On Sunday, the (3-3) Kansas Metropolis Chiefs will host the (2-4) Las Vegas Raiders in a Week 7 sport on GEHA Subject at Arrowhead Stadium. Kickoff is about for 12 p.m. on CBS — regionally on KCTV/5.
The 2 groups appear to be headed in reverse instructions. Sunday may very well be the primary time this season that Kansas Metropolis will show its full offensive firepower to the world.
Listed here are 5 issues to observe.
1. Rashee Rice’s return
It has been over a 12 months since we now have seen the third-year participant swimsuit up with the Chiefs. Together with his devastating 2024 knee damage — and his NFL suspension this 12 months — Rice has confronted quite a few challenges throughout that point. Sunday is when the following chapter of his profession will start — during which he hopes to grow to be the premier weapon of an offense led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
As a rookie in 2023, Rice put up 164 yards and a landing on 14 receptions over two video games towards Las Vegas. On Sunday, he may very well be primed for an enormous workload. The Kansas Metropolis offense has put up huge numbers for 3 straight weeks — and Mahomes is now the frontrunner to be this season’s NFL MVP. Rice’s presence may take the offense to the following degree — and nobody will probably be stunned if he has an enormous sport towards a porous Raiders protection.
2. Jaylon Moore’s second begin
Left deal with Josh Simmons was a late scratch for private causes towards Detroit, giving Moore his first begin with the Chiefs. On brief discover — and after spending all evening on the hospital as his third baby was being born — Moore performed a strong sport towards the Lions, stopping star cross rusher Aiden Hutchinson from gathering a sack for the primary time this season.
Simmons remains to be out, so Moore will sq. off towards Las Vegas star Maxx Crosby, who has lengthy been a thorn in Kansas Metropolis’s facet. One of many league’s finest cross rushers, Crosby is prone to have a chip on his shoulder for this sport — and the Raiders will in all probability maximize his use towards Moore.
Fortuitously, Crosby is similar to Hutchinson, so the Chiefs are probably to make use of an identical plan to carry him in test. And whereas Moore lacks the pure athletic potential (and jaw-dropping bodily prowess) of Simmons, he makes up for it with supremely refined technical play, excessive soccer IQ and a relaxed demeanor to journey out the highs and lows of being an NFL deal with.
3. Intercepting quarterback Geno Smith
The Raiders’ quarterback is having an terrible season. Main the league with 10 interceptions, Smith isn’t doing his staff any favors. Las Vegas is tied for the league’s third-worst turnover differential (-4) and is tied with the Cincinnati Bengals for essentially the most turnovers (11).
However Smith’s points aren’t the one downside. The Raiders have displayed inconsistent offensive line play — Smith is tied for the third-most sacks (18) — and has injured pass-catchers, too. Tight finish Brock Bowers is uncertain for Sunday’s sport, whereas wideout Jakobi Meyers is listed as questionable.
The formulation for beating the Raiders has been easy: discover methods to get the ball from Smith — and capitalize on his errors.
The Kansas Metropolis protection is coming off a powerful outing — and the secondary may very well be primed for an enormous sport.
4. A record-breaking day for Travis Kelce?
With 82 profession touchdowns, the celebrity tight finish is one landing away from tying Priest Holmes’ all-time franchise report. Holmes scored them throughout an unbelievable six seasons in Kansas Metropolis. It’s very probably that in his thirteenth season, Kelce will declare this report — probably on Sunday.
Kelce has dominated the Raiders as a professional, gathering 1,582 yards and 12 touchdowns over 22 video games. This season, Las Vegas has been good at defending towards tight ends, giving up solely 25 receptions and two touchdowns — however the staff has not confronted a decent finish of Kelce’s caliber. Kansas Metropolis might desire Kelce to interrupt the report on subsequent week’s “Monday Evening Soccer” telecast — but when he’s open within the pink zone, Mahomes is prone to goal him.
5. A celebration for Chris Jones and George Karlaftis
Thus far, the Chiefs’ cross rush has not been as much as par — and this lack of strain has strained the remainder of the protection. However luckily, each Jones and Karlaftis have been superb towards the Raiders.
Jones has 10.5 sacks in 18 profession video games towards Las Vegas, whereas Karlaftis has 4 sacks over six matchups. Smith has made himself a goal for cross rushers — and the Raiders’ shaky offensive line hasn’t achieved a lot to assist.
Sunday’s sport will probably be an important alternative for the Kansas Metropolis line of defense to place up some huge performances.
