Chiefs hit primetime TNF for AFC West showdown

Welcome to primetime Thursday Night Football!

This rematch of AFC West powers carries a bit of extra weight this time around. This game could effectively be the single contest that win will the AFC West division championship. Though there is a slew of division games left on the schedule, this is the single closest matchup left in the 2016 regular season. The Chiefs and Raiders both need to win this game to try and gain home field advantage in the postseason.

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These teams have changed since they met in a week 6 matchup in Oakland. At the time, the Raiders were 4-1 but had won those four games by a total of 12 points. They had two single-point wins. They had lost to the Falcons and barely beaten the Titans. the Chiefs had struggled to a 2-2 record.

The game in Oakland was an outlier. It was the last time the Raiders lost. It is still Oakland’s lowest point production in any game this season. On the other hand, it sparked the Chiefs run. And Reid called a run heavy gameplay at 60.7% rushes. Kansas City ran for 4.6 yards per carry that day and Alex Smith threw for a season-high 86.4% completion rate.

With the expected temperature to be about 22F at kickoff, the team may need to replicate that performance to earn a win tonight.

Matt Derrick from Chiefs Digest is on the show with us today to preview the game.

Keys, Matchups and tendencies

Passing Game
Common wisdom says it’s tough to pass in cold weather. This evening should certainly qualify and should slow the passing game some. You never really know with Andy Reid, though. The playoff game last January against New England is a prime example. It was 36 degrees at kickoff and Alex Smtih threw 50 passes on the day for a middling 8.5 yards per completion average.

Tonight, he will have Jeremy Maclin back. He’ll have Tyreek hill, who had not become an offensive factor when these teams played in week 6. Look for matchups out of the slot and TE positions. The Raiders will not have one of their starting safeties. Travis Kelce has been on a roll and is the key in the passing game.

Running the ball

Spencer Ware should be cold, tired and happy after this game. The physical, grinding gameplan that Reid used in the first 2016 meeting should yield similar results. Reid was not shy with the running backs in Oakland. I sincerely hope he remembers that Thursday night.

Ware ran for a punishing 5.5 yards per carry against the Raiders in Oakland. Given the chance to attack the Raiders front seven in the cold, look for Ware to break a big night. Oakland has surrendered 465 years rushing over the last 3 weeks. Zach Fulton has a matchup to watch on the interior line.

Breaking on Carr
Kansas City’s Marcus Peters against Oakland’s Amari Cooper is the marquee matchup of the night. Peters made the big play in this year’s first meeting, picking off QB Derek Carr in the first quarter. Carr has played well recently, throwing for 870 yards in the last three weeks. The two could be in for a night-long duel.

Peters will have his chances enhanced by an improved pass rush. With Justin Houston, Dee ford and Tamba Hali all able to play tonight, the outside pass rush is the matchup to watch. Pressure has been a thorn in Carr’s side against the Chiefs. Look for that trend to continue.

Bending the run

The Raiders will feature Latavius Murray in the backfield Thursday night. Murray was not able to play in their week 6 contest. Over the last month, Murray has found his stride. In the last four weeks, Murray has rushed for a solid 3.8 yards per carry, including a 114-yard outing against Denver. He will be the key matchup to watch in the running game as he faces ILBs Derrick Johnson and Ramik Wilson.

Murray has had an impact in the passing game as well, catching 11 passes for 125 yards in Oakland’s last three games. He will be spelled by the smaller and faster Jalen Richard. The duo has been potent in recent weeks. The Chiefs defensive line will have to avoid creating running lanes against Oakland’s nasty interior offensive line. The line battle should be epic Thursday night.

Berry’s leadership is irreplaceable but may happen anyway

After Eric Berry’s performance in Atlanta, it’s easy to see how important he is as a leader for this team. Many media outlets speculate that this is likely his last in year in a Kansas City uniform and point to last week’s performance as one more reason for it. Berry’s price is going up.

The fanbase looks at it in a more straightforward way. Berry is a Chief. He’s a hero in Kansas City for his perseverance and drive. My advice? Enjoy watching every snap Berry takes and don’t worry about the offseason. Here’s a clip for you all.

It will be hard to stay warm out there. Jump, stomp shout and shake to keep yourselves warm.

Enjoy the TNF game, Addicts!