Raiders game plan vs. Chiefs
THE PARTICULARS
▪ Opponent: vs. Kansas City
▪ Time: 5:25 p.m.
▪ Line: Chiefs by 7
▪ Records: Raiders 0-10, Chiefs 7-3
▪ TV: NFL (Jim Nantz, Phil Simms)
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH
SENSATIONAL SCREENS
The Raiders had no answer for screen passes to Jamaal Charles when these teams played last December. Charles caught eight passes for 195 yards and four touchdowns. He added 20 rushing yards and a touchdown and joined Shaun Alexander, Jerry Rice and Clinton Portis as the only players since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to score five touchdowns and gain at least 200 yards from scrimmage in a game.
MORE MURRAY?
Third-stringer Latavius Murray gave the Raiders’ running game a spark with 43 yards on four carries last week, including a 23-yarder that was the longest run by a Raiders back this season. With Oakland on pace for the most anemic rushing attack in 68 years, Murray might get a few more shots ahead of Darren McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew.
MISSING WIDEOUTS
The Chiefs have gotten to first place despite no touchdown catches by a wide receiver. Alex Smith has six touchdown passes to tight ends and five to running backs, but he hasn’t connected with Dwayne Bowe or any of the other wide receivers for a score.
SACK ARTISTS
The Raiders will have their hands full with Kansas City’s front seven, which is tied for third in the NFL in sacks with 30. Linebacker Justin Houston leads the NFL with 12, and linebacker Tamba Hali has five. Making it even tougher is the presence of tackle Dontari Poe, who has five sacks and makes it hard for the offense to focus on the outside rushers.
STRUGGLING OFFENSE
The Raiders are last in in scoring at 15.2 points per game, and the offense has been particularly bad recently. Oakland has failed to top 240 yards in its past three games with rookie quarterback Derek Carr struggling after a promising start to the season.
The Associated Press
INJURY REPORT
RAIDERS
▪ Out: TE David Ausberry (foot), CB T.J. Carrie (ankle), S Jonathan Dowling (back), CB Carlos Rogers (knee)
▪ Questionable: G Gabe Jackson (knee)
▪ Probable: LB Miles Burris (hip), QB Derek Carr (quadriceps)
CHIEFS
▪ Out: WR Donnie Avery (groin), WR A.J. Jenkins (shoulder), CB Chris Owens (knee)
▪ Questionable: TE Anthony Fasano (knee), CB Jamell Fleming (hamstring)
▪ Probable: G Zach Fulton (ankle), CB Phillip Gaines (ankle), LB Tamba Hali (knee), TE Travis Kelce (ribs), G Mike McGlynn (knee), CB Sean Smith (groin)
RAIDERS SCHEDULE
DATE | OPPONENT | RESULT |
Sept. 7 | at N.Y. Jets | L, 19-14 |
Sept. 14 | vs Houston | L, 30-14 |
Sept. 21 | at New England | L, 16-9 |
Sept. 28 | vs. Miami (London) | L, 38-14 |
Oct. 5 | BYE | |
Oct. 12 | vs. San Diego | L, 31-28 |
Oct. 19 | Arizona | L, 24-13 |
Oct. 26 | at Cleveland | L, 23-13 |
Nov. 2 | at Seattle | L, 30-24 |
Nov. 9 | vs. Denver | L, 41-17 |
Nov. 16 | at San Diego | L, 13-6 |
DATE | OPPONENT | TIME |
Today | Kansas City | 5:25 p.m. |
Nov. 30 | at St. Louis | 10 a.m. |
Dec. 7 | vs. 49ers | 1:25 p.m. |
Dec. 14 | at Kansas City | 10 a.m. |
Dec. 21 | vs. Buffalo | 1:25 p.m. |
Dec. 28 | at Denver | 1:25 p.m. |
This story was originally published November 19, 2014 at 4:29 PM with the headline "Raiders game plan vs. Chiefs."