New FSM Game Preview: Raiders vs Chiefs - Week 10

 

FSM Game Preview: Raiders vs Chiefs – Week 10

Franchise Sports Media

Raiders (5-3) | Chiefs (5-4)

 

The Las Vegas Raiders return to Allegiant Stadium to welcome division foe the Kansas City Chiefs for an AFC West showdown on Sunday Night football.

 

The Las Vegas Raiders will be back home looking to get back in the win column against their division rival, the Kansas City Chiefs, in a crucial AFC West showdown.

The Raiders return from their defeat on the road to the New York Giants as quarterback Derek Carr had one of his worst showings on the season with three turnovers, including an interception on the team’s final drive of the game.

Patrick Mahomes is still one of the most skilled and feared players in the NFL, despite having ten interceptions on the season. It won’t be easy for Las Vegas to get back on track and maintain their second-place standing in the division. Despite their showing in the Big Apple, the team must rally together and get focused as this will be the Sunday Night Football game of the week.

 

Two high powered offenses will be looking to light up the score board in Sin City.

 

Since 1960 when the Chiefs were known as the Dallas Texans (they wouldn’t become the Chiefs till 1963), these two franchises have battled it out on the gridiron. The Chiefs lead the all-time series 68-54-2. More flames were added to this match last season when the Raiders playing in Kansas City won the game, and then head coach Jon Gruden had their bus do a victory lap around Arrowhead Stadium.

Now, these two teams square off again as two of the league’s top-tier offenses with star quarterbacks who have weapons at every skill position at their disposal. Former NFL MVP Mahomes has struggled at times this season, and all eyes are on him against a new-look Raider defense that has wreaked havoc on opposing QBs all season. But a player of Mahomes talents can quickly turn things around, especially when he has weapons to go to, like star tight end Travis Kelce and speedy wide receiver Tyreek Hill. This trio is one of the best in the NFL and is always a threat to have a monster showing if they get things going early and often.

The Silver and Black have their own trio to feature, with Carr having a star at tight end in Darren Waller and bruising running back Josh Jacobs. After he cleared waivers from being cut by the Los Angeles Rams, the Raiders added veteran wide receiver DeSean Jackson to the mix.

Given what unfolded with Henry Ruggs, the Raiders moved quickly to add another speedster and hope to squeeze what’s left out of Jackson. Although Jackson has dealt with injury issues the last few seasons, he has consistently shown through his career that he can still fly and take the roof off a defense even as he’s gotten older. How much the Raiders will use their new weapon remains to be seen, but he should get some reps against the Chiefs to see if he can burn them deep.

Both teams have shown they can put points on the board against anyone and will look to do so against each other Sunday night. The creativity these teams show in how they can attack you is something to see, and you can bet both will have a trick or two up their sleeves for this match-up.

 

The Raiders defense will have its work cut out for them if they wanna earn a victory.

 

The Raiders defense has stepped up all season and shown their improvements, going from liability to strength.

The defense will have a tough outing against all the weapons the Chiefs have offensively, not to mention the creative minds of head coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. But defensive coordinator Gus Bradley has shown he can get the most out of this unit and have guys step up and make plays.

Linebacker Denzel Perryman has been a hammer in the middle of this unit, making thunderous tackles and constantly bringing the energy that translates to players such as linebacker Cory Littleton who has turned things around in his second year in Silver and Black. In addition, safety/linebacker hybrid Johnathan Abram has played under much more control, putting him in better positions to make plays and be another force on the field with Perryman.

Unfortunately, the cornerback position for the Raiders has seen its share of woes as starter Trayvon Mullen suffered an injury that landed him on injured reserves, and the team just released former first-round pick Damon Arnette, due to off-field issues. Arnette, who was supposed to step up his game in year two, couldn’t show much improvement and was still a liability when given snaps.

But Bradley found adequate replacements in Brandon Facyson and rookie Nate Hobbs. Both players have stepped up and taken advantage of opportunities. They’ve made standout plays with fantastic effort on the field. While not perfect, they play with the type of swag and confidence to be in a position to make a play more often than not.

 

While the back seven has some new faces and made their improvements, the real change, and star of this defense is the defensive line.

 

The Raiders D-Line consistently visits opposing backfields. Maxx Crosby and Yannick Ngakoue lead a group that has proven they don’t need the team to blitz as they can get to the quarterback just fine on their own with 20 sacks on the season so far.

This unit went from allowing opposing quarterbacks time to have picnics in the pocket to now having them worry for their wellbeing. These changes in production have been the biggest reason for the Raiders’ success on the defensive side of the ball, and they are going to need it to continue against the Chiefs.

As a unit, they will be challenged with formations, motions, shifts, crossing routes, speed, and the unpredictable creativity of Mahomes when he leaves the pocket. But the Raiders had success against this team last season, going 1-1. The Raiders are a different squad and have all the motivation they need from what has unfolded so far this season to go out and prove a point on prime-time television. Whether it’s by a point or by 20 points, at the end of the day, in the words of the late great Al Davis,

 

“Just Win Baby”

 

The Raiders and Chiefs play Sunday Night at 5:20 at Allegiant  Stadium and can be seen on NBC.

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-Kalani Lua – Franchise Sports Media

Follow Kalani on Twitter @klua11

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