Here are the top takeaways and highest-graded players from the Chiefs’ 23-17 win over the Raiders.
Oakland Raiders
– Defensive Player of the Year candidate OLB Khalil Mack ended the season on a high note with a +8.2 overall grade, his second-highest game grade of the season. Mack picked up five hurries and one hit on just 25 pass rush snaps to bring his season tally up to 82 total disruptions. Mack also had seven defensive stops—tied for his season high—six of which came in run defense. He has easily finished the year as the highest-graded edge defender, as well has the highest-graded in both run defense and pass rushing.
– In the final game of his career, S Charles Woodson (+1.0) was targeted once and did not allow a reception. He also added seven tackles, though none were defensive stops. Woodson finished his career among the highest-graded safeties in coverage this season, with a +12.2 coverage grade. He did not allow a touchdown this year and allowed a third-lowest 47.1 passer rating to opposing quarterbacks among safeties with at least 500 snaps played.
– QB Derek Carr (-3.3) had a somewhat rough outing for the second time in three weeks. His interception on a scramble drill was badly underthrown into the end zone, and prevented the Raiders from coming away with points in the red zone. But while he didn’t end the season on a high note, Carr was vastly improved over his rookie year, where he earned the second-lowest overall grade for a quarterback in the league. Carr finished this season with a +13.0 overall grade, just outside the top 10 quarterbacks this season.
Top performers:
OLB Khalil Mack (+8.2)
DE Justin Ellis (+3.0)
DE Stacy McGee (+1.7)
FS Charles Woodson (+1.3)
LG Gabe Jackson (+1.0)
Kansas City Chiefs
– DB Ron Parker earned his highest overall (+3.0) and coverage grades (+3.5) of the season. Parker picked off Derek Carr in the end zone for his third interception of the season. Parker allowed five receptions and his other five targets, but those went for just 21 total yards and none picked up a first down. His one poor play was a pass interference penalty late in the game before the Raiders' final score.
– QB Alex Smith (-0.8) did some great things with his feet as a runner (+1.5 run grade), but as a passer (-2.4 pass grade) it was a below-average performance. In a 3-minute span in the second quarter, he threw a poor pass into coverage that was intercepted by T.J. Carrie, and then threw a pick-six to David Amerson on a quick out. Smith was also zero-for-three on passes targeted 20+ yards downfield.
– Donald Stephenson made his first start back at right tackle and struggled to block Khalil Mack most of the day. He allowed six hurries and one hit on 33 pass block snaps for a -5.1 pass block grade. It was the third time in his nine games with significant playing time where he allowed six or more total pressures. He fared better as a run blocker, but he also had a false start penalty.
Top performers:
LG Jeff Allen (+4.8)
CB Ron Parker (+3.0)
FS Tyvon Branch (+1.7)
WR Jeremy Maclin (+1.6)
DE Jaye Howard (+1.5)
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