Kansas City Chiefs face AFC West rivals Oakland Raiders in Week 15 – NFL Preview
It will be a competition between two teams lingering at the bottom of the league table as Kansas City Chiefs take on their American Football Conference (AFC) West rivals Oakland Raiders in Week 15 on Sunday, December 16, 2012, at O.co Coliseum, Oakland,
California.
Both teams are aiming for a better finish to the season after another despicable season. However, the game could be the deciding factor at the end of the season as to who will take the no. 1 overall pick in next year’s draft.
Raiders (3-10) have not been able to get a single win after beating Chiefs 26-16 in Week 8 home game on October 28.
Chiefs (2-11) are going through turbulent time having problems on the field as well as off it, including the death of linebacker Jovan Belcher.
They have been able to carry themselves in a better way on the field after that incident and the biggest change has been the performance of running back Jamaal Charles.
Charles has put up more than 100 rushing yards in each of the last three games, and looks on course to make it four consecutive games for the first time since the 2009 season.
Charles is currently leading the AFC for the number of rushing yards with 1,220 yards. The player put up an extraordinary performance in Week 13 to give Chiefs a 27-21 victory over Carolina Panthers.
That performance was followed up by another superb output against Denver Broncos as he rushed 107 yards in that game. Giving his views about Charles’ performance, quarterback Brady Quinn said:
"I think it speaks to the character of him as a man, how he's able to have an optimistic perspective despite all the things he's been through right now. It really speaks to who he is as man."
Quinn himself has not been able to give good performance ever since he regained the starting position.
The quarterback finished last game with a meagre 10 of 21 for 159 yards. Things would get even tougher this time as the offence will be without wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, who is out with rib injury.
Chiefs defence will face a big test as they face Raiders running back Darren McFadden who put up his best performance of the season against Chiefs in Week 8, rushing for 114 yards.
McFadden is likely to return on Sunday after recovering from an ankle injury. Defensive end Richard Seymour is also likely to be available for the game.
Raiders head coach Dennis Allen has said that the team will try young players on the field to test their capabilities for future planning. Allen said:
"All of us, as competitors, we want to win, but I also understand, and I've got a big-picture view of what I want this football team to look like. We've got to prepare for the future."
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