Las Vegas Raiders keep playoff hopes alive with huge Christmas Day win over the Chiefs… as interim coach Antonio Pierce makes his case to be permanent

On a day that started with hopes that the Kansas City Chiefs would break out of their offensive funk and secure the AFC West, the opposite happened.

The Las Vegas Raiders stymied their division foe 20-14 despite their own offense to keep their own playoff hopes alive.

The turning point of the game came in the second quarter with two costly mistakes by Patrick Mahomes.

Mahomes fumbled a handoff exchange, causing Raiders defensive lineman Bilal Nichols to return it for an eight-yard score.

Seven seconds later, Mahomes threw an underball that landed right in the hands of Las Vegas cornerback Jack Jones, who returned the ball untouched for a pick-six.

Interim Raiders coach Antonio Pierce further laid claim to the permanent job in Las Vegas

Las Vegas played without star Josh Jacobs, and backup Zamir White had 145 yards on the ground.

Aidan O'Connell again started for the Raiders at quarterback and did not complete a pass after the first quarter, going 9-of-21 for 62 yards.

Mahomes finished the day 27 of 44 for 235 yards, one touchdown and the interception for Jones.

With the win, interim Raiders coach Antonio Pierce further staked his claim on the permanent job in Las Vegas.

“Great work by Antonio Pierce, who deserves it. I think he should be a head coach next year,” CBS chief color commentator Tony Romo said.

'He is an excellent coach. He was a great football player. He knows the game at a very high level. He communicates, he creates a culture, and we're seeing the fruits of that now.”

The Chiefs are back in action next week against the Cincinnati Bengals, while the Raiders' next game is against the Indianapolis Colts.