavius matches the franchise re- the wind chill approached
Arrowhead Stadium. know what to do,” Hill said. Murray in check most of cord set by Tony Gonza- single digits by the end
West scored in the first half After the Raiders got within the night. lez, and allows him to join of the game, the Raiders
as Kansas City raced to a 21-13 in the second half, He finished with 103 yards a group of tight ends that were unwilling to use the
21-3 lead, and then pulled the Chiefs defense kept and a touchdown. also includes Jimmy Gra- weather as an excuse.
up his jersey to reveal a making a stand, even “We had no doubt in our ham who have accom- “That’s football weather,”
white shirt that said “Long though Derrick Johnson mind we were going to plished that feat. offensive tackle Donald
Live Joe” - a tribute to was no longer there to get back in the game. But OSEMELE OUT: Raiders of- Penn said. “Weather didn’t
McKnight, his fellow Loui- help them. The veteran again, we didn’t make fensive lineman Kelechi have anything to do with
siana native and a former linebacker’s season came enough plays to do that,” Osemele woke up Thurs- it. I’ve played in the cold.
Chiefs running back who to a sudden and frustrating Murray said. “Like coach day sick enough that he Everybody’s played in the
was shot to death last end when he ruptured his said, ‘What we want in went to the hospital for cold once. Weather had
week. Achilles tendon late in the our goals and what we’re treatment. Coach Jack nothing to do with it.”q