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The Oakland Raiders rivalry with the Kansas City Chiefs is one of the most contentious in all of sports. It ranks up there with Yankees/Red Sox, Michigan/Ohio State, Dodgers/Giants, Bulls/Knicks, Florida State/Miami, Oklahoma/Texas, and any other animosity-filled rivalry you can think of.

This series dates back to the American Football League when the Chiefs were the Dallas Texans from 1960-62.

The Chiefs lead the all-time series 56-51-2.

You know there's no love lost when a bench-clearing brawl leads to a come-from-behind tie that costs the other team a playoff spot. This happened November 1, 1970, as the Raiders tied the Chiefs in Kansas City.

From the Chiefs official web site:

Sunday, November 1, 1970: In a pivotal game against the Raiders, the Chiefs were ahead, 17-14, when quarterback Len Dawson apparently sealed the win when he ran for a first down that would have allowed the Chiefs to run out the clock.

• But while on the ground, Dawson was speared by Oakland defensive end Ben Davidson. Kansas City wide receiver Otis Taylor retaliated and a bench-clearing brawl ensued. Offsetting penalties were called, nullifying Dawson's first down.*

• The Chiefs punted the ball and Raiders kicker George Blanda eventually booted a game-tying field goal with eight seconds remaining. The tie eventually cost the Chiefs the AFC West division crown as Kansas City finished the year with a 7-5-2 record, while the Raiders went 8-4-2.*

The Chiefs took the series lead during the Marty Schottenheimer-years from 1989-98. The Raiders turned the tide a bit in 1999. The end of that season provided, once again, another close game between the two leaving the Silver and Black on top 41-38 as they closed out the regular season. On January 2, 2000, the Raiders spoiled any hopes the Chiefs had of making it to the post-season by sending the game into overtime and eventually coming away with a game winning field goal.

In 2002, the Raiders recorded their first ever shut-out victory in the series, 24-0 in Oakland, en route to their third-straight AFC West title, the AFC Championship and a Super Bowl berth.

From 2007-2012, the Raiders won six straight games at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.

Last season, the Raiders broke a 10-game losing streak to start the season and topped the Chiefs 24-20 in a thriller at O.co Coliseum on NFL Network's Thursday Night Football.

RB Latavius Murray burst onto the scene with 112 rushing yards on four carries and two touchdowns, including a 90-yard score. S Charles Woodson earned Defensive Player of the Week honors after posting nine tackles (six solo), one sack and one pass defensed. With that sack, Woodson became the first player in NFL history to register 50 interceptions and 20 sacks for his career.

In my experience, these games have always been hard-fought, physical contests. You can throw the records out when the Raiders and Chiefs get together. You can throw homefield advantage out too. I was there for the 24-0 shutout in the monsoon in Oakland in 2002, and I was there for six straight wins in Kansas City. I've seen K Sebastian Janikowski beat the Chiefs with heart-stopping field goals in 2000, 2001, 2010 and 2011.

Much of this rivalry doesn't make any sense from a results standpoint. One thing I know for sure, it's one of the most entertaining in all of sports.

**

More notes about the series**:

Chiefs wide receivers did not record a touchdown catch last season. The Chiefs signed wide receivers Jeremy Maclin and Jason Avant this offseason, and are looking to expand De'Anthony Thomas' role this year. Thomas returned a punt for a touchdown against the Raiders last season. 

Chiefs linebackers Tamba Hali and Justin Houston form perhaps the most potent one-two pass rushing combos in the NFL with 128 career sacks between them. Houston led the NFL last year with 22. Kansas City just signed him to a long-term contract.

The Raiders will close out the campaign with divisional match-ups in four of their final five games, including the season finale at Kansas City. The teams meet for the first time in 2015 in Week 13 in Oakland.

Raiders Head Coach Jack Del Rio is 3-2 all-time against the Chiefs.

The Raiders signed former Chiefs center Rodney Hudson as a free agent this offseason.

Former Raiders safeties Tyvon Branch and Ron Parker, and TE Richard Gordon are now with the Chiefs.

Former Raiders quarterback and two-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Tom Flores also won a Super Bowl with the Chiefs as a back-up to QB Len Dawson.

Raiders running backs coach Bernie Parmalee coached the Chiefs tight ends from 2010-12.

Hall of Fame running back Marcus Allen, the Raiders all-time leading rusher (1982-1992), played for the Chiefs from 1993-97.