The 7-4 Kansas City Chiefs return from their bye week to face the 6-5 Oakland Raiders at Arrowhead.
Back in Week 2, the Chiefs beat the Raiders 28-10. Oakland jumped out to a quick 10-0 lead but would fall flat and not score another point. The Chiefs exploded in the second quarter with 28 points and never look back.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw for 443 yards and four touchdowns and receiver Demarcus Robinson had a career day with six receptions for 172 yards and two touchdowns.
Kansas City is looking to sweep Oakland for the fifth time in the last seven seasons. If it does, it will essentially have a three-game lead over the Raiders with just four games to go, all but locking up the AFC West.
Make sure to check out our first scouting report on the Raiders earlier this season. There you’ll find the history between these two teams, the Raiders’ key additions and subtractions in personnel, key players, and coaching schemes. Check out the next page in order to find the key matchups for the Week 13 contest.
KEY MATCHUPS
DE Frank Clark vs. LT Kolton Miller/RT Trent Brown
Now healthy and comfortable within the defense, Clark is becoming the force that he was expected to be when the Chiefs acquired him in the offseason. He is coming off his best game of the season against the Los Angeles Chargers, recording five tackles, one sack, three QB hurries and a forced fumble.
Clark playing at an elite level is a game-changer for K.C. This week he’ll have his work cut out for him against a pair of good tackles in Miller and Brown. The Raiders’ offensive line has allowed the second-fewest sacks in the NFL with just 16.
WR Tyreek Hill vs. Raiders’ CBs
Hill missed most of the game against the Chargers in Week 11 after exiting with a hamstring injury. It had a very negative impact on the Chiefs’ offense, as its other receivers totaled just five catches for 48 yards. Chiefs’ receivers have struggled mightily without Hill on the field this season, proving just how valuable he is to the K.C. offense.
Hill could be in for a big day against Oakland. Its secondary is among the weakest in the league, ranking 28th in pass defense. Hill missed the first matchup against the Raiders, but in Week 17 of last season, he had over 100 receiving yards and a touchdown against them.
Chiefs’ front seven vs. RB Josh Jacobs
Its Week 10 performance against the Tennessee Titans notwithstanding, the Chiefs’ run defense has been much improved over the last several weeks. It kept the Chargers rushing attack under 100 yards in Week 11 and has only allowed one 100 yard rusher in its last five games.
It will need to keep up the good work against Jacobs, who is fifth in the NFL in rushing yards with 957. Jacobs possesses a nice blend of power, speed and receiving ability. He is the workhorse of the Raiders’ offense and they should stay committed to him throughout the game. As we highlighted earlier, Jacobs runs behind a good offensive line.
RBs LeSean McCoy/Damien Williams vs. Raiders’ front seven
McCoy and Williams have had brief moments of success this season, but have largely been disappointing as the Chiefs’ feature backs. McCoy is averaging a solid 5.1 yards per carry this season. The problem is that he has fumbled the ball three times and he’s struggled to stay healthy.
As for Williams, he just hasn’t been able to recapture his success from last season. He isn’t seeing running lanes and is averaging just 3.7 yards per carry. He also isn’t contributing much in the receiving game, which is supposed to be one of his strengths.
Oakland hasn’t been great against running backs, allowing the twelfth-most rushing yards in the league. The Chiefs’ offense could really use a get right game with its rushing attack as we enter the stretch run of the season.
