Chiefs @ Raiders game preview:

The Chiefs' last loss? Christmas Day 2023, courtesy of the Las Vegas Raiders. Since then, Kansas City has rattled off 12 straight wins, including a Super Bowl victory—right in Sunday’s venue, Allegiant Stadium. Now, the Chiefs are rolling in at 6-0, looking to keep that streak alive with new addition DeAndre Hopkins ready to make an impact.

Adding a little extra heat, an offseason video showed Raiders players passing around a Kermit the Frog doll dressed as Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes’ response? “It'll get handled when it gets handled.” Well, folks, that week is here.

---

Key Matchups to Watch

1. George Karlaftis vs. Thayer Munford

The key to this matchup is all about the pass rush. Sure, that’s true most weeks, but when you're up against a team like the Raiders—who are, let's face it, outmatched in talent—applying pressure to the quarterback can become a game-deciding factor. If the Chiefs can keep Gardner Minshew from getting comfortable in the pocket, they might just pitch a shutout.

Now, George Karlaftis hasn’t exactly exploded out of the gates this season. Two sacks, six assists, and 14 tackles over six games isn't headline material. But this Sunday? I think we’ll see a different story. He’ll be up against Thayer Munford, the Raiders' fourth-year right tackle, who’s been dealing with a nagging knee injury. Munford has struggled at times this season, and Karlaftis—who they call "Furious George" for a reason—looks poised to dominate this matchup.

And, of course, we can't forget about Chris Jones. He’ll be up against a Raiders interior that’s been less-than-impressive, to put it kindly. Jones will be his usual wrecking ball self, blowing up the pocket and causing all sorts of chaos.

Even if Minshew somehow survives the pressure, he’ll still need to deal with Trent McDuffie locking down his targets. It’s shaping up to be a long, brutal afternoon for the Raiders' offense, especially if the Chiefs’ pass rush gets going early.

2. Nazeeh Johnson vs. Raiders receivers.

The Chiefs' secondary took a serious blow last Sunday in Santa Clara when Jaylen Watson, who’d been playing at a Pro Bowl level, suffered a nasty broken fibula-tibia (ankle), likely ending his season. Now, it’s all about "next man up," and that man looks to be 26-year-old Nazeeh Johnson.

When Watson went down, Johnson got the immediate call. Let’s just say his introduction wasn’t exactly flawless—he gave up a big play to one of the Niners' wideouts, and suddenly Watson’s absence was felt even more across Chiefs Kingdom. But football is all about redemption, and Johnson’s about to get his chance to step up this Sunday against a Raiders team that hasn’t exactly been lighting the world on fire.

In a game like this, cornerback is a vital position. Just one big play allowed can swing the momentum, and Johnson will need to prove he’s not the weak link. He’s got a huge opportunity to step in and keep this Chiefs defense at the elite level we've seen so far this season.

I believe he can rise to the occasion. And honestly, if you're going to get your shot, what better team to do it against than the Raiders?

3. Justin Reid vs. Brock Bowers

The Raiders, at this point, are a team stripped of talent. Trading away Davante Adams to the Jets last week was the latest sign of that, and with Josh Jacobs lost in free agency, Las Vegas is seriously lacking offensive firepower. But perhaps the most glaring void is at quarterback. The Raiders don’t even have an average guy under center, let alone someone who can win games consistently.

That said, first-round pick Brock Bowers, the young tight end, has been the rare bright spot. With 477 yards and a touchdown through seven games, he’s looking like the real deal—a shiny new Lamborghini parked outside a crumbling, leaking trailer. The Chiefs have struggled covering tight ends this season, often relying on Justin Reid as their go-to guy for these matchups. Reid is a solid player, but not exactly what you’d call a lockdown option in pass coverage.

The Chiefs’ defensive strategy has mostly been about taking away the opponent's biggest, most explosive weapon. If the tight end eats, the thinking goes, you can still win if you stop everyone else. But Bowers is a different beast—even as a rookie, he’s probably the Raiders' most dangerous weapon, especially with his ability to rack up yards after the catch. The question is: Will Kansas City treat him like a true "A-side" threat, maybe even tasking a cornerback with covering him on crucial downs?

Either way, Reid will need to step up when his number is called. The Chiefs can’t let the Raiders ride their rookie golden boy down the field. Make someone else beat you—anyone but Bowers.

---

X-Factors

X-Factor 1: Patrick Mahomes

It’s not exactly a hot take to say Patrick Mahomes hasn’t been his usual out-of-this-world self so far this season. It’s almost like he’s bored during the regular season at this point, trolling us by playing it cool until the fourth quarter, when the Chiefs need him to flip the switch and win the game. It’s honestly hilarious.

But based on my theory that Mahomes isn’t really going full throttle because he doesn’t have to, what better game to "go nuclear" than Chiefs vs. Raiders? This is a historic rivalry, and if there’s ever been a time to crank it up to 11, it’s now. You may recall the infamous Raiders offseason video of Kermit the Frog dressed up as Mahomes. If not, you definitely saw it when you clicked on this article. Back in the summer, Mahomes was asked about the video and his response? "It’ll get handled when it gets handled."

Well, folks, the time for handling has arrived. Given the Raiders’ extreme lack of talent and the fact that the Chiefs just added DeAndre Hopkins, I think we’re about to see a different Patrick Mahomes on Sunday night. This might just be the game where he brings out that competitive fire and puts on a show, not only to remind everyone who he is but maybe even to send a little message to Vegas.

What are the chances Mahomes hits the end zone and pulls out a puppet-hand celebration in response to that offseason video? I’d say it’s not zero! Either way, I’m hyped for this one—disrespect plus Mahomes equals fireworks.

X-Factor 2: Max Crosby

For my money, Maxx Crosby is the best edge rusher in the game. And let’s be real: aside from an elite quarterback, there’s no more impactful position in football. Crosby is the one guy on the Raiders capable of making this matchup competitive. If he can get past Jawaan Taylor or Wanya Morris (and you know he’ll be taking on both at some point during the game), the Chiefs’ offense could stall. That would open a window for the Raiders to hang around, feeding off the energy from the home crowd at Allegiant.

Mahomes and Crosby have a mutual respect, but there’s definitely some spice in their rivalry. We’ve seen them go at it verbally and physically in past matchups. If the Chiefs can neutralize Crosby, this game should be a formality—but that’s easier said than done. Crosby’s relentless, and his ability to disrupt the Chiefs’ rhythm could be the Raiders’ only hope of keeping things close.

The key will be whether Kansas City can scheme around him, because if they don’t, it might get a little too interesting.

---

Prediction

My rule for picks is simple: I go with what the Chiefs have shown me. Sure, it hasn’t always been pretty, and they haven’t exactly been firing on all cylinders, but here’s the thing—they haven’t lost yet. So, until they give me a reason to doubt them, I’m sticking with them to win.

• (I might just keep this take on repeat until they finally do lose, haha.)

The Chiefs should be up for this one, and I’m expecting a solid win. My call? 28-9, Kansas City.