This is the one we’ve been waiting for. The week 12 preview against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Raiders arch-rivals are coming into this week 12 preview coming off of a loss against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football. They’re led of course by former MVP Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce, better known these days as Taylor Swift’s boyfriend.
The Raiders come into this week 12 preview also having lost to the Miami Dolphins in Miami. While the Dolphins are the number 1 offense in the league, the Raiders defense held them to 1 touchdown the entire game and 20 points overall.
Head coach Antonio Pierce definitely has the team motivated and playing with a different level of energy and fire compared to the first half of the season.
This week 12 preview is critical. If the Raiders can upset the Chiefs for the first time since 2020, then the Raiders can head into their bye week at 6-6 before clashing with the Minnesota Vikings. If the Raiders lose and fall to 5-7, they’ll see themselves needing certainly to win out (which would mean defeating Kansas City on Christmas Day as well) in order to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The stage is set, and the players will be ready. This is the game we’ve waited for the most, and the team that the Raiders dislike the most. This is Raider Week for them, and it’s Chiefs Week for the Raiders Let’s get into this week 12 preview.
Matchups To Watch
Raiders Defense vs. Patrick Mahomes
Las Vegas Raiders Edge Maxx Crosby (98) – AP Photo/David Becker
The Raiders defense is currently putting up their best statistics as a unit since the 2002 team that went to the Super Bowl. Obviously, it would be insane to compare the 2 units and that is not what I’m trying to do here but merely point out that it has been a long time since the Raiders fielded a good defense.
We all know about Patrick Mahomes. The leader of the Chiefs is a multiple-time MVP, multiple-time Super Bowl champion, and multiple-time Super Bowl MVP. Even in his defeats, he gets love from everybody. He’s practically immune to bad performances, as even those seem to have highlight reel plays.
The Raiders defense needs to limit Mahomes. They did a phenomenal job against the Miami Dolphins last week with the number 1 ranked offense in the league. This is an opportunistic defense that has multiple games forcing multiple turnovers. They managed to force and recover 2 fumbles and intercept Tua last week.
Led by Maxx Crosby, this is a unit that is finally stepping up and carrying the load. The offense might be lagging behind, but the defense is stepping into their place and winning games for the team for the first time in 2 decades. In this week 12 preview, look for Maxx Crosby to once again get after his main adversary.
Mahomes is the top tier of quarterback. He’s the best in the league. Looking at this week 12 preview, this is one of the massive keys to victory for the Raiders. If they get to Mahomes, they will win.
One of the biggest x-factors might be out. Maxx Crosby was listed as doubtful on Friday afternoon with a knee injury. If he’s out on Sunday, that’s a crippling blow to the Raiders chances.
Can Josh Jacobs Get Going?
Las Vegas Raiders RB Josh Jacobs (28) – Jeff Bottari/Getty Images
Last week, Josh Jacobs got shut down by the Miami defense. The offensive line didn’t do a great job blocking for him and he wasn’t able to get going running the ball or through the air attack.
That needs to change this Sunday. Looking at this week 12 preview, for the Raiders to have a chance to beat the Chiefs, Josh Jacobs needs to go off. He needs to be physical and get the ball all game long.
The Chiefs defense has been a strength this season. This is arguably the best defense that they have had in the Patrick Mahomes era. It’s one of the reasons why they’ve won some of their games despite the offense stalling out in the second half of several games this season.
For this week 12 preview, look to the Raiders to get physical and run the ball with Jacobs carrying the load.
Will Pierce Be Conservative Again?
Last week, Antonio Pierce was criticized for choosing to go ultra-conservative due to rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell. This is one of the reasons why the Raiders lost the game on Sunday.
At the end of the first half the team got the ball on the Dolphins 30 down 14-10 at the end of the first half. They had multiple timeouts and time to score. Instead, Pierce opted for the team to go conservative and run it twice up the middle, burn the clock, and then kick a field goal to be down by 1 instead of attempting to take the lead. So the Raiders were still losing but by 1 instead of 4.
Pierce explained that this call and the decision to go ultra-conservative in the second half were done to protect the rookie quarterback. The Raiders can’t win games this way. We’ve seen it too many times with too many different head coaches.
Looking at this week 12 preview, this is Chiefs Week. This is rivalry week. You need to let it go and go out there and win. You have to be aggressive and you aren’t going to win a lot of games being ultra-conservative like that.
The Raiders need to win this game to keep their postseason hopes alive. Defensively it’s going to be tough without Crosby. The offense needs to show up and get things going.
Prediction
Las Vegas Raiders RB Josh Jacobs (28) – Charlie Riedel/AP Photo
This is Raider Week for the Chiefs. They’re coming off a tough loss at home to the Eagles. They’re looking for revenge on the next team they play and unfortunately for the Raiders, they’re likely without the best player on the defense.
This is a tough one regardless of if Crosby is in or not, but without Crosby, this is an insurmountable task. I don’t expect the Raiders to come out and win this one. I would love to be surprised of course, but it’s hard to see it happening.
Jacobs might have a good day, but it’s hard to see the rest of the Raiders celebrating. This week 11 preview would be a lot more optimistic if Maxx Crosby was not doubtful, but this is where we stand on this day.
After going through this week 11 preview, I’m unfortunately expecting a decisive victory for the Chiefs in Las Vegas. I just don’t think offensively that “AOC” is there yet, or if he will ever be good enough to overcome a Chiefs team that is this good. Defensively, it’s going to be insanely difficult to stop Patrick Mahomes when your best player is out. I hope that I’m wrong.
Final Score
Chiefs 31 Raiders 14
