The Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders have built quite the rivalry in the AFC.
The teams play each other twice every season as AFC West foes, and it’s clear there’s no love lost between them. The rivalry rose to another level during the offseason when a few Raiders players mocked KC quarterback Patrick Mahomes with a Kermit the frog puppet dressed as the two-time MVP in a No. 15 Chiefs jersey.
Kansas City gained the best of Vegas in their first regular-season meeting on Oct. 27 — a 27-20 Chiefs win — and it did so again in Week 13 with a 19-17 win on Black Friday, which didn’t come without controversy.
Raiders rookie center Jackson Powers-Johnson snapped the ball early with 15 seconds remaining, leading to a fumble the Chiefs recovered. Vegas argued the play should have been nullified due to a false start, but officials called an illegal shift. Kansas City declined the penalty and took possession of the ball and icing the win.
Despite the game ending on such a polarizing note, Mahomes and Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby shared a moment postgame, which included a five-word message from the star pass-rusher.
“Go get another one, brother,” Crosby said.
Crosby’s remarks seemed to take some Chiefs fans off-guard on social media, many of whom praised the 27-year-old for his surprising show of sportsmanship.
“If Maxx did in fact say this, I’m liking the dude just a little bit more than I did when the game started. Raiders are lucky to have him,” one fan wrote.
“Respect- Maxx is the ONLY raider I wish would join the Kingdom,” another added.
“Nothing but respect for Crosby. Love/hate him only when he plays the Chiefs,” remarked another fan.
“Dang it, Crosby, don’t make me like you,” one user quipped.
“Not a fan of Maxx, but I’m coming around,” added another.
Mahomes finished the game with 306 yards passing and a touchdown while Crosby logged four tackles, four QB hits, two tackles for loss, and a sack.