The NFL’s Week 7 starts with an AFC West showdown taking place on Thursday Night Football as the 2-4 Oakland Raiders host the 5-1 Kansas City Chiefs at the Oakland Coliseum.
The Chiefs lost last week for the first time this season as the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers defeated them 19-13. The Raiders meanwhile are trying to save a season that seems to be derailing faster than anyone could have imagined as they have now lost four straight, including a 17-16 last-minute defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers.
If the Raiders want to save their season they must win this game and that will be very complicated against a Kansas City team that has dominated them lately.
Derek Carr, 1-5 against Kansas City, is on a five-game losing streak against the Chiefs. In the last two visits to Oakland, the Chiefs have been especially dominant as Andy Reid’s team, has won by 16 and 14 points respectively. The Chiefs are the clear favorites in this one, but if the Raiders still want to make the playoffs as a Wild Card they must find a way to start winning these games.
Since week 3 against the Redskins, the Raiders offense has looked bad. Although Derek Carr’s injury that forced him to miss some time has something to do with it, the offense has also failed to click when he’s on the field.
In the last four games, the Raiders have failed to pass for over 300 yards, they have had seven giveaways and their offensive line has allowed 13 sacks. The Raiders must find the answer to those problems as they struggle with a Derek Carr that is not fully recovered from his back injury and probably should not even be on the field yet.
On the other hand, Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith has been enjoying a superb season as he has completed 140 passes in 192 attempts, for 1,637 yards and has thrown 12 touchdowns.
On the ground running back Kareem Hunt has been outstanding as he has rushed for 630 yards on 106 attempts with four touchdowns.
The Chiefs receivers and backs have been money all year as they reap the rewards of Smith’s superb season. WR Tyrek Hill has 30 catches, 390 yards, and two touchdowns; tight end Travis Kelce has 33 receptions for 390 yards and three scores, and even running back Kareem Hunt has contributed heavily as he has 21 catches for 255 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Against the Steelers, however, the Chiefs offense was held in check for the first time as they were limited to 13 points, 1.9 yards per carry and just 251 total yards. All those numbers well under their season averages.
The Chiefs look to rebound against the Raiders as they will try to take advantage of a Raiders defense that ranks 25th in total yards allowed (2099) and 23rd in rushing yards allowed (703).
Carr usually struggles against the Chiefs when healthy so don’t expect him to pull any miracles now that he’s dealing with a nagging back injury.
Despite the Raiders urgency to win tonight, they will most likely lose their fifth straight game as the Chiefs explosive offense shreds the Raiders defense to pieces.
