KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs have had a unique four weeks against three previous divisional winners and a potential playoff contender in the Los Angeles Chargers.
The reigning Super Bowl champions will get their next test against an AFC West foe.
Derek Carr has yet to win a game against the Chiefs in Kansas City. He currently is in his seventh season in the league.
Here are some keys for the Chiefs to keep Carr with that familiar feeling.
1. Set the edge and stuff the gaps.
Josh Jacobs is the key to the Raiders engine. He needs to have a successful day to keep the balance of the Raiders offense. The Chiefs defense needs to set the edge and stuff the A gaps. Jacobs is a dynamic runner but is at his best off the edge or on a straight-ahead run. Kansas City will need to shut down the engine by driving its shoulder right into his thigh pads throughout the game.
2. Get Carr to hold onto the ball.
Carr is at his best when the ball is out of his hand after his back foot hits on the drop. He wants to go through his reads on his drop and shows good accuracy under this rhythm. When that rhythm is disrupted he becomes a rather inconsistent quarterback in his decision making and accuracy. Another key is to push the pocket past him. He is willing to step up in the pocket and will leave the ball susceptible to being knocked out for a fumble.
3. Misdirect and delay.
The Raiders defense is very efficient against the screen game. Where they struggle is when it is misdirection combined with multiple assignments on the play. They will cover the screen portion of the play but anything else added is left wide open. Delayed routes also are very efficient against them.
4. Hit them with the doubles.
The Raiders pass defense ranks 20th for a reason. They have 26 quarterback pressures on the season. The Chargers had nearly that in a game against Kansas City. The team lacks the ability to get routine pressure. Since that is an issue for them, their second has to cover longer and also will bite on underneath routes that are flashed in front of them. The Chiefs will have some opportunities to throw over the top of them.
Andy Reid has owned the Raiders during his tenure in Kansas City. Outside of two, Thursday night defeats in Oakland, the Chiefs have won 12 of the past 14. They can make it 13 on Sunday.
