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Chiefs at Raiders: Game preview, odds, prediction

By Brad Weiss

Jan 3, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oakland Raiders cornerback David Amerson (29) runs in for a touchdown after an interception against the Kansas City Chiefs in the first half at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oakland Raiders cornerback David Amerson (29) runs in for a touchdown after an interception against the Kansas City Chiefs in the first half at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Oakland Raiders will host an AFC West opponent for the second time in two weeks, as they welcome the Kansas City Chiefs to O.co Coliseum on Sunday.

The Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs will do battle on Sunday, as the AFC West foes will look to gain an advantage in the divisional standings. The Chiefs are coming into Oakland off of a bye week, and have had two weeks to prepare for Derek Carr and the 4-1 Raiders. Oakland beat an AFC West opponent at home last week, disposing of the San Diego Chargers, 34-31.

For Kansas City, this game could mean more reps for running back Jamaal Charles, who finally came back from his torn ACL two weeks ago. Charles was in for 10 snaps in the Chiefs’ 43-14 shellacking at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 4, and could see that workload double on Sunday. The Chiefs were blown out by the Steelers on the road on Sunday Night Football, and will be looking to get back on the winning track against the hated Raiders.

Prior to the Steelers game, the Chiefs trounced the New York Jets, intercepting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick six times in the ballgame. The Raiders like to throw the ball around as well, so Kansas City better be prepared to be tested early and often by Raiders quarterback Derek Carr. Carr has blossomed into one of the better young quarterbacks in the NFL, and is coming off his second 300-yard game of the season.

When the Raiders and Chiefs get together, it is always an intense game, and the crowd at O.co Coliseum will definitely be fired up on Sunday. This Raiders team is the best the fans have seen since 2002, the last time they made it to the playoffs. In fact, the Raiders have not been 4-1 since that season, a year in which they represented the AFC in the Super Bowl.

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Odds

Line: Even

Over/Under: 46.5

The Chiefs are a solid team, and their blowout loss to the Steelers is not indicative of the kind of unit they are on both sides of the ball. Many predicted that the Chiefs would win the AFC West this season, and a win against the Raiders would give them a nice boost in the standings. Kansas City won their only other AFC West game earlier in the year, when they came back to beat the San Diego Chargers in overtime in Week 1.

This game is sure to go down to the wire, as the Chiefs will test the Raiders’ shaky defense all afternoon. Oakland has proven it can win close games, and I believe they will be able to make enough plays to pull it out at home. The two teams will probably split their two games this season, with each winning in front of their home fans.

Prediction: Raiders 24, Chiefs 21

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