Games like Sunday's clash with the Kansas City Chiefs are why you love football.
Headed into a division rival's house – a very noisy one at that – with both teams fighting for the postseason, the Week 14 game at Arrowhead Stadium is going to be a fun one.
Mix in the surprise suspension of cornerback Marcus Peters, and this week hasn't lacked intriguing storylines to follow.
Kickoff is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. PT, but before action officially gets underway, here are six things you need to watch for once the Raiders and Chiefs get down to business.
1. Can the Raiders take advantage of a thin Chiefs secondary?
It's no secret that the Chiefs defense has struggled, mightily at times, in 2017.
They're the 30th ranked defense in the league for a reason, and are currently allowing 252.8 yards per game through the air.
And that's with All-Pro cornerback Marcus Peters in the mix.
In a somewhat surprising move, Head Coach Andy Reid announced earlier this week that he had suspended the explosive cornerback for Sunday's game against the Silver and Black following a fourth quarter outburst in last week's loss to the New York Jets.
Without Peters in the mix, we'll likely see a lot more of 32 year old Darrelle Revis, so I'll be keeping an eye on No. 24 to see how much he has left in the tank.
2. Will "The Beast" keep eating?
Coming off his best game as a Raider – a 17 carry, 101-yard performance against the New York Giants – I'm excited to see how No. 24 builds off that outing against a Chiefs defense that doesn't really specialized in stopping the run. Since returning from a one-game suspension, the veteran running back has had a little bit more pep in his step, and that freshness has resulted in big games for "Beast Mode."
Even with Michael Crabtree back in the mix Sunday afternoon, getting Lynch rolling will be paramount for Offensive Coordinator Todd Downing's group, so I'm excited to see what No. 24 brings to the table at Arrowhead Stadium.
3. Is this the week that David Amerson gets back to work?
For the second week in a row, David Amerson was able to practice, but we'll have to wait until Sunday to see if No. 29 makes his much-anticipated return to the gridiron.
The rangy cornerback has battled injury for much of the year, and has been unable to hit the field since Week 7, the first time the Chiefs and Raiders squared off in 2017.
As good as the Silver and Black's defense has played over the past two weeks under Assistant Head Coach – Defense John Pagano, they're going to have their hands full this Sunday when they are asked to take on Alex Smith and the plethora of playmakers the Chiefs employ.
When he's healthy, Amerson has been a staple in the Raiders secondary, and one of its better playmakers as well.
Healthy bodies are always key at this point in the season, so hopefully No. 29 can get back to work.
4. How do you limit Tyreek Hill?
Well, according to Pagano, you pray…. A lot.
In all seriousness though, Hill has solidified himself as one of the elite playmakers in the game, and with his rare, explosive speed, he has the ability to find the end zone from nearly anywhere on the field.
While the Silver and Black were able to topple the Chiefs Week 7, Hill was able to get loose, hauling in six passes for 125 yards, and a score in the instant classic.
With 911 receiving yards and six touchdowns, Hill is one of Alex Smith's favorite targets, and if the Raiders want to find success Sunday afternoon, they're going to somehow, someway find a way to limit the West Alabama-product.
And yes, I know, that's a little easier said than done.
5. Is the band getting back together?
The Silver and Black were without the services of Amari Cooper last weekend as he recovered from a concussion, and while he's now officially out of the concussion protocol, Cooper's status for Sunday's game is still up in the air.
Yes, Michael Crabtree will be back in the mix after serving a one-game suspension, but if Cooper can also make a triumphant return to work, it would go a long way for the health of the offensive as a whole.
If "Coop" isn't able to go though, keep an eye on Cordarrelle Patterson; the explosive wide out has had back-to-back really strong outings, and I'm excited to see how he's used against the Chiefs.
6. All eyes on Mother Nature
It's December in Kansas City, so you have to prepare for the weather, whatever it may be.
According to our good pals at weather.com, as of now, the forecast is supposed to be sunny with a high of 58 degrees Sunday afternoon.
Now, it's Kansas City, so the weather can change at a moment's notice, but if the forecast runs true, that could certainly be good news for the Silver and Black.
Head Coach Jack Del Rio's group has played in the elements a few time this year, with mixed results, so it'll certainly be noteworthy if the rain, sleet or snow comes down at Arrowhead Stadium.
