OAKLAND -- It took more than a year, but the Raiders finally won a football game.
The Silver and Black beat the Kansas City Chiefs 24-20 at O.co Coliseum with a game-winning fourth quarter drive by quarterback Derek Carr.
The rookie found a wide-open James Jones for a 9-yard touchdown that put the Raiders ahead with 1 minute, 42 seconds remaining.
It concluded a 17-play, 80-yard drive that the Raiders have seemed incapable of in recent weeks.
They’ve been in so many games and found a way to lose. This time around, the Raiders came through in the clutch.
[RELATED: Raiders RB Murray out for game with concussion]
The Raiders converted three third downs and a fourth down on that pivotal drive, using had runs from Marcel Reece and timely completions to march down the field.
The Chiefs mounted one final stand, but the Raiders held on to win.
1-10 never felt so good.
This unit that never stopped fighting during a nightmare season, and finally got a payoff for their hard work and commitment. With that, a 16-game losing streak was snapped.
The Raiders played with the fire, intensity and a clear want to win a football game. Latavius Murray gave them life. After the young running back got concussed in the second quarter, it slowly left the Silver and Black.
The Chiefs scored 14 unanswered points to take a 20-17 lead. The Raiders came back with a pivotal drive that wouldn’t have been possible without Murray.
The second-year pro, who earned more touches with a solid cameo Sunday against San Diego, had some big runs to give the Raiders a 14-0 lead.
The first came concluded the team’s first drive, an 11-yard run where he bounced outside and found the end zone. Then, early in the second quarter, Murray ran right, cut back left and bolted 90 yards for the team’s second touchdown.
Murray suffered a concussion on the next drive and did not return. The Raiders certainly wish he did. He had 112 yards and two touchdowns in four carries.
The offense sputtered without him. Darren McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew were ineffective, combining for just 28 yards on 15 carries in shocking contrast to Murray’s production.
The passing game struggled as a result, as the Raiders offense reverted back to old ways.
After struggling for most of three quarters, the Chiefs finally reached the end zone. Alex Smith connected with tight end Anthony Fasano on a 19-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 17-10.
The Raiders responded with five plays and a punt, and the Chiefs scored another touchdown. Smith hit wide open running back Jamaal Charles between the hash marks and he scampered into the ended zone.
Just like that, the energy left O.co Coliseum.
The game, this crowd knew, was slipping away. The Raiders got it back, and won in dramatic fashion with Carr’s touchdown pass.
Murray provides a spark: Raiders fans spent the week clamoring for young running back Latavius Murray –- on breaks from criticizing coordinator Greg Olson, anyway -– to get more touches.
That wish was granted. Boy, was it the right move. Murray had 112 rushing yards and two touchdowns on four carries, averaging 28.0 yards per attempt. That included a 90-yard touchdown run, which was the NFL’s longest scoring play this season.
The fun didn’t last long. He suffered a concussion in the second quarter (see more below) and was pulled from the game.
Murray concussed: Murray was evaluated for a concussion in the first half and did not return. He was hit in the head on a second-quarter run where he fumbled got the first down but fumbled on 3rd-and-3. The Raiders recovered, but he did not.
The Raiders went back to veterans McFadden and Jones-Drew with the second-year pro out for good.
First halftime lead since last Thanksgiving: The Raiders jumped out to an 14-3 halftime lead on Murray’s strong runs. He scored two touchdowns, but was allowed to do so thanks to solid play on third down. They converted 4-of-7 third downs, which spurned the first touchdown drive.
Derek Carr was effective in those areas, with smart passing.
The Raiders played well defensively to keep Kansas City out of the end zone, even after Denarius Moore muffed a punt and lost possession at his own 11-yard line. The Chiefs took a field goal from a three-and-out.
The Raiders held a halftime lead for the first time since last Thanksgiving, when they jumped ahead of the Dallas Cowboys.
Woodson’s place in history: Raiders free safety Charles Woodson was all over the field on Thursday night, as he has been all season long.
He sacked Smith on 3rd-and-7 in the third quarter, the 20th of his illustrious career.
Woodson became the first player in NFL history with 50 interceptions and 20 sacks.
Sitting it out: The Raiders played Thursday’s game without cornerbacks T.J. Carrie and Carlos Rogers, who were ruled out earlier in the week. Guard Gabe Jackson, safety Jonathan Dowling and tight end David Ausberry were also ruled out with injury.
In addition, quarterback Matt McGloin, guard Tony Bergstrom and
What's next: The Raiders get a rare weekend off after playing two games in five days. They’ll come back from three days off and start prep for a road game against the St. Louis Rams, a talented team that has beat several top-tier clubs.
