Later today, the Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders will decide the top spot in the AFC West. Both teams enter this game in Sin City with 3-0 records and are riding high in the AFC power rankings. For an old dog like me, this week’s extra girth within this rivalry takes the feud to new heights.
When Oakland Raiders defensive end Ben Davidson speared Lenny Dawson in the back during one of the most talked-about AFL games in Chiefs history, that’s when I learned about rivalry and fan hatred. I was only eight years old, but I never forgot the play and its aftermath.
Otis Taylor defended his quarterback by driving his helmet into Davidson’s back, sparking a baseball-style brawl on the field. In the aftermath, the officials called penalties that negated the play after getting a first down that would have sealed the win. As a result, Oakland tied the game 17-17. It was a bitter loss, but it magnified the history between these teams, which ultimately ended in revenge.
In the 1969 AFL title game in Oakland, the Kansas City Chiefs had just upset Joe Namath and the New York Jets a week earlier. The Raiders were heavy favorites and had already packed their bags for New Orleans before kickoff.
However, Len Dawson outduelled Raiders quarterback Darryl Lamonica, and Kansas City upset their hated rival in what would be the final AFL game before the NFL merger in 1970. As the Chiefs climbed their bus to the airport, they watched with glee as the Raiders players had to grab their suitcases from their charter bus and load them into their cars.
The two franchises have played each other since 1960. Of course, the Chiefs were the Dallas Texans until they moved to Kansas City in 1963, but those games count. The Chiefs hold a commanding 76-56-2 record over their hated rivals. The tilt has been lopsided since Patrick Mahomes became the starting quarterback. He’s also never lost at Allegiant Stadium since it opened in 2020.
That streak also includes Super Bowl LVII when the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in overtime.
This season, the Raiders are on fire. Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins has been masterful, infusing his experience and leadership into a hungry team committed to redefining the Silver and Black brand.
They are young like the Chiefs, but under new head coach Klint Kubiak, he has his father’s pedigree and has carved out his own path to lead the Raiders.
Though he hasn’t played the Chiefs yet, his fiery speech after the Raiders defeated the Saints on Sunday set the stage for this titanic AFC battle with the division’s kings.
For their part, the Chiefs are relishing a new role this season. After being the hunted for nine years under Mahomes and Head Coach Andy Reid, they are the hunters now, and trust me, they won’t look past the Raiders at any level.
It’s only week four, but with the Chiefs’ bye week ahead, this early-season matchup could affect AFC seeding. Kansas City missing the playoffs a year ago has fueled their 3-0 start, and that determination should show up in Las Vegas on Sunday.
Even though the rivalry has leaned toward the Chiefs over the last decade, the Raiders have won some games against Kansas City, and a win on Sunday would legitimize their turnaround.
Considering this team tried to trade Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens last season, Kubiak has been a steady influence despite his inexperience. Leaders come in all shapes, sizes, and ages in the NFL, but what he’s done in Las Vegas so far has helped this rivalry.
For years, I heard stories from Bobby Bell and Len Dawson about this rivalry, but one thing stood out: how close the players on both teams were. On the field, the rivalry was brutal. Off the field, they banded together to help grow the AFL to ensure safe passage through their NFL merger.
Though the stories change slightly from one decade to the next, this remains one of the best rivalries in the NFL, and if you’ve followed the history, you know for 66 years this is a game you circle on your calendar every season.
This time, this game has meaning again.
