With the rematch on the horizon, can the Chiefs dismantle the Raiders for a season sweep in Arrowhead?
The Las Vegas Raiders had their worst game of the season in Week 10 in a 41-14 home loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. This Sunday, at Arrowhead, this will be for sure a revenge game for them.
However, the Chiefs are not the same anymore. The game against the Raiders actually looked like a “usual” Chiefs game, where the offense just went crazy without leaving any chance to the Raiders’ defense. It kind of unblocked the team. Since then, the Kansas City Chiefs are on a five-game winning streak, whereas the Raiders have lost four out of the last five games.
The AFC West is still open though, but a win from the Chiefs will be very much welcome and could put away for good the Raiders for the lead of the division, and therefore a spot in the playoff picture.
“Every day is different in this league. That’s why you have to prep and focus so much this week,” said Reid, who needs one win to reach 100 in Kansas City. “You have to remember, the other team is playing. You’re not doing it against air. You have to go out and execute and do it every day.”
The Chiefs (8-4) have a one-game lead on the Chargers and a two-game lead on the Broncos and Raiders (6-6) as they seek a sixth straight AFC West crown. The defense did most of the work to keep the team on top, so we are hoping for a strong performance of the offense once again against their rivals, the Las Vegas Raiders.
“They are all great players and sometimes it just takes a little bit to be, ‘OK, this is what we are going to be good at right now,’” Raiders quarterback Derek Carr said. “From the first half of the year to the second half, are they doing things much different? I mean, you still see the same things. Maybe they are executing a little bit better and things like that, but any time I play these guys I know what I’m in for and it’s going to be a tough match.”
Luckily, it looks like the Raiders are on a downward spiral and their offense has been very inconsistent.
The Chiefs’ defense could be even stronger this week with the return of Rashad Fenton, who is rated among the league’s top cornerbacks by Pro Football Focus.
Additionally, Las Vegas lost its fourth time in the past five outings Sunday 17-15 to the Washington Football Team. Raiders QB Derek Carr connected on 28 of 38 passes for 249 yards with no TDs or INTs.
K.C. won at home 22-9 over the Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football in Week 13.
Overall, since the Andy Reid era in Kansas City, the Midwestern team is 14-3 against the Raiders. And Mahomes is 6-1 overall all-time against the Raiders with a 20 TD:3 INT ratio and a 109.7 QB Rating.
On paper, the Chiefs have all the cards in hand to distance the Raiders in the division and take care of the Los Angeles Chargers next week in the Thursday night football, a capital gam e for the AFC West. One step at a time, the Chiefs are getting closer to the playoffs when the beginning of the season was not promising anything good…
