Raiders vs Chiefs
Photo Credit: Yahoo Sports

Game Preview: Raiders vs Chiefs – Week 11

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Las Vegas Raiders (6-3)  |  Kansas City Chiefs (8-1)

 

 

The Las Vegas Raiders are once again back home at Allegiant Stadium this week and look to sweep the season series against the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.

 

Raiders vs Chiefs
Photo Credit: Andy Cross/The Denver Post

The Raiders will take the field against the Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday night in primetime, as the two AFC West rivals collide for the second and final time of the regular season in 2020. In their first matchup in Week 5, the Raiders took home a victory by a score of 40-32, giving the Chiefs their only loss of the season.

In Week 10, the Raiders hosted the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium for the first time in 2020 against their AFC West rival. The Raiders, led by a rushing attack that amassed over 200 total yards, won by a score of 37-12 to move to 6-3 on the season and 3-0 within the division.

Devontae Booker and Josh Jacobs were the stars of the offense accounting for four scores on the ground. Jacobs registered his third career game with at least 100 rushing yards and two rushing scores, while Booker set a new career-high with two rushing touchdowns of his own. The duo became the second pair of Raiders rushers to each surpass 80 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in the same game while raising the Raiders rushing attack to an average of 190.7 yards per game over the last three contests, a mark that ranks first in the AFC and second in the NFL over that span.

On defense, the unit recorded five total takeaways for the first time since 2013 against the San Diego Chargers and just the third time in the last 10 seasons. Their four interceptions recorded marked their first-such performance since 2008 against the Carolina Panthers. Leading the way was safety Jeff Heath, who tied a career-high with two interceptions, while linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski and defensive end Carl Nassib also added one apiece. Linebacker Nicholas Morrow also had a solid game, posting his second career sack, forcing a fumble, and logging two passes defended.

The Chiefs enter Week 11 following their bye week and head into the contest with a record of 8-1 and riding a four-game winning streak, with their last and only loss coming against the Raiders.

 

It is a revenge game for the Chiefs, but the Raiders are looking to get closer to the AFC West title.

 

Raiders vs Chiefs
Photo Credit: AP/ Charlie Riedel

Vegas played great in their upset win over the Chiefs back in Week 5. Derek Carr passed for 347 yards, and the deep passing game was working wonders for the Raiders, as they had two touchdowns of 59 yards or longer in the game. The defense also played well, allowing Patrick Mahomes to complete just 51 percent of his passes and forcing a late interception.

Can the Raiders do it again, or will the Chiefs gain revenge and increase their advantage in the AFC West? Josh Jacobs rushed for two touchdowns in the first game, and shutting him down will be essential if the Chiefs want to emerge from Sunday Night Football with the victory. The Kansas City run defense has allowed the fifth-most rushing yards per game while playing well against the pass. The Raiders have allowed the seventh-most passing yards per game.

If the Chiefs win this game, the AFC West race is essentially over. That being said, in Kansas City’s only loss, that 40-32 home shocker to the Raiders in Week 5, Derek Carr was actually the better quarterback over Mahomes that day. The Raiders defense suffered a blow, learning that they may not have defensive end Clelin Ferrell on Sunday; he is on the COVID-19 list after a positive test on Tuesday.

 

Raiders and Broncos connections:

 

  • Raiders’ Head Coach Jon Gruden and Chiefs’ Head Coach Andy Reid spent time on the same coaching staff in Green Bay from 1992-94, serving as a wide receivers coach and tight ends/offensive line coach.
  • Raiders’ center Rodney Hudson was originally drafted by Kansas City in the second round (55th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft and spent four years with the Chiefs from 2011-2014, playing in 51 games with 35 starts.
  • Raiders’ defensive line coach Rod Marinelli and Chiefs’ Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Dave Toub spent time on the same coaching staff in Chicago from 2009- 12, serving as Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator and offensive line coach, respectively.
  • Raiders’ offensive coordinator Greg Olson coached Chiefs’ wide receiver Sammy Watkins in 2017 with the Los Angeles Rams. Olson also coached Chiefs’ quarterback Chad Henne in 2012 and again from 2015-16 in Jacksonville.
  • Chiefs’ offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy spent time on the same coaching staff at UCLA as Raiders’ offensive line coach Tom Cable from 2004-05, serving as the running backs coach and offensive coordinator/offensive line coach.
  • Chiefs’ offensive line coach Andy Heck spent time with Raiders’ offensive coordinator Greg Olson in Jacksonville in 2012, serving as offensive line coach and assistant head coach/ quarterbacks coach.
  • Chiefs’ cornerback Antonio Hamilton originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Raiders in 2016.

 

Do not miss this important AFC division matchup, as the Raiders take on the Chiefs Sunday Night at 5:25 PM on NBC.

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Joe Arrigo – Franchise Sports Media

Twitter: @JoeArrigo

 

 

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Raiders vs Chiefs