Oakland Raiders vs Kansas City Chiefs – NFL Week 16: Preview
Faced with must win scenarios the Oakland Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs are tied up for a hot contest this Sunday at the Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
Starting from Kansas City, they clearly look a new team under Romeo Crennel which managed to snatch the chance of a perfect season from Green Bay Packers with a surprising victory. While on the other hand, the Raiders will be looking
to avoid a fourth straight defeat.
Matt Cassel with 1713 yards of rushing and 10 touchdown will be waiting to get loose on Sunday after an excellent performance against the Packers that saw the Chiefs rampaging on the ground with 438 yards of offense. A repeat performance
is all they need to get over the Raiders as the route to playoffs is a bit more difficult. Apart from a victory, the Denver Broncos must lose their last two games for the Chiefs to make it to the playoffs.
The Oakland Raiders have bleak chances of making it to the playoffs. Apart from the need to win the two next games, only if Kansas City Chiefs beat the Denver Broncos will the Raiders make it to their playoff dreams. The Chiefs
need to be defeated at least once in their next two games. With a Chiefs’ victory over the Buffalo Bills imminent, the Broncos are the only hope that Raiders have left.
Therefore the scenario is not so bright for the Raiders who are trying to pull out from a recent 28-27 loss to the Detroit Lions. Surely all this has coach Hue Jackson worried who seems bent on fighting till the end as long as
there is a chance despite his team having fallen to 7-7 recently from a good start of 7-4 three weeks ago.
"We're not out of this thing yet, I still feel that way. This team is going to fight. I think heading into the game everyone was concerned if the team would even show up. Well, we know we'll show up.” Jackson said.
The Raiders need to concentrate more on their offensive line up which sure does deserve the blame for last Sunday’s loss. A fumble by Darrius Heyward-Bey and missed touchdown passes by Carson Palmer are all to be blamed for the
defeat. Though their defence has been a subject of criticism, yet Palmer would need to deliver more. Palmer with 2099 yards of passing and ten touchdowns to his credit will be the man Raiders will be looking at to achieve the task of victory. Avoid penalties
and getting sacked and the Raiders will have their way.
Injuries no doubt plague the Oakland players who have lost their key running back Darren McFadden and Jacoby Ford. However with Michael Bush delivering well in the past three games, the Raiders may manage to pull themselves out
of trouble. Bush has been persistent with his performance lately showing a lot of improvement with 703 yards of rushing in the past eight games. He may fill the gap left by McFadden’s absence.
Raiders defence needs to keep up the good work they have been showing in the past games and all will be fine for them.
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