5 Questions With Just Blog Baby’s Chase Ruttig

Dec 15, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Knile Davis (34) runs the ball against the Oakland Raiders in the fourth quarter at O.co Coliseum. The Chiefs defeated the Raiders 56-31. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

5. Prediction time with a twist. First, tell me the winning formula for the Raiders and what the score would be in that scenario. Second, tell me what you think is most likely to happen. Finally, tell me the nightmare scenario for the Raiders.

I am going to twist your twist here and give you the nightmare scenario before my final prediction, but here it goes:

Winning formula: The winning formula for the Raiders is one that most underdogs follow, control the clock, minimize mistakes and make the big plays needed to escape with a victory. If the Raiders can replicate their effort against the Chargers last week while executing on offense they will have a great chance to win this football game because on Sunday they executed their winning formula perfectly, but the problem was the offense just didn’t step up and a freak botched snap on the first play of the game was the difference between a first win rather than a tenth loss.

It will be harder to get stops on Thursday in a short week against the Chiefs however as the running game in addition to Alex Smith’s short passing game makes it difficult for any team to get off of the field against Kansas City recently. However after giving Peyton Manning fits for much of the first half in their last home game it could happen, but a strong effort will be needed on both sides of the ball for the Raiders to upset the Chiefs in this primetime clash.

Nightmare scenario: Last year’s game. The Raiders folded against the Chiefs pretty bad last year as everyone can remember as Jamaal Charles and Alex Smith posted career days against the Silver and Black. If the Raiders fold again things can get ugly, something that happened against the Broncos in their last game which is a big reason this Oakland team.

Prediction: It is hard to get a read on this game because of last year’s blowout and the Raiders inconsistent play, but in their only primetime game of the season you think that Oakland will come out motivated to play a strong game. As underdogs all year there have been plenty of competitive football games played by this team that have ended as losses and I think that is what we see here. Oakland are 1-4 against the spread at home, but I see this as a game where the seven point underdogs win in Vegas but lose on the scoreboard in an exciting game at the Coliseum. Put me down for Raiders +7 and the Over in a fun game. Chiefs 28 Raiders 24.