5 issues to observe because the Chiefs play the Raiders in Week 8

To shut a two-game highway journey, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (6-0) will tackle the Las Vegas Raiders (2-5) at Allegiant Stadium in Week 8. The sport will kick off at 3:25 p.m. Arrowhead Time.

The Chiefs enter the matchup with a 12-game profitable streak, together with final season’s playoff run. Their final loss got here by the hands of the Raiders on Christmas Day final yr. The 20-14 defeat was punctuated by Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes being sacked 4 occasions and throwing a vital pick-six.

This summer time, a Raiders participant was filmed mocking Mahomes with a puppet. When the two-time MVP and three-time Tremendous Bowl champion was requested about it, he stated merely, “It’ll get dealt with when it will get dealt with.”

Properly, it’s time for the Chiefs to deal with enterprise. The Raiders are on a three-game shedding streak, and Mahomes and his teammates shall be trying to lengthen that to 4.

Listed below are 5 issues to observe within the Chiefs’ second divisional recreation of the season:

1. The Chiefs’ offense with DeAndre Hopkins

The Chiefs traded for large receiver DeAndre Hopkins from the Tennessee Titans on Wednesday morning. He was coping with “decrease leg soreness” in Tennessee however didn’t seem on the harm report for the Chiefs heading into Week 8.

He’s anticipated to play and may fill the function performed by large receivers Rashee Rice and Juju Smith-Schuster beforehand. He brings totally different expertise to the desk than these two, however he could be a zone beater over the center reverse of tight finish Travis Kelce. He has the catch energy to win in opposition to tight protection; Hopkins’ drop price for his profession is 3.4%.

It will likely be fascinating to see if Mahomes adjusts his recreation with Hopkins within the combine. Presently, Mahomes has the bottom proportion of throws into tight home windows amongst certified NFL quarterbacks (7%). Hopkins can create fast separation, however he doesn’t want as a lot of it to be open. That would assist enhance the Chiefs’ red-zone success if he’s given these alternatives.

2. Retaining the Raiders’ run recreation down

The Chiefs’ elite run protection will face the least-productive run recreation it has all yr in Las Vegas. The Raiders have the third-fewest staff speeding yards within the NFL, and the third-lowest price of yards per rush (3.8).

The protection might want to do it with out defensive finish Mike Danna as soon as once more; he was dominated out with a pectoral harm. It will likely be the third recreation Danna has missed this season, together with final week’s win over the San Francisco 49ers. Second-year defensive finish Felix Anudike-Uzomah stuffed in admirably, particularly on run downs.

As common, the Chiefs’ stout run protection will help arrange third down, which isn’t the place the Raiders wish to be. Las Vegas at the moment ranks twenty eighth in third-down conversion proportion (31.1%).

3. The Chiefs’ protection with out Jaylen Watson

The Chiefs’ protection will really feel the lack of cornerback Jaylen Watson in all aspects, however particularly protection. In over 28 passes thrown towards him, he allowed a passer ranking of 75.3 with out recording an interception in keeping with Professional Soccer Focus.

Cornerbacks Nazeeh Johnson and Joshua Williams are anticipated to be accountable for filling that place, which might imply matching up with Raiders large receiver Jakobi Meyers. He’s a robust, outdoors receiver that may nonetheless make performs when coated properly.

Even when Watson was obtainable, the Chiefs’ precedence in protection needs to be Raiders’ rookie tight finish Brock Bowers. He leads all tight ends in receiving yards and receptions, together with the second-most catches amongst all NFL gamers. The Chiefs’ linebackers and safeties can have the most important function in slowing down the Raiders’ passing assault.

4. Accounting for Maxx Crosby

The Raiders’ protection has centered round defensive finish Maxx Crosby for years, and this recreation shall be no totally different. Las Vegas signed defensive sort out Christian Wilkins to pair with Crosby this offseason, however Wilkins is now on injured reserve with a foot harm. Edge rusher Malcolm Koonce earned three sacks in Kansas Metropolis final season however suffered a season-ending knee harm throughout the preseason.

Crosby has 6.5 sacks this season, the sixth-most within the NFL. He’s simply as disruptive as ever, so the Chiefs might want to scheme round him. It might be the same plan of assault because the Chiefs used in opposition to 49ers’ defensive finish Nick Bosa: misdirection, play motion, and different methods to maintain Crosby at bay apart from blocking him.

It’s very important that the Chiefs keep out of apparent cross conditions like third and lengthy. Crosby turns into loads more durable to dam in these conditions, and that bears out within the numbers: the Raiders’ protection has the second-lowest price of third-down conversions allowed this season (28.9%).

5. Staying environment friendly with the push assault

The easiest way to keep away from third down is to have success speeding on first and second down. The Chiefs have maintained that each one season: the staff leads all NFL groups in speeding success price (50.8%).

It begins with the heavy workload operating again Kareem Hunt has been capable of tackle, however it doesn’t finish there. Vast receiver Mecole Hardman rushed for 38 yards over two handoffs in opposition to San Francisco. Hardman and rookie large receiver Xavier Worthy ought to proceed to be utilized on jet-sweep motions to assist open up the field for inside runs.

The Chiefs ought to assault the inside of the Raiders’ protection. Offensive linemen Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey, and Trey Smith ought to have the benefit in opposition to Las Vegas defensive tackles and linebackers. This season, the Raiders permit 4.8 yards per makes an attempt, the seventh-highest mark amongst NFL defenses.