By Kirk Kern
The Raiders blew a double-digit lead … again. But this time, in the craziest of fashion, they came back and beat the Patriots 30-24.
The Raiders (6-8) led by 14 at the half at home against New England, but then trailed by seven late in the game when Derek Carr connected with Keelan Cole in the corner of the end zone to tie the game at 24-24 with 32 seconds left.
On the last play of the game, the Patriots (7-7) ran the ball with Rhamondre Stevenson, He broke loose but then tried to pitch the ball to a teammate. The ball got loose, was picked up by Chandler Jones and he ran 48 yards for the game-winning touchdown.
After trailing by 14 at the half, the Patriots (8-6) got close with 10 third-quarter points. The first seven came from a Carr interception by Kyle Dugger that was returned 16 yards for a New England touchdown. Later in the half, Nick Folk kicked a 49-yard field goal that capped a 12-play drive that started at the Patriots 2 yard line.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Patriots pulled to within 17-16 on another Folk field goal, this time from 54 yards out. The score capped a seven-play drive that covered only 14 yards.
Late in the fourth quarter and trailing by one, the Patriots went on three-play drive that covered 76 yards. Stevenson broke loose on a 34-yard touchdown run to put the Patriots up by five. Mac Jones hit Jakobi Meyers for the two-point conversion and the Patriots led 24-17.
The Raiders led at the half, 17-3, on the strength of two second quarter touchdowns. Midway through the second quarter, Carr connected with Darren Waller for a 25-yard score. It was Waller’s first target of the game and capped an 11-play, 76-yard drive.
Just before the half, the Raiders Malcolm Koonce blocked a Patriots punt, giving the Raiders the ball at the ball at the New England 20 yard line with 27 seconds remaining. With four seconds left, Carr hit Mack Hollins for a four-yard touchdown to go into the intermission with a 17-3 lead.
Both teams kicked field goals earlier in the game. The Raiders scored on the opening drive of the game on a Daniel Carlson field goal from 40 yards out. New England answered with a Nick Folk field goal from 24 yards with 11:51 left in the second quarter.
