Kansas City Chiefs vs Las Vegas Raiders Picks and Predictions November 29th 2024

Chiefs Not Discounting Raiders After Last Year’s Holiday Upset

The Kansas City Chiefs, led by star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, are preparing for another AFC West showdown against the Las Vegas Raiders this Black Friday. Despite holding the best record in the NFL at 10-1, the Chiefs are aware that their divisional rival has previously sprung holiday surprises — most notably a shocking upset on Christmas Day 2023 at Arrowhead Stadium.

Kansas City enters the matchup aiming to avoid another surprise result while maintaining their dominance in the AFC playoff race. Meanwhile, the struggling Raiders, sitting at 2-9, are desperate to end a seven-game losing streak and play spoiler in a season marred by injuries and inconsistency.

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Chiefs Find Ways to Win, But Room for Improvement

While the Chiefs’ record is impressive, their victories have often come down to the wire. Five of their wins this season were decided on the final play, including last week’s nail-biting 30-27 victory over the Carolina Panthers.

Patrick Mahomes, who remains the heartbeat of the Chiefs’ offense, attributes these close wins to preparation and poise under pressure.

“Being prepared for the moment,” Mahomes said. “Obviously, you want to do it throughout the entire game, but when it’s do-or-die time, guys go out there and make it happen.”

However, the Chiefs’ recent struggles to close out games convincingly have left players and coaches looking for areas of improvement. Mahomes explained the mood after their latest win over Carolina:

“I think we hold ourselves to an extremely high standard. Unless we feel we play our best, guys are itching to get back out there and go for more.”

The Chiefs hope to replicate their earlier success against the Raiders, a comfortable 27-20 victory in Week 8, where last-minute heroics weren’t required.

Raiders Face Challenges Amid Losing Streak

The Raiders are enduring a difficult season, tied for the NFL’s worst record at 2-9. Their struggles have been amplified by a seven-game losing streak, during which five losses were by double digits.

Las Vegas’ latest setback was a 29-19 defeat against the Denver Broncos, a game that also saw quarterback Gardner Minshew suffer a season-ending collarbone injury. Aidan O’Connell, returning from a thumb injury, has been named the starter for Black Friday by head coach Antonio Pierce.

“We feel good about Aidan. He’s been dialed in,” Pierce said. “He has that laser-eye focus right now. Great opportunity for him.”

Desmond Ridder, who joined the Raiders after O’Connell’s injury in Week 7, will serve as the backup.

“I’ve been here almost a month, and now I feel comfortable with the offense,” Ridder said. “I’m ready to go.”

Injury Updates: Chiefs and Raiders

The Raiders will be without cornerback Nate Hobbs (ankle) and running back Zamir White (quadriceps). Defensive back Jakorian Bennett was placed on injured reserve, further depleting their defense.

For Kansas City, kicker Spencer Shrader (hamstring) is out, prompting the elevation of Matthew Wright. On a brighter note, the Chiefs activated running back Isiah Pacheco (leg) and defensive lineman Charles Omenihu (knee) from injured reserve, bolstering their lineup.

Chiefs’ Dominance Over Raiders

Kansas City has had the upper hand in this rivalry, winning 17 of the past 20 meetings. Still, the memory of last year’s Christmas Day upset by the Raiders looms large as the Chiefs look to avoid another holiday letdown.

“Unless we play the way we expect to play, we’re going to strive to be better every time we step on the football field,” Mahomes said.

With playoff implications and pride on the line, both teams will be eager to make their mark in this divisional battle. Will the Chiefs continue their march toward the postseason, or will the Raiders deliver another unexpected twist in their holiday rivalry?