Eliminated: Chiefs vs. Raiders

KC - 13                OAK - 16       OT

It all worked out perfectly. The Buffalo Bills trounced the Denver Broncos. The Detroit Lions beat down the San Diego Chargers. All the pieces fell together perfectly except for the only one the Chiefs had control over, a Kansas City victory.

The Raiders were more than obliging. They were constantly penalized, 15 times for 92 yards, including a delay of game penalty that wiped out a fake field goal touchdown. Carson Palmer did us a favor by throwing two interceptions. But the Chiefs could never take advantage, and they seemed determined to keep pace with Oakland's sloppiness throughout the course of the game. And it was that sloppiness that cost the Chiefs a chance at an AFC West Championship matchup with the Denver Broncos next week.

In many ways the game resembled the season. The 91 yard kickoff return to open the game represented the Chiefs rough start. Two blocked field goals were extremely frustrating. To tie it up with about a minute left after so much red zone failure, just to lose it in overtime represents how much up and down the season has been. And the result, after all the scenarios that had to happen happened, will just add to every fan remembering the 2011 season as what could have been.

What the Chiefs did right

• The Chiefs defense did an excellent job throughout the four quarters of regulation. They held the Raiders to a field goal within their own redzone after the opening kickoff. They created two turnovers, intercepting Carson Palmer twice (Derrick Johnson, Javier Arenas) and keeping the offense in the game. 
• The Chiefs offense was having success moving the ball into the redzone, doing so four times. They had exactly double Oakland's first downs, with 26. They won the time of possession battle. And the Chiefs had 435 yards of total offense, about what they did last week against the Packers and more than double the yards gained during the Tyler Palko Experience. 
• Dwayne Bowe caught his first touchdown pass in over 50 catches. The Chiefs combined for 135 rushing yards by their "committee" approach. Dexter McCluster has been used more effectively through the second half of the season, and he exploded for a 49 yard run to get the Chiefs into a 1st & Goal situation at the end of the fourth quarter. And Kyle Orton became the first Chiefs QB this season to throw for 300 yards in a game, finishing 21/36 for exactly 300 yards, but no yards came at a bigger time than at the end of the game when the Chiefs were trying for a game-winning field goal.
• Ryan Succop tied Pete Stoyonavich's Chiefs record for consecutive field goals made at 22. 

What the Chiefs could have done better

• When Marty coached in Kansas City, beating the Raiders became a priority of every season. But for the last five years, the Raiders have beat the Chiefs in KC. Marty always said that if you keep it close until the 4th quarter, the Raiders will beat themselves and you will win. Well, yesterday would have been another prime example of Marty's preaching, but the Chiefs beat themselves instead. The Raiders might have had 15 penalties for 92 yards, but the Chiefs had 11 for 88 yards. Dwayne Bowe dropped a TD that lead to a goal line interception on the next play. The Chiefs had two blocked field goals (I don't even know if Succop has had a FG blocked in his entire career), one that was a game-winning attempt with 5 seconds left. And then the Chiefs defense gives up a 53 yard pass on the first offensive play of overtime. For a defense that had been coming through all game to give up that completion was devastating. 
• But until overtime, it was hard to blame the defense for the way the game was going. Sure, they gave up a 61 yard touchdown after Denarius Moore scorched Rashard Langford in coverage, but besides that one play, the defense was playing good. It was the offense and special teams that let down KC on Sunday, which wasn't the first time that had been the case this season.
• Kyle Orton throw two interceptions at critical times during the game, and the Chiefs finished with only one TD in four redzone  appearances. The redzone has haunted the Chiefs all season, whether it was Cassel, Palko or Orton behind center. 
• The special teams, although sloppy all season, was an absolute mess yesterday, and you could say was the main factor of why the Chiefs lost. Two blocked field goals in the same game and a very long opening kickoff return. The Raiders have one of the best if not the best special teams units in the NFL, but for it to become such a factor in a game usually means that somebody screwed up. That somebody was the Chiefs, and in a game decided by a field goal in overtime, the points taken away because of special teams play was deadly.
• Coaching, whether Romeo Crennel enthusiasts like to hear it or not, was bad. Whether it was bad decisions in scenarios or bad playcalling, coaching was bad. Bill Muir makes awful playcalling decisions in the redzone, and the one on 4th & inches late in the fourth quarter that wasn't a QB sneak cost the Chiefs field position and a Raiders FG. And why go for it there and not on the 2 yard line early in the game. Every statistic will tell you going for it when you're that close is the right decision, even if you don't make it. Crennel made similar decisions last week, but it was covered over with a win. I know the players love him, but he is not the best coaching option available.

At the end of the day, the 6-9 Chiefs made it until week 16 to be eliminated from playoff contention. I guess, considering how the season started, that isn't too bad. Or maybe that's just the holiday spirit in me talking.