Las Vegas Raiders (2-9) are set to face off against the Kansas City Chiefs (10-1) this Friday at 3 p.m. EST on Prime Video.
The betting odds from BetMGM indicate Kansas City is a favorite by 13 points.
In terms of performance against the spread, the Raiders stand at 4-7 while the Chiefs are at 5-6.
Historically, the Chiefs boast a lead in their rivalry with the Raiders, holding a series record of 74 wins, 55 losses, and 2 ties.
Their last encounter was on October 27, where the Chiefs claimed a 27-20 victory in Las Vegas.
In their previous matchups, the Raiders faltered against the Denver Broncos, losing 29-19, while the Chiefs narrowly defeated the Carolina Panthers 30-27. The Raiders’ offensive stats are less than impressive, ranked 28th overall, 32nd in rushing, 16th in passing, and 26th in scoring.
Conversely, their defense is ranked 14th overall, 15th against the rush, 12th against the pass, but ranks 29th in scoring.
The Chiefs have a more balanced offensive ranking, sitting at 14th overall, with specifics of 18th in rushing, 12th in passing, and 10th in scoring.
Defensively, Kansas City excels, sitting 4th overall, with 3rd against rushing, 18th against passing, and 9th in scoring.
The turnover differential reveals a stark contrast; the Raiders are at a disadvantage with minus-17, while the Chiefs sit at minus-5.
A key figure to monitor on the Raiders is Aidan O’Connell, who will be stepping in as the starting quarterback following Gardner Minshew’s collarbone injury.
O’Connell is returning from an injury of his own, having broken his right thumb on October 20.
Although the Raiders considered Desmond Ridder from the Arizona practice roster, O’Connell reclaiming his starting role before his injury solidified his chance at leading the team.
From the Chiefs’ side, tight end Noah Gray stands out as a player to watch.
After recently signing a long-term contract, Gray has caught two touchdown passes in consecutive games, benefitting from the defensive focus on fellow tight end Travis Kelce and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who has made an impactful debut following a trade with the Titans.
A crucial matchup to look for will be between Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby.
Their relationship is marked by a blend of trash talk and mutual respect, but both have faced struggles this season.
Mahomes managed to throw for 269 yards and three touchdowns against the Panthers last week, while Crosby has gone for four games without a sack.
Injury reports detail some significant concerns for both teams. For the Raiders, running back Alexander Mattison is questionable due to an ankle injury, while Zamir White is doubtful with a quadriceps issue.
To further complicate things, Las Vegas will be missing cornerbacks Jakorian Bennett and Nate Hobbs due to injuries.
The Chiefs might welcome back running back Isiah Pacheco and defensive end Charles Omenihu this week, both of whom have been sidelined with injuries since Week 2 and earlier this season, respectively.
However, tight end Peyton Hendershot is now placed on injured reserve, and linebacker Cam Jones missed some practice time due to illness.
Kansas City’s kicker Spencer Shrader, who is filling in for the injured Harrison Butker, could be substituted with Matt Wright due to a hamstring issue.
In the history between these two rivals, the Chiefs have had the upper hand recently, winning seven of their past eight matchups.
However, the Raiders did manage to pull off a Christmas Day upset last season at Arrowhead Stadium.
Remarkably, both of the Raiders’ wins against the Chiefs since October 2017 occurred on the road, with a notable victory in 2020.
As for statistical highlights, the Raiders have been on a downward trend, suffering seven consecutive losses since their last win against the Browns in late September.
Las Vegas has failed to secure over 369 yards in a game all season and struggled with a mere 4 of 14 third-down efficiency last week.
On the positive side, they have recorded a sack in 29 consecutive games—the longest active streak in the league.
In individual performances, wide receiver Jakobi Meyers stood out with 10 catches for 121 yards in the recent game against the Broncos, marking his second 100-yard game of the season.
Tight end Brock Bowers has set a rookie record for the Raiders with 74 receptions this season, needing just 34 more catches to surpass Darren Waller’s single-season mark.
Coaching highlights include Chiefs head coach Andy Reid nearing a personal milestone, having achieved at least 10 wins in 19 seasons, just one shy of tying for the NFL record.
Additionally, Kelce has surpassed Antonio Gates for third-most receiving yards by a tight end, while Mahomes tied a franchise record with his 237 touchdown passes.
With a strong performance of 41 games with three or more touchdown passes, Mahomes remains a key player for success.
Kansas City’s new acquisition, Hopkins, has also made an immediate impact with three touchdowns in his first five games.
Kicker Spencer Shrader is performing well in his temporary role, going a perfect 3 for 3 on field goals and 6 for 6 on extra points, including a game-winner last week.
For fantasy football participants, while O’Connell starting might make some users consider benching Bowers, it’s advisable to keep him on the field; the Chiefs have struggled to defend tight ends throughout the season, indicating Bowers could maintain his strong production regardless of the quarterback situation.