Chiefs, Raiders playing mostly for pride tomorrow night

By Clayton Wendler  |   Friday, December 22, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

Kansas City Chiefs
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When the Kansas City Chiefs pass: Trent Green faces another challenge coming off his second straight subpar performance. Oakland's pass defense has been good all year and has been particularly good over the last month, averaging just 156 aerial yards allowed per game. They were particularly impressive against the St. Louis Rams last week, despite the 20-0 final score.

You can probably throw out Green's performance from the first meeting. The Chiefs scaled back the passing attack that day as it was his first start since the opener. Even so, this will be a tricky matchup for the Chiefs given their pass protection problems of late. The Ravens and Chargers racked up 11 sacks against Kansas City in the last two weeks. The Chiefs will have Tony Gonzalez this time (he missed the first game with an injured shoulder), so that will likely make life a little harder on Oakland. Chris Terry gets the start at right tackle for the Chiefs.


Edge: Even


When the Oakland Raiders pass: John Shoop has replaced Tom Walsh as Oakland's offensive coordinator. Aaron Brooks has replaced Andrew Walter as the starting quarterback. Nothing has really changed. The Raiders have scored a whopping 17 offensive points total in three games since Shoop took over. Brooks has been an upgrade, but even he was benched a week ago at the end of Oakland's game against St. Louis.

The Raider offense is still a mess, and it will be reduced to playing with Ronald Curry and Johnnie Morant as its starting receivers against the Chiefs. As bad as he's played this year, Randy Moss has an effect on any defense. Without his deep threat, the Chiefs will be free to bring more pressure against Brooks than they did in the first matchup. Linebacker Derrick Johnson also returns for the Chiefs after missing the first Raider game.


Edge: Chiefs


When the Kansas City Chiefs run: Oakland's run defense isn't as bad as the stats indicate. As we've said before, the Raiders' offense just leaves them on the field too much. But the Chiefs still field one of the NFL's better running games and ran for over 200 yards against Oakland in the first meeting.

It will be interesting to see how motivated Oakland's defense is to start the game. With a dismal season coming to a close and rumors of Art Shell being fired, will the unit quit? If so, the Chiefs will likely have their way with them once again. If not, well, the Chiefs will probably run over them anyway.


Edge: Chiefs


When the Oakland Raiders run: Last weekend's game against the Rams was a great example of just how poor Oakland's running game is. St. Louis has been run over by almost every opponent it's played this year. Everyone except, of course, the Oakland Raiders, who totaled a meager 57 yards rushing.

Justin Fargas is a decent back who is overmatched every week due to Oakland's bad offensive line. The Chiefs got gashed by LaDainian Tomlinson last week and will likely be looking to make up for it.


Edge: Chiefs


Special teams: Oakland has the advantage in this area again, just as it did in the first matchup. The Chiefs' kickoff coverage has been horrid lately and Dante Hall has been even worse on his returns.


Edge: Raiders


Intangibles: As already stated, this is the perfect week for the Raiders to quit given last week's benching of Brooks and the news that Shell is on the way out. But this is a primetime game against a hated rival, so who knows? The Chiefs have won seven straight over the Raiders.


Edge: Chiefs


Prediction: The Raiders won't go quietly in a primetime matchup against their archrival, but the Chiefs are simply the better football team. Seven in a row will become eight.


Chiefs 20, Raiders 6
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