Week 13’s game between the Oakland Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs does not have the same allure as that of the matchup of the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens, but it has bigger playoff implications. The Raiders can tie Kansas City atop the AFC West with a win, while a loss will dramatically decrease their chances to get into the playoffs. The Raiders and the Chiefs are +12500 and +1200 to win Super Bowl 54, respectively.
Talk about stepping on a land mine. That was what the Raiders felt in Week 12 — of course, not literally – when they got handed an upset 34-3 road loss by the New York Jets. The loss snapped the Raiders’ three-game winning streak and set them back in their bid to win a playoff spot. Derek Carr was not on top of his game against the Jets, going 15 for 27 for 127 passing yards and zero touchdowns with an interception. Running back Josh Jacobs was also a non-factor, as he rushed for just 34 yards on 10 carries. Jacobs, however, had some success against the Chiefs in the first meeting, albeit in a 28-10 home loss back in Week 2, when he rushed for 99 yards on 12 carries. It’s very much possible that Jacobs will rebound well from his lackluster performance in the Jets game, as the Chiefs have one of the worst defenses against the run, allowing 5.1 yards per carry — second-worst in the NFL.
The Raiders are 3-2 against the spread (ATS) in their last five games.
Betting on the Kansas City Chiefs (7-4)
Patrick Mahomes must be raring to go back onto the field after a bye in Week 12 which he probably spent hearing noises about Lamar Jackson being better than him. Well, the reigning MVP is going to have to do something to silence those discussions, and he can start by repeating his success against Oakland in Week 2 in this coming Sunday’s rematch. Mahomes went 30 for 44 for 443 passing yards and four touchdowns and zero interceptions in a 28-10 road win over Oakland in the two teams’ first meeting this season. Mahomes is also benefiting from a talented crop of receivers, including tight end Travis Kelce, who had 107 receiving yards and a touchdown on seven receptions against the Raiders.
The Chiefs have seen the total go over in three of their last three home games. They are also 3-1 ATS in their last four games against the Raiders.
