CNN
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In probably the most weird finishes to a NFL recreation you’re ever prone 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 enormous achieve as he bumped into Raiders territory.
The clock had ticked right down to zero – which means if Stevenson was to be tackled, the sport could be over and it might go to additional time.
Within the hope of snatching a win on the dying 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 stored maintain of the ball and let the sport go to additional time.
“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 acquired to sort out the man [Chandler Jones],” Jones stated, per NFL. “It’s on me, and it’s my fault. … I’ve acquired to sort out the man, and we play for additional time.”
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 additional time,” McDaniels stated, 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.
“After they handed it to the again, I assumed: ‘OL, sort out him, go to additional time.’ After which once I noticed the ball up within the air and noticed Chandler (Jones) beneath it, I’m considering: ‘Oh my god, we would have an opportunity at this.’
“And when he caught it, I noticed Mac (Jones) was again there and simply hoping that he might 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’ file to 6-8 for the season to maintain their playoff hopes alive whereas the Patriots slipped to 7-7 and with a tough last few weeks left, their postseason goals relaxation within the stability.
