The Las Vegas Raiders will be making their first and only Sunday Night Football appearance against the Kansas City Chiefs. It’s pretty safe to say that neither team enters this game on a high note.
While the Chiefs are coming into town riding a two-game win streak, those wins were both pretty mediocre. The Raiders have dealt with a bunch of drama and nasty headlines recently, and they enter this game, coming off an underwhelming loss to the Giants. Here are three things the Raiders can do against Kansas City to get back on track.
Create Turnovers
Kansas City has a massive problem this year; they can’t take care of the football.
That is a surprising thing to see, considering how well this team has done in the turnover margin over the past couple of years. This year has been different. The Chiefs defense has failed to stop anything, let alone take the ball away. To make things worse, Patrick Mahomes has been very generous to opposing defenses, while his offensive teammates have carried that same trait.
The Chiefs’ turnover differential is -9, tied for the second-worst in the league. By taking the ball away, the Raiders will be able to keep Patrick Mahomes and co off the field Sunday night, and it will also give them more time to attack the Chiefs’ poor defensive unit.
Rely On Your Playmakers
Lately, the Raiders have become a headline for all the wrong reasons. We all understand what they are, and there’s no need to get into them in this article, but they have taken a toll on the team.
That seemed evident last week, and it seemed to throw the team off, much like their loss to the Bears after the Gruden drama. The team can’t get too complicated this week, and they’re simply going to have to rely on their stars. Get back to square one, and keep the ball in the hands of Derek Carr, Darren Waller, and Josh Jacobs.
If the Raiders can do this, the team will come out on top on Sunday Night. Hopefully, the Raiders’ offense can keep it simple.
Take Away Big Plays
If there’s one thing the Chiefs’ offense thrives on, it’s big explosive plays that lead them down the field. In a way, that might be the reason they’ve struggled so much this year, as it seems they’ve tried to force it a bit. Still, the Raiders have fallen victim to these big plays far too many times, and it’s something they’ll need to be aware of tonight.
Luckily, this Raiders’ defense is much better than in previous years. The Chiefs’ offensive line hasn’t been as formidable as it’s been in recent years. By the same token, the Raiders’ pass rush is much better. That combination should help Maxx Crosby and Yannick Ngakoue get to Mahomes, which will help give the secondary less time to cover. That is another thing the Raiders will need to do if they want success come Sunday night.
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*Top Photo: Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal