After winning back-to-back games to start the season, the Las Vegas Raiders have now lost two games in a row. Preventing a three-game skid will be a huge challenge for them, considering that they will be facing next the reigning Super Bowl champions on the road. Will the Raiders be the first to take down the Chiefs? Or will the Chiefs keep on winning?
What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. The Raiders hope that the saying sticks, as they don’t want their error-prone ways to follow then at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 5 after having so many lapses in their 30-23 loss at home to the Buffalo Bills last Sunday. The Raiders had two turnovers in the Bills game, with Derek Carr and Darren Waller each losing a fumble. The Raiders also committed seven penalties that cost them 66 yards and a touchdown, as a would-be Nelson Agholor touchdown grab in the second quarter was waived off due to an illegal formation infraction by tight end Foster Moreau. The Raiders have to be better at ball security against Kansas City, which has a high-powered offense that can rack up points in a hurry. To win the possession battle, the Raiders might have to turn more on their rushing game. The Raiders are averaging 115.2 rushing yards per game but Josh Jacobs and company can have more against the Chiefs’ run defense that’s 28th in the league with 161.0 rushing yards surrendered per contest.
The Raiders are 3-1 against the spread in their last four road games.
The Chiefs extended their winning streak at Arrowhead Stadium to eight games after downing the New England Patriots last Monday, 26-10, to remain undefeated through four weeks of the season. The Chiefs were held down to only six points in the first half by New England’s defense, but the Pats can only keep Mahomes and company in check for so long. The Chiefs have an uncanny ability to put up points in bunches and that’s what they did in the second half of that game, where they outscored the Pats, 20-7. Having seen Josh Allen dress down Las Vegas’ defense in Week 4, the Chiefs are feeling confident that their own young and athletic quarterback can embarrass the Raiders as well. Mahomes threw for 236 passing yards and two touchdowns on 19-of-29 completions while the Chiefs’ defense did its work on the other end of the field. Tyrann Mathieu converted one of the team’s three interceptions, into a touchdown to go with his four tackles.
The Chiefs are 9-1 against the spread in their last 10 home games.
