In a dramatic twist fit for a holiday movie, Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell turned the final seconds of Friday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs into a comedy of errors. With the Raiders trailing 19-17 and charging down the field, rookie center Jackson Powers-Johnson snapped the ball prematurely, catching O’Connell off guard.
O’Connell, who was busy clapping to signal the snap, watched in horror as the ball skittered away, leading to a game-sealing fumble recovery by the Chiefs. The Raiders’ comeback hopes were dashed, and O’Connell took full responsibility, admitting he clapped too early.
“It’s completely my fault,” O’Connell said. “I was trying to make sure everyone was set, and I started clapping. Rookie mistake, I guess.”
While the Raiders fell to 2-10 on the season, O’Connell’s self-awareness and humor provided a silver lining. Fans couldn’t help but chuckle at the quarterback’s honest admission, and some even joked that O’Connell’s clap was the loudest—and most consequential—sound of the game.
As the Raiders regroup and look ahead to their next game, one thing’s for sure: O’Connell’s clap will be remembered as a classic moment in Raiders’ lore.
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