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Wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling had his first taste of the rivalry between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Las Vegas Raiders and has nothing but appreciation for its intensity.
“Yeah, I mean, it was a completely different atmosphere. Obviously, when I was in Green Bay, we beat the Bears every time we played them. So, it wasn't really much of a rivalry to our side of it,” he expressed. “But here, you know the atmosphere and the energy was just completely different and I loved it. I'm excited to go and beat them up in their hometown as well.”
Valdes-Scantling joined the Chiefs via a three-year, $30 million contract after spending four seasons with the Green Bay Packers.
The game lived up to its billing as the Chiefs overhauled a 17-0 deficit to win by one, 30-29. The former North Carolina State and South Florida standout had an impressive performance on his birthday with six catches for 90 yards.
"It was good to get out this win on my birthday. But it was good being able to bounce back after being down 17-0 to a good football team,” Valdes-Scantling said. “No matter what their record says, they're a good football team. They are our rivals. They came in, and they're ready to play, but we're able to bounce back and get through that."
The Chiefs reduced the Raiders’ lead before halftime via Travis Kelce’s first of four touchdown receptions and Matthew Wright’s 59-yard field goal conversion, a new franchise record. Kansas City used a 20-3 second-half run to take a seven-point lead with a little over seven minutes left in the game.
However, Davante Adams’ 48-yard touchdown catch trimmed the lead to one. Unfortunately, the Raiders were unsuccessful in their two-point conversion attempt, giving the Chiefs their fourth win in five games. On the other hand, the Raiders have dropped their fourth game, losing those matches by a total of 14 points.
"Honestly, it was no different. I mean, we knew we were going to win the game. Especially on our side of the ball, we’ll be able to figure it out. There's no fear in our hearts. There's no doubt that we're not going to be able to score points. We got some of the best and some Hall of Famers on that side of the ball, too. We're okay," Valdes-Scantling shared about the comeback.
This victory also maintains the Chiefs’ lead in their all-time series against the Raiders, 71-54-2, which dates back to their days in the now-defunct American Football League. Likewise, the Chiefs have won their last four meetings with the Raiders.
