HENDERSON, Nev. — It is a tough pill to swallow for many Raiders fans, but the Kansas City Chiefs represent the benchmark that the Las Vegas Raiders should aspire to reach.
The reality is, however, that the Raiders find themselves far from that mark. The Chiefs have established themselves as a dominant force in the league, having made appearances in four out of the last five Super Bowls and claiming victory in three of those games.
Entering their matchup against the Raiders this Sunday, the Chiefs boast an impressive 6-0 record and are riding a 12-game winning streak. Their last loss came on Christmas Day of the prior year, at the hands of the Raiders. Conversely, the Raiders are struggling, heading into the rematch on a three-game losing streak and recording a dismal 2-5 overall record. Issues at quarterback and defensive inconsistency have plagued the team, compounded by a troubling turnover ratio of minus-13, the worst in the league.
“We’ve got to go out there and not beat ourselves,” said Jakorian Bennett, a cornerback for the Raiders. “Just focus on the details. They do a good job of not beating themselves. … They’re doing a lot of things right.”
The Chiefs attribute much of their success to having elite talent in both their head coach and quarterback positions. Patrick Mahomes has evolved from a dynamic playmaker capable of generating instant offense to a more cerebral quarterback who relies on smart decision-making alongside his natural abilities.
Despite having his lowest career QBR at 61.2, Mahomes leads the league with eight interceptions, managing just six touchdown throws. Nonetheless, the Chiefs have managed to stay unbeaten, largely due to the strategic collaboration with head coach Andy Reid. “Even with what’s going on in the season with interceptions, he’s still playing his best ball,” remarked Antonio Pierce, head coach of the Raiders. “They’re finding ways to win.”
In stark contrast, the Raiders are struggling to find solutions, particularly at the quarterback position. Gardner Minshew, who has also thrown eight interceptions, lost his starting role after just five games. He reclaimed it only when Aidan O’Connell sustained a thumb injury during a recent 20-15 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. To bolster their quarterback situation, Las Vegas signed Desmond Ridder from the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad, giving him a chance if Minshew falters.
With offensive coordinator Luke Getsy needing to prove his effectiveness, Pierce moved him to the press box during recent games. The first-year head coach has faced scrutiny over certain in-game decisions as his team grapples with inconsistency.
However, a significant part of the Chiefs’ success this season stems from their formidable defense. They allow only 17.2 points per game, ranking fifth in the NFL and showcasing particular strength against the run, allowing just 90.5 yards on average per game, which is the fourth-best performance in the league.
“There’s a reason they’ve been winning and doing it for a long time,” Minshew noted. “They’ve got some great players over there. Starts with 95 (Chris Jones). Got to have a plan for him. And then (coordinator Steve) Spagnuolo, he dials it up, he gives you a lot of different looks.”
Although the Raiders are not as far behind Kansas City on the defensive front, injuries have hindered their ability to compete effectively. Presently, Las Vegas ranks 11th in the league, allowing an average of 316.9 yards per game, just one position behind their rivals.
Significant transformations for the Raiders seem inevitable as the season draws to a close, especially with seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady now stepping in as a minority owner who is anticipated to influence personnel decisions.
As the Raiders continue to chase the Chiefs, it’s clear that overcoming the gap in talent and consistency remains an ongoing challenge. “Everything we do in (the) offseason and how we game plan, the staff we put together, roster we put together is to beat the Chiefs,” Pierce stated. “They’re the cream of the crop.”
In other news, Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers has returned to practice following a two-game absence due to an ankle injury. Meyers stepped into the top receiver role after Davante Adams was traded to the New York Jets last week. Meanwhile, tackle Kolton Miller (elbow), guard Dylan Parham (foot), and tight end Harrison Bryant (elbow) did not participate in practice.
