CNN
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In one of the crucial weird finishes to a NFL recreation you’re ever more likely to see, the Las Vegas Raiders beat the New England Patriots 30-24 to maintain their slim playoff hopes alive.
With simply three seconds left, the sport was tied at 24-24. Working again Rhamondre Stevenson, who had, up till that time, loved a monster recreation – had simply grabbed one other large achieve as he bumped into Raiders territory.
The clock had ticked right down to zero – that means if Stevenson was to be tackled, the sport can be over and it might go to time beyond regulation.
Within the hope of snatching a win on the loss of life and keep away from an additional 10 minutes of play, Stevenson determined to throw the ball backwards to his teammate Jakobi Meyers.
Meyers caught the lateral and in addition tried to maintain the play going by throwing to a teammate.
However as he tried to throw it to quarterback Mac Jones, the ball was caught by Raiders defensive finish Chandler Jones, who used to play for the Patriots.
Jones stiff-armed the Patriots’ quarterback and ran 48 yards for a landing, giving the Raiders probably the most dramatic of wins in probably the most inconceivable circumstances.
Meyers admitted he ought to have simply saved maintain of the ball and let the sport go to time beyond regulation.
“I didn’t see Chandler Jones on the time,” Meyers advised MassLive’s Mark Daniels, per NFL.
“I simply thought he was open, tried to get to him and let him attempt to make a play with it, however the rating was tied so I ought to’ve simply went down.”
Patriots quarterback Jones regretted not tackling his positional rival.
“I’ve obtained to sort out the man [Chandler Jones],” Jones mentioned, per NFL. “It’s on me, and it’s my fault. … I’ve obtained to sort out the man, and we play for time beyond regulation.”
Raiders head coach John McDaniels – a former longtime Patriots offensive coordinator – was additionally stunned at how the sport ended.
“As soon as Rhamondre (Stevenson) pitched the ball to Jakobi (Meyers), I figured they’d in all probability simply sort out whoever had it, and that might be it and we’d go to time beyond regulation,” McDaniels mentioned, per NFL.
“When he lateraled the ball … it didn’t appear to be a lateral play to me once they handed the ball off to the again.
“Once they handed it to the again, I assumed: ‘OL, sort out him, go to time beyond regulation.’ After which once I noticed the ball up within the air and noticed Chandler (Jones) beneath it, I’m pondering: ‘Oh my god, we’d have an opportunity at this.’
“And when he caught it, I noticed Mac (Jones) was again there and simply hoping that he may keep away from no matter effort that Mac needed to sort out him, hope he had sufficient juice left in his physique to get to the tip zone.”
The gripping ending got here after an thrilling recreation throughout which the Patriots scored 21-straight second-half factors having trailed 17-3 to the Raiders at half time.
It improved the Raiders’ report to 6-8 for the season to maintain their playoff hopes alive whereas the Patriots slipped to 7-7 and with a tough ultimate few weeks left, their postseason goals relaxation within the steadiness.
