The Las Vegas Raiders' 2025 season comes to an end this Sunday as they face an AFC West rival in the Kansas City Chiefs.
Pride will be on the line as the Silver and Black try to avenge a nasty 31-0 shutout at the hands of the Chiefs in Week 7. However, both teams look vastly different than they did two months ago.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL in Week 15, effectively ending his season. Gardner Minshew (QB), Trent McDuffie (CB), Rashee Rice (WR), Tyquan Thornton (WR), and Jaylen Watson (CB) have also been placed on the injured reserve list.
As for Las Vegas, they'll be without the likes of Pro Bowlers Brock Bowers and Maxx Crosby. Head Coach Pete Carroll announced Wednesday that Geno Smith is unlikely to play after suffering an ankle injury against the Giants. This will pit two backup quarterbacks against each other with Kenny Pickett facing off against Chris Oladokun, who went 13-of-22 for 66 yards and a touchdown in Week 17.
With all things considered, here are a couple of key matchups to watch for in the Raiders' season finale
Ashton Jeanty vs. Chiefs run defense
Ashton Jeanty has one more opportunity to put an exclamation point on what's been an impressive rookie season.
Granted, his season hasn't necessary gone to plan. The Raiders are sitting at 2-14 while he's played behind shuffling offensive line rotations due to injuries.
Nevertheless, the Raiders offense found a way to make the No. 6 pick a pivotal piece of their scheme on the ground and in the air. Jeanty's 1,227 scrimmage yards are the most of any rookie this season, and his 10 total touchdowns are the second-most in the draft class behind the Denver Broncos' R.J. Harvey. After the Raiders' Week 11 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, in which Jeanty had only six carries for seven yards, he's averaged 85 scrimmage yards and 19 touches per game.
Jeanty is 112 rushing yards away from hitting 1,000 for the season, but it will be a tough task against a Kansas City Chiefs defense that's allowed the 10th fewest rushing yards per game (104.9). Additionally, they've posted a 12.1 percent missed tackle rate against designed runs which it the fifth-lowest clip in the league, per Next Gen Stats.
It's also worth noting that the running back rushed for a mere 21 yards on six carries in their Week 7 matchup against the Chiefs. Needless to say, his volume will need to be much higher to give the Raiders a chance to win this game. In each of the five games Jeanty has rushed for a touchdown this season, Las Vegas has either come out victorious or lost the game by one possession.
Michael Mayer vs. Travis Kelce
Once anticipated to be another matchup between Brock Bowers and Travis Kelce, the alternative seems just as enticing.
With Bowers on injured reserve, Michael Mayer had the opportunity to step in last Sunday and be the team's leading pass catcher against the New York Giants. The third-year tight end recorded career highs in receptions (nine) and receiving yards (89) with 65 of his yards being after catch.
"He filled in admirably for one of the best players in our league in Brock," Pete Carroll said postgame, "and he did a great job today. ... Mike had the chance to be featured today, and he totally came through. He was physical, he was creative, made all the catches. I just thought that was a beautiful game for Mike."
Obviously, Travis Kelce doesn't need an introduction. He's been the standard for tight ends for over a decade. He's the NFL's active leader in career receptions (1,077) and ranks third all-time among tight ends in receiving yards (12,990). He's also recorded 20 catches for 212 yards and a touchdown in his last three games against the Silver and Black.
There's speculation that this could Kelce's last career game, saying he'd make a decision on if he'll return for a 14th year this offseason.
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