In a few hours, the Kansas City Chiefs will host the Las Vegas Raiders in another chapter of this fun-filled AFC West rivalry. The Chiefs can clinch a playoff spot with a win. They’ve had some ups and downs in the last three games, in which they’ve won two. So, what are the keys for a Chiefs win?
There is no better AFC rivalry than the Kansas City Chiefs vs. the Oakland, Los Angeles, Oakland, and Las Vegas Raiders! These teams have a knack for the dramatic, pushing each other to the limit of their hated rivalry.
On a special Black Friday NFL game, the Chiefs are a double-digit favorite to hand the Raiders their eighth consecutive loss. So how do they avoid the upset?
Key #1 – The Chiefs’ offense needs to make a statement against a poor Raiders defense. The secondary is depleted, and the team needs to show its passing prowess and restore order to its offensive attack. That means a steady diet of JuJu Smith-Schuster, Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, DeAndre Hopkins, and the running back duo of Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt.
Key #2 – Raiders Quarterback Aiden O’Connell returns to the starting lineup. He guided his team a year ago on Christmas Day when he led the holiday upset of the Chiefs. Though the defense was the star of that game for Las Vegas, O’Connell, who didn’t complete a pass after the first quarter, found a way to guide the offense to success. The Chiefs defense needs to pressure and void him of any upset possibilities.
Key #3 – With Left Tackle DJ Humphries still a week away from becoming a starter, Wanya Morris needs to have a great game. Going up against Maxx Crosby is not easy, but if the Chiefs use a tight end to chip the Raiders’ best defender, that could slow down Morris’s effectiveness. Morris, to his credit, has been nursing a bone bruise on his kneecap that honestly needs rest. He needs to play better in this game than in the last two.
Key #4 – With a one-game lead over the Buffalo Bills for the top spot in the AFC, the Chiefs need a statement victory. As we saw in the three NFL games on Thanksgiving, the home team was the better team. Outside of the Packers game, the better team allowed the weaker team to let their opponent get back into the game. The Chiefs can’t do that in this game.
Key #5 – The Chiefs owe their fan base a well-played game. In particular, the Arrowhead fans deserve a better holiday weekend after their Christmas debacle a year ago. We all know the Chiefs are built for January football, but it’s time to play with more fire, have better consistency, and have fun again!
Score Prediction: Chiefs 41 – Raiders 10
