Are the Raiders the Chiefs Whisperers capable of blowing up the playoffs?

Even at 7-5, the Las Vegas Raiders might be the one team that can slay the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs. 

Travis Kelce made history Sunday night against he Denver Broncos. After recording eight catches foe 136 yards, the 31-year-old became the first tight end to tally five 1,000-yard seasons.

But it was his interview after the 22-16 win with NBC’s Michelle Tafoya that had fans of the NFL talking Monday morning over the water cooler or between cups of coffee.

The Chiefs haven’t played the Raiders in two weeks. Instead, Las Vegas was praying their postseason hopes away by betting it all on a final play in the Big Apple.

At 11-1, the Chiefs are in the postseason currently ranked as the No.2 roster in the AFC. They very well could be sitting at 10-2 if not for some late heroics from Patrick Mahomes in Week 11.

Both losses would have come at the hands of the Raiders.

Las Vegas has shown that while they might be a year or two away from being a threat in the AFC, they have Kansas City’s number on speed dial. Kelce’s comments submitted that thought into reality.

At 7-5, Las Vegas remains the No. 8 seed in the AFC playoff picture. If the Raiders beat the Colts Sunday, who currently hold the No.7 seed, they’ll be back in the postseason picture.

And with the added seed, guess who Kansas City would have to play in the Wild Card round?

Las Vegas could send Kansas City home early from the postseason

It’s amazing how a team can play so differently against one opponent and still struggle. In both games this season against the Chiefs, Las Vegas has scored at least 31 points and averaged 6.8 yards per play.

Mahomes has been near flawless this season passing. In games against opponents other than the Raiders, he’s thrown for 3,127 yards, 27 touchdowns and has yet to commit a turnover.

Against Las Vegas, he’s thrown for 688, four scores but also threw his two lone interceptions on the season. Meanwhile, the Raiders pass rush has forced five sacks in both appearances, the most by a club this year.

Of the five interceptions from Derek Carr, two have come against the Chiefs’ secondary. One was with 19 seconds left after Mahomes’ late-window touchdown. Outside of that, both outings have been his best games statistically prior to Sunday’s 381-yard day against the Jets.

What’s been the difference-maker in both games is the rushing attack. In Week 5, the Raiders outrushed Kansas City, 144-80. In the rematch, a three-touchdown day from the Chiefs gave them the 108-89 advantage.

Andy Reid was lucky to get out of Las Vegas with a win in November. The last thing he wants is to go into round three with his white whale in a winner-take-all showdown in January.