After playing their last two contests on the road, the Oakland Raiders return home to host the Kansas City Chiefs for their second match-up of the season on Sunday, Dec. 15. The contest with the Chiefs begins a three-game stretch against divisional foes to conclude the 2013 campaign. The Silver and Black last faced off against Kansas City in Week 6, when they traveled to Arrowhead Stadium and fell to the Chiefs, 7-24. While they were not victorious earlier this year, the Raiders have won three of the last four matchups against Kansas City.
Last week, Oakland traveled to the East Coast and lost their Week 14 matchup with the New York Jets, 27-37. After falling behind in the first half, Oakland responded to get back in the game in the second half. FB Marcel Reeceset a career long with a 63-yard TD rush on the second play of the second half to bring the Raiders closer. Reece, who rushed for a career-high 123 yards on 19 carries and one TD, paced the Raiders offensively on the ground. WR Rod Streaterset a career high with 130 yards and a score and QB Matt McGlointhrew for 245 yards with two TDs in the contest.
The Kansas City Chiefs travel to Northern California coming off a convincing 45-10 victory on the road last week against the Washington Redskins. The Chiefs came out of the gates fast and never looked back, jumping out a 31-0 lead on Washington midway through the second quarter. RB Jamaal Charles ran for 151 yards and a TD, and the Chiefs special teams unit had a tremendous day, accounting for two TDs, which brought their season total to five, an NFL best.
Following Sunday's contest, the Raiders will travel to San Diego to take on the Chargers in their last road game of the year, while Kansas City will return home to take on the Indianapolis Colts.
"Well, we've got three games against division opponents, so it'll be a great opportunity for us to measure ourselves up against the teams that are in our division. If we aspire to be a playoff team, those are the teams that we've got to be able to beat. So, I'll look for them to rise up to the challenge and try to win these football games. That's what we're trying to do, and our guys will respond. They'll come back." -- Raiders Head Coach Dennis Allen
Pro Connections
• Raiders special teams coordinator Bobby Aprilspent the last three seasons (2010-12) in the same capacity with the Eagles under Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid, who was the head coach in Philadelphia from 1999-2012. Under their direction, the Eagles captured the NFC East division title in 2010.
• Raiders senior offensive assistant Al Saundersserved as assistant head coach/offensive coordinator of the Chiefs from 2001-05 and assistant head coach/wide receivers coach from 1989-98. In 2002, Saunders helped RB Priest Holmes find the end zone 24 times en route to him winning the NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
• Chiefs DB Ron Parkerappeared in three games for the Raiders in 2011.
College Connections
• Raiders WR Denarius Mooreand Chiefs S Eric Berrywere teammates at the University of Tennessee from 2007-09. In 2007, the Volunteers went 10-4 and finished the season ranked No. 12 in the *Associated Press *Poll.
• Raiders TE Mychal Riveraand Chiefs QB Tyler Braywere both members of the Tennessee Volunteer offense from 2010-12. In 2012, Rivera had 36 catches for 562 yards and 5 TD's. Raiders LB Kevin Burnettand Chiefs P Dustin Colquittwere also teammates at Tennessee from 2001-04. In 2001, the Vols went 11-2 en route to a final *Associated Press *ranking of fourth in the nation.
• Raiders DE Lamarr Houstonand Chiefs RB Jamaal Charleswere teammates at the University of Texas from 2006-07. In 2007, the Longhorns went 10-3 and won the Holiday Bowl over Arizona State to finish the year ranked number 10 in the *Associated Press *Poll.
• Raiders S Tyvon Branchplayed collegiately at the University of Connecticut with Chiefs RB Anthony Shermanin 2007, when the Huskies had an overall record of 9-4. Sherman was also a teammate of Raiders LB Sio Moorefrom 2009-10.
Chiefs from Northern California
• There are two Chiefs from Northern California: QB Tyler Bray(Kingsburg) and LB James-Michael Johnson(Fairfield).
Chiefs Snapshot
Overview:After finishing tied for the worst record in the NFL during the 2012 season, the Chiefs have bounced back in a big way thus far in the 2013 season. After starting the year 9-0, Kansas City has lost three their last four games. Currently sitting in second place in the AFC West with a record of 10-3, the Chiefs are looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2010.
Offense:The Chiefs offense is led by new QB Alex Smith. Smith, a reliable and consistent quarterback, has brought just that to the Chiefs offense this season. So far this season Smith has thrown for 2,873 yards and tossed 18 touchdown passes, against only six interceptions. Behind Smith is explosive RB Jamaal Charles. Charles currently leads the team in rushing with 1,162 yards and 10 scores, while being a consistent weapon in the passing game as well, where he has added 460 receiving yards with three more TDs.
Defense:Kansas City's defense currently sits fourth in the league in points allowed per game, 17.2. Kansas City is tied for fifth in sacks with 43. The Chiefs defense is lead by OLB Tamba Hali,who has filled up the stat sheet this season. Hali currently has 43 tackles, 11 sacks, four forced fumbles and two interceptions. OLB Justin Houstonis tied with Hali for the team lead with 11 sacks and one forced fumble on the season. Fourth-year veteran S Eric Berryleads the secondary for the Chiefs. So far this season Berry has 64 tackles, 3.5 sacks and one interception.
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Raiders Notes**
Last Sunday, the Raiders started seven undrafted players on offense, including all of the skill positions. The last team to start that many players on offense was the Redskins on 11/10/02. The seven undrafted players are: WR Andre Holmes, G Lucas Nix, TE Jeron Mastrud, WR Rod Streater, QB Matt McGloin, FB Marcel Reeceand FB/RB Jamize Olawale.
Through 13 games this year, Oakland's defense is holding up well against the run. After finishing 18th in the NFL a season ago in rushing yards allowed per game, the Raiders currently rank sixth in the AFC this season, allowing just 105.9 yards per game.
With a revamped defense and under the guidance of defensive coordinator Jason Tarver, the Silver and Black have limited their opponents to just 3.9 yards per carry this season. That number is good for fourth in the AFC.
Following the 150 rushing yards the Raiders totaled against the Jets last week, they now rank fourth in the NFL in rushing yards per game.
In last week's game vs. the Jets, the Raiders had two rushes of 20 yards or more. FB Marcel Reeceset a career long with a 63-yard TD rush, and with this run, Oakland now has the most runs of at least 20 yards in the NFL.
Through just 13 games this year, the Raiders have already surpassed the number of total sacks they had all of last season (25). The 32 sacks have also been spread around at a remarkable rate, with 14 different players registering a sack.
