Chiefs vs. Raiders: Polar opposites performers in primetime

As the Kansas City Chiefs face off with the Oakland Raiders on Thursday night, the two couldn’t be more different in primetime.

As the Chiefs are preparing to take on the Oakland Raiders in a big Thursday night match-up, I thought it would do us well to examine how these two teams have performed in primetime over the last two regular seasons. Lets start with the Raiders.

Primetime games played: 4

Record: 2-2

Derek Carr: 82/142, 57.7 Comp %, 662, 4 TD, 3 Int, 70.2 QBR

The first thing that jumps out is how few primetime games the Raiders have played. I suppose when you are going through the primetime gauntlet as Kansas City has been, four games in two years doesn’t seem like much. In those four games, Derek Carr has thrown for under 120 yards TWICE (as well as a 184 yard performance). It also is worth noting that Oakland’s two primetime wins came against teams quarterbacked by Brock Osweiler and Trevor Siemian, not exactly the best the league has to offer. Let’s take a look now at Kansas City’s primetime resume.

Primetime games played: 7

Record: 6-1

Alex Smith: 179/268, 66.7 Comp %, 1,762 Yards, 13 TD, 3 Int, 96.6 QBR

Quite a few differences here. First, the Chiefs have played nearly half a season’s worth of primetime games over the last two seasons. Their record of 6-1 in front of America is the best in the league during that span. The Chiefs have outscored their opponents 211-174 in those games, while scoring north of 30 points four times! The teams Kansas City has beaten are very impressive as well, having taking down Denver (twice), Oakland, New England, Washington, and Houston, their sole loss being to the Steelers in Pittsburgh.

Alex Smith has turned it on under the lights, amassing nearly 1,800 yards and 13 touchdowns. Even more impressive, however, has been the play of Tyreek Hill.

In seven career primetime games, Hill has accumulated 909 total yards and eight touchdowns. Those numbers are ridiculous. Even more so considering Hill was a rookie a year ago. Hill has accounted for over 100 total yards and at least one touchdown in all but one of his career primetime games. If Hill continues at this pace, someone will have to tell Deion Sanders to move over, there is a new “Primetime” in town.

Related Story: NaVorro Bowman to make Raiders debut

Obviously, there are many other things to take into account as this game approaches. The fact the this game is in Oakland, where the Raiders have been very successful lately, adds another dimension to this match-up.  Though, you could argue that the Chiefs have been equally as successful in the Coliseum, winning three of their last four in Oakland.

The Chiefs have been thrown through a gauntlet of primetime games over the last two seasons, and they are better for it. They have experience and history on their side Thursday night, and they have what it takes to put Oakland’s season to bed.