3. Turnovers have been the story of the Raiders’ season in 2024.
Las Vegas is a league-worst -17 in terms of turnover margin this season, which largely explains the Raiders’ struggles as a team this year. The Raiders have forced just five takeaways (a league-low) and have turned it over 22 times (a league-high). Additionally, opponents have scored a league-high 89 points off those giveaways.
It has been a consistent issue, too, as the Raiders have turned the ball over at least once in every game this season, and multiple times on six occasions.
For what it’s worth, however, 14 of the Raiders’ 22 giveaways this season were committed by Gardner Minshew, who won’t play on Friday.
Quarterback Aidan O’Connell, who has four starts under his belt this year, has turned it over just twice. The Chiefs’ defense, which has forced just one turnover over the last four weeks, will have an opportunity to add to that tally on Friday.
4. The Raiders have struggled defensively this season, but defensive end Maxx Crosby remains an elite pass-rusher.
Las Vegas owns the No. 29 scoring defense in the NFL at 28.5 points allowed on average, but despite those struggles, defensive end Maxx Crosby is still capable of wrecking an offensive gameplan.
Crosby, who has 42 pressures and 6.5 sacks this season, will face a Chiefs’ offense that yielded a season-high five sacks last week, although – for the most part – Kansas City moved the ball at will against Carolina. The Chiefs came away with points on six of their eight offensive possessions, and they’ll aim to do the same against a Raiders’ defense that has faced the worst average starting field position (the 34.4 yard-line) of any team in the NFL this season.
One area the Chiefs will look to improve on Friday is in their red zone touchdown efficiency. Kansas City was just 2-of-5 in the red zone against Carolina, which is why the game was close in the end. The Raiders are yielding touchdowns in the red zone at a 64.3% clip, so the Chiefs’ ability to take advantage of those struggles will be key.
5. A win on Friday would mark a big step toward a ninth-straight AFC West title.
The Chiefs can’t clinch the division on Friday, although a win (coupled with a Miami Dolphins’ loss on Thanksgiving) would secure a playoff berth for a 10th consecutive season.
A win over the Raiders would mark a big step toward a ninth-straight AFC West title, too, with a matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers looming next week. In fact, if the Chiefs defeat Las Vegas on Friday, Kansas City could clinch the division title with a victory over Los Angeles the following week.
It’s a big opportunity, and it all begins with Friday’s matchup as the Chiefs and Raiders renew one of the great rivalries in the history of professional football.
