Key matchups for the Raiders vs. Chiefs

The importance of thursday’s game is near immeasurable. Playoff seeding and the division crown, both lofty accomplishments in their own rights, but the knowledge they can beat anyone. Derek Carr has not defeated the Chiefs in nearly three years, for a divisional opponent a 4 game losing streak. The last time they met the Raiders were out hustled, outplayed, and outcoached. The Chiefs are not as invincible as years past, but punish those who are loose with the football. Here are a few key matchups and strategies to achieving success.

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Raiders News: No fear for Oakland, bring on the Chiefs!

“Carr Insurance” must be paid and current, in 5 games the Chiefs have beaten the Oakland offensive line and sacked Carr 17 times.

Derek Carr must continue his trend of playing better against the Chiefs. His overall stat line against reads 1-4, 119/206 attempts 1098 6 tds 5 interceptions 17 sacks

Maintaining Leverage and gap integrity is a must. Buffalo gashed the Raiders for 212 total rushing yards on busted assignments and containment failures
Win the turnover battle, both teams give up yards but Kansas City is number 1 with (25), Raiders number 3 (21) in turnovers

Contain tight end Travis Kelce last week 8-140 17.5ypc, leading the team in targets and 1st down catches (42)

Bonus Key
Catch the football, Raiders lead the league with (31) dropped passes.

Matchups

Raiders Offensive Line vs Chiefs Pass Rush
An opportunity to redeem itself vs the last pass rush to rough up Carr, oh and Justin Houston is active and ready.

Raiders Run Defense vs Spencer Ware
Missing Joseph Latham and McGee hurts an already suspect run defense, crisp tackling is essential.

Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin vs Kansas City Bookends
Both ends have been playing well as of late, will be tasked with rushing the qb and keeping the edges set.

Travis Kelce vs Oakland Pass Coverage
Has the potential to decide the game one way or another and that frightens me

Oakland Raider Receivers vs Kansas City Secondary
Cooper and Crabtree are better than an overly aggressive KC bunch, but the pass rush has been the equalizer

Raider Coaching vs Kansas City Coaching
Andy Reid’s bunch had Jack Del Rio and Ken Norton Jr. absolutely chasing their tails in the last game, Musgrave and Tice are lighting up the top defenses in the league week after week

Gameplan

Surprisingly there isn’t a need for a super special gameplan. Kansas City has an outstanding bad defense. They haven’t done anything spectacularly well on defense except force turnovers. Carr must continue to be accurate with the football and limiting his mistakes. Running backs are going to play a huge role in terms of both pass protection and hot routes. The Raiders need to be able to run the football effectively keeping the offense on schedule and taking advantage of Kansas City’s weak 3rd down defense. The Chiefs are 4-1 at Arrowhead, the Raiders are 6-0 away from the Coliseum. Closing out 4th quarters over the last 3 games the Raiders defense allowed total points (10), total yards allowed per game (90.0), pass yards per game (46.3), rush yards per game (16.3), and have forced 3 turnovers. Thursday night football should turn out to be an absolute slobberknocker.

You can follow Philip Robinson on twitter- @chocP3thunder

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