Chiefs-Raiders players to watch: Check out guys who stood out in their first meeting
Who needs to come up big for the Raiders and Chiefs on Sunday? Look no further than the standouts from the first meeting this fall between these two teams.
Raiders running back Josh Jacobs
The Chiefs got to know Jacobs earlier this season when he rushed for 99 yards and 8.25 yards per attempt in Week 2. Jacobs will be in the running for offensive rookie of the year. He’s gone for 957 yards with seven touchdowns and has surpassed 100 yards in four of his previous seven games. Establishing the running game will be a primary focus for the Raiders, and why not? The Chiefs rank 30th in rushing defense, surrendering 143.1 yards per game.
Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby
The fourth-round draft selection from Eastern Michigan has steadily improved throughout the season. He collected four sacks against the Bengals two weeks ago, matching the most by a player in a game this year. Crosby has 7 1/2 sacks to go with 32 tackles, 12 quarterback hits and 21 quarterback pressures.
Chiefs wide receiver DeMarcus Robinson
Robinson has played in 59 NFL games, and from a production standpoint one stands above the rest. That’s right: his game against the Raiders in September was easily the best of his career. He finished with six receptions for 172 yards and two touchdowns. All of those numbers are career bests.
The first KC-Oakland game was the first that Tyreek Hill missed with a shoulder injury, and Sammy Watkins came up huge the previous week. The Chiefs’ WR corps is at full-strength now; look for Patrick Mahomes and company to put up big numbers.
Chiefs cornerback Charvarius Ward
When the Raiders throw, Derek Carr will look to unload the ball quickly. Chiefs corners like Ward figure to press. That will make getting pressure on Carr difficult, so it will be up the back end of the defense to make plays. The Chiefs’ secondary has improved throughout the season, and the defense came up with four interceptions of the Chargers’ Philip Rivers in Kansas City’s previous game.