The Kansas City Chiefs come into Week 8 as the only unbeaten team in the NFL, with a 6-0 record after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 28-18 last Sunday. That win marked their 12th straight victory for Kansas City, a streak that started after a 20-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders last Christmas. However, unlike the Kansas City Chiefs, the Raiders have not been able to build off that win, as they currently sit at 2-5. They find themselves on the opposite side of anything prosperous, having lost their last three games.
As Kansas City heads to Las Vegas this week, looking to avenge its last loss and extend its undefeated season, the rivalry between these AFC West foes reaches another chapter. The Chiefs hold an 18-4 record against the Raiders under Head Coach Andy Reid, and they have yet to lose a game in Allegiant Stadium. However, the memory of last season’s home loss to Las Vegas has fueled the Chiefs’ desire to avoid repeating history. Meanwhile, the Raiders are looking to turn their season around by being the team to end Kansas City’s unbeaten run.
Chiefs’ Offensive Struggles and Mahomes’ Challenge
While the Kansas City Chiefs have yet to lose a game, their offense hasn’t looked right all season. Patrick Mahomes, despite being one of the best quarterbacks in the league, has had some uncharacteristic struggles this season. His passer rating sits at a career-low of 61.2, and he leads the NFL with eight interceptions compared to just six touchdowns. This offensive inconsistency has been the main area of concern for the team, but Mahomes has continued to lead the team with a combination of his football IQ and clutch play on the field.
The Kansas City Chiefs offense may not be firing on all cylinders, but their defense and even special teams have more than picked up the slack. Still, Mahomes will need to avoid turning the ball over as much as he has so far this season. Although he’s been able to not cost his team a loss because of it, at some point it will catch up to him and if they continue this week, it could open the door for Las Vegas to pull off the upset.
However, the Raiders have many issues of their own, first with their defense’s inconsistent play and lacking depth due to injuries, which also gives Mahomes a prime opportunity to rebound from his offensive struggles. Despite the struggles offensively, the Kansas City Chiefs have still managed to defeat some of the best teams in the NFL week in and week out, thanks largely to their defense and Mahomes’ ability to come through in late-game situations. His 10-2 record against the Raiders serves as a reminder of his dominance over this team, and this week offers another chance to continue that run while silencing critics of his recent performances.
Raiders QB Carousel
The Raiders’ quarterback situation has been a revolving door this season. Las Vegas started their season with Gardner Minshew, but eventually turned to Aidan O’Connell, only for O’Connell to then break his thumb during their 20-15 loss to the Los Angeles Rams last week. Minshew has returned as the starter, but his play this season has been far from convincing. The Raiders also recently signed Desmond Ridder off the Arizona Cardinals practice squad, signaling further uncertainty lies ahead at the position.
This instability at quarterback has hindered an already struggling Raiders’ offense, which will only make it more difficult to keep pace with the Kansas City Chiefs in this upcoming game. In his first year as the Offensive Coordinator, Luke Getsy has struggled to find solutions, and questions around the fanbase and media have arisen about his decision-making and overall direction. One area where the Raiders have especially faltered is ball security. The team’s minus-13 turnover ratio ranks last in the NFL, a glaring weakness that could be further exploited by a Chiefs defense that thrives on forcing mistakes.
The Raiders’ offense faces many of the same issues as the Kansas City Chiefs but doesn’t have anywhere near of elite of a defense. This means they will need a near-perfect game to have a real chance of knocking off Kansas City, which certainly can happen, but more times than not this year’s Chiefs team has found ways to win even when not at their best.
Kansas City Chiefs Defense: The Backbone Of Success
While much of the attention is on Mahomes and the offense, the Kansas City Chiefs defense has been the main reason the team has its best start to a season in the Mahomes-Reid era. Kansas City’s defense ranks among the league’s best, allowing just 17.2 points per game, fifth in the NFL. They have been especially dominant against the run, holding opponents to a mere 90.5 yards per game, which ranks fourth-best in the league.
Led by Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, the Chiefs’ defense has been a nightmare for opposing offenses, consistently applying unrelenting pressure and forcing turnovers. This defensive unit has been crucial in close games, stepping up when the offense has faltered. Against the Raiders, the Kansas City Chiefs defense will look to course correct from their last meeting against this team and take advantage of the Las Vegas offensive struggles.
With star players like Chris Jones and Nick Bolton leading the defense, the Kansas City Chiefs can control the tempo of this game as they have done throughout the season. The Raiders inability to establish consistent play from their offense will allow the Chiefs defense to be able to tee off on whoever is under center and give their offense more opportunities to work through its issues.
Final Thoughts
As the Kansas City Chiefs and Raiders prepare to face off in Week 8, both teams have something to prove to themselves. Kansas City, although wanting to keep its undefeated season going, wants to wash away the Christmas Day loss at home last season. The Raiders are desperate to end their three-game losing streak. One team is seeking redemption while the other wants to find a bright spot in what has been a disappointing start to a season after a promising end to one a season ago.
For the Raiders, this game represents a chance to salvage a season that has spiraled downward. Even with a struggling offense and uncertainty at the quarterback position, the path to victory looks bleak against the Kansas City Chiefs. This is even more so with how dominant Kansas City’s defense has been and if this happens to be the week Patrick Mahomes finds his form, they will remain the NFL’s lone unbeaten team.
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