Raiders vs. Kansas City Chiefs game at a glance
Thursday’s Raiders game
Opponent: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Time: 5:25 p.m.
Line: Chiefs by 3
Records: Raiders 2-4, Chiefs 5-1
TV/radio: Ch. 13, NFL, 1140
Three things to watch
BOWMAN BOOST
The Raiders made a key addition at linebacker this week when they signed four-time All-Pro NaVorro Bowman after he was released by San Francisco. Bowman may have lost a step at age 29 after a series of injuries, but he still is an upgrade at inside linebacker, where the Raiders have been playing the unproven Marquel Lee and Cory James. Bowman tried to get up to speed all week and hopes to be ready to make his debut against the Chiefs and prove he can still contribute at a high level. “I’m only 29 years old and I still have a lot of juice left in me,” he said.
CHECKDOWNS
For most of his career, Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith has been dogged by criticisms that he is nothing more than a game manager who never throws the ball deep. That hasn’t been the case this season as he ranks second in the NFL with 11 completions on passes more than 20 yards downfield – three off his career high. Instead, it’s Derek Carr who has been checking the ball down too much as the Raiders rank last in the NFL with two deep completions all year, including only one by Carr. “You can’t force it. You just have to work hard and let it happen,” Carr said.
TURN IT OVER
No team has protected the ball as well as the Chiefs, who haven’t turned it over since running back Kareem Hunt lost a fumble on their first play of the season. Kansas City hasn’t lost the ball in 363 plays since. The Raiders have struggled to take it away, becoming just the third team in NFL history with no interceptions in the first six games. Oakland has five takeaways all together, with two coming on special teams.
Associated Press
Injury report
RAIDERS
Out: CB Gareon Conley (shin), OL Marshall Newhouse (foot)
Questionable: LB Cory James (knee), LB Marquel Lee (ankle), LB Nicholas Morrow (ankle), RB/RB Jamize Olawale (concussion)
CHIEFS
Out: RB Charcandrick West (concussion), Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (knee), Mitchell Morse (foot)
Questionable: WR Albert Wilson (knee)
Schedule
Date | Opponent | Outcome |
Sept. 10 | at Tennessee | W, 26-16 |
Sept. 17 | vs. N.Y. Jets | W, 45-20 |
Sept. 24 | at Washington | L, 27-10 |
Oct. 1 | at Denver | L, 16-10 |
Oct. 8 | vs. Baltimore | L, 30-17 |
Oct. 15 | vs. L.A. Chargers | L, 17-16 |
Date | Opponent | Time |
Thursday | vs. Kansas City | 5:25 p.m. |
Oct. 29 | at Buffalo | 10 a.m. |
Nov. 5 | at Miami | 5:30 p.m. |
Nov. 19 | vs. New England | 1:25 p.m. |
Nov. 26 | vs. Denver | 1:25 p.m. |
Dec. 3 | vs. N.Y. Giants | 1:25 p.m. |
Dec. 10 | at Kansas City | 10 a.m. |
Dec. 17 | vs. Dallas | 5:30 p.m. |
Dec. 25 | at Philadelphia | 5:30 p.m. |
Dec. 31 | at L.A. Chargers | 1:25 p.m. |
This story was originally published October 18, 2017 at 3:32 PM with the headline "Raiders vs. Kansas City Chiefs game at a glance."