Raiders versus Chiefs highlights NFL
NEW YORK, USA (AP) — The Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs are usually thinking about their offseason plans when the calendar has turned to November. Not this year.
With both NFL teams on the rise, Kansas City are 5-2 atop the AFC West division, and Oakland are 4-4 after winning three of their last four games. When they meet today, it will be the first time neither has a losing record since 2002. It also could be fierce and memorable, like the old days of a rivalry the Chiefs lead 54-2-46.
The Raiders-Chiefs rivalry used to be one of the league’s most spiteful. Both needed to go through the other to championships in the 1960s and ’70s and produced legions of Hall of Fame players.
Both teams have built their success in similar fashion, relying on a potent running game with many options. Kansas City lead the NFL in rushing behind a pair of backs on pace for 1,000-yard seasons in Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones.
The Raiders are second in rushing behind a breakthrough season from Darren McFadden, who leads the league with 111.3 yards per game on the ground.
The teams are vastly improved on defence, too. But Raiders star cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha has a sprained right ankle, which could be pivotal. Whether Asomugha plays or not, the Raiders’ Black Hole fan section in the Coliseum will be rocking, just like old times. But the Chiefs have won each of their last seven visits.
In other games: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Atlanta Falcons; Philadelphia Eagles vs Indianapolis Colts; Miami Dolphins vs Baltimore Ravens; San Diego at Houston; the New York Giants at Seattle; Arizona at Minnesota; Dallas at Green Bay; Chicago vs Buffalo in Toronto; New Orleans at Carolina; the New York Jets at Detroit; and New England at Cleveland.
Tomorrow, Pittsburgh visit Cincinnati.
Off this week are Tennessee, Washington, St Louis, San Francisco, Denver and Jacksonville.