With two games in the final stretch of the regular season, the Chiefs and Raiders will have plenty to say about each other’s playoff hopes.
Kansas City has looked like a legitimate Super Bowl contender during its season-changing five-game winning streak and don’t think for a second the Chiefs forgot what happened on their last visit to Oakland.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Oakland Raiders +3
Kansas City Chiefs -3
Over/Under 44
ODDS ANALYSIS
These two charter members of the American Football League will meet for the 110th time with the Chiefs holding a 56-51-2 edge. The last time KC was in Oakland, they entered with a five-game winning streak but their season spun out of control with a loss to the 0-10 Raiders. The Chiefs are banged up and that’s likely to make this game closer than it should be. Still, KC is playing well while the Raiders haven’t figured out how to play in meaningful games.
KEY INJURIES
Justin Houston – Kansas City’s top pass rusher is questionable after hyperextending his knee in last week’s game. It was originally feared to be a strained knee ligament, which could have kept him out multiple weeks. Dee Ford could take Houston’s place if he can return from an ailing back that’s kept him out the past two games.
Rodney Hudson – The Raiders could be without their starting center for another game as Hudson continues to mend from an ankle injury. Tony Bergstrom has filled in the last two games.
KEY MISMATCH
Alex Smith and the Chiefs have had plenty to celebrate recently. KC will take a five-game winning into the game against the Raiders, in large part because of the play of their quarterback. Smith had a QBR or 34.4, which was 30th among the NFL’s 32 starting quarterbacks, through the season’s first six weeks. The Chiefs won one of those games. He’s been on fire since then with a QBR of 85.5 and the Chiefs haven’t lost. He threw for more than 200 yards in the first half alone in a recent win against San Diego, and connected three times on deep passes with Jeremy Maclin last week against the Bills. Smith has thrown 283 straight passes without an interception, the fourth-longest streak in NFL history. He’ll likely throw fewer than 10 picks with better than 200 pass attempts for the fifth consecutive season. But the big yards and big plays are something new. The addition of Maclin gives Smith the big-play receiver he lacked his first two seasons in KC. He may never consistently get the big play. He’s taken the conservative throw during his career, which is why he throws so few picks and touchdowns. But he’s found a balance in this offense and the Chiefs are celebrating.
KEY STAT
+12 – Kansas City’s turnover margin. The Chiefs are second in the NFL and haven’t committed a turnover in five games. The Raiders have 17 giveaways on the year and a minus-1 turnover differential.
BETTING ANGLE
It’s hard to protect your quarterback when you don’t have the bodies to do it. And the Chiefs are woefully thin after losing three offensive linemen last week. Tackle Eric Fisher was back to work after a neck injury forced him from the Bills game, but center Mitch Morse and guard Jeff Allen didn’t practice early in the week and are question marks for Sunday. The chiefs have started five different offensive lines in their 11 games, and yet another combination could line up against the Raiders. KC practiced with six healthy players at the five positions Wednesday. Morse is the only lineman to start all 11 games and would be replaced by Zach Fulton. The Chiefs are used to upheaval on their line, so the prospect of another shakeup has nobody panicking. But if another player goes down, they will be scrambling.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Kansas City overcame a rash of injuries last week to subdue the Bills and have dealt with players in and out of the lineup all season. So it really isn’t too concerning for Andy Reid and his staff. As he says, “injuries are a part of the game.” Oakland’s Derek Carr is the flashier quarterback but Smith has been rock solid during the Chiefs’ winning streak and the biggest reason why KC is back in the hunt. The Chiefs have scored at ease during their run and face a Raiders defense that still has problems. KC will use its two-pronged run game with Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West opening up the passing game for Smith to hit Maclin for a big play or two. With KC’s offense, and Smith in particular, getting so much attention during the streak, the Chiefs’ D has been stellar. Carr might connect on a few plays, but he still makes mistakes when pressured. And the Chiefs know how to apply pressure.
Kansas City 30, Oakland 22
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BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! The game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders is slated for Sunday, December 6, 2015, at 4:05 p.m. ET at the O.co Coliseum. The matchup will be televised live on CBS.
