As hard as it is for many Raiders fans to accept, the Chiefs are the team that Las Vegas needs to measure itself against.
Even more difficult for Raiders fans is the fact that their team isn’t close to that level.
However, the Chiefs have shown a way forward for Las Vegas and other teams wanting to get closer to a franchise that has made it to four of the last five Super Bowls and won three of them.
The Chiefs come into Sunday’s game against Las Vegas with a perfect 6-0 record and a 12-game winning streak, their last loss happening at home last Christmas to the Raiders.
In contrast, the Raiders are entering the rematch on a three-game losing streak with a 2-5 record. They are struggling at quarterback, have an inconsistent defense, and can’t seem to find their rhythm with a minus-13 turnover ratio, the worst in the NFL.
“We’ve got to go out there and not beat ourselves,” said Raiders cornerback Jakorian Bennett. “Just focus on the details. They do a good job of not beating themselves. … They’re doing a lot of things right.”
The Chiefs have two crucial elements in place — a top-tier quarterback and coach.
Patrick Mahomes has transitioned from leading a high-scoring offense to a quarterback who, while still capable of amazing plays, relies more on his smarts and strategy than just his physical talent.
His 61.2 QBR is the lowest of his career. Mahomes has thrown the most interceptions in the league with eight, along with just six touchdown passes. Still, the Chiefs remain undefeated, with Mahomes collaborating closely with play-calling expert Andy Reid.
“Even with what’s going on in the season with interceptions, he’s still playing his best ball,” said Raiders coach Antonio Pierce. “There’s some stuff that he does that is just not accounted for. I think credit to them and Andy Reid for how they adjusted to different personnel groupings, the injuries just like us, and they’re finding ways to win.”
The Raiders are coming up with new ways to lose, and they don’t have the franchise quarterback needed to compete with Mahomes and the Chiefs. Gardner Minshew, who has also thrown eight interceptions, lost his starting position after five games but got it back when Aidan O’Connell injured his thumb during Sunday’s 20-15 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Las Vegas signed Desmond Ridder from the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad, giving him a chance if Minshew keeps having problems.
Luke Getsy still needs to prove he’s the right coach for whichever quarterback plays, and Pierce moved the offensive coordinator to the press box during the game in Los Angeles. Pierce, in his first full season as head coach, is also under scrutiny for some questionable in-game choices.
However, the Chiefs are mainly successful this season because of their strong defense.
They allow only 17.2 points per game, ranking fifth in the NFL. They are especially tough against the run, giving up just a 90.5-yard average, which is fourth best.
“There’s a reason they’ve been winning and been doing it for a long time,” Minshew said. “They’ve got some great players over there. It starts with 95 (Chris Jones). Got to have a plan for him.
He does great. And then (coordinator Steve) Spagnuolo, he dials it up, he gives you a lot of different looks. They disguise really well. They all work together well.”
Defensively, the Raiders are closer to the Chiefs than they are offensively, but several major injuries have caused setbacks for Las Vegas, which ranks 11th in allowing 316.9 yards per game, just one spot behind Kansas City.
Big changes are likely coming to Las Vegas after this season, especially now that seven-time Super Bowl quarterback Tom Brady is a minority owner and is expected to have a say in team decisions.
The Chiefs are the benchmark the Raiders are aiming to reach. This effort has been ongoing, and the Raiders are still not any closer to Kansas City than when the Chiefs began their Super Bowl journey.
“Everything we do in (the) offseason and how we game plan, the staff we put together, roster we put together is to beat the Chiefs,” Pierce said. “They’re the cream of the crop.”
