Chiefs at Vegas Raiders: players to watch, including a familiar one who won’t be seen
The Chiefs won’t see Derek Carr under center when they line up against the Raiders on Saturday in Las Vegas.
For the first time since 2013, Carr is not the Raiders’ starting quarterback. He was benched after a three-interception game against the Steelers in Week 16 and is no longer considered a long-term fit for Vegas.
Jarrett Stidham made his first NFL start in last weekend’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He played well, throwing for 437 yards and three touchdowns (though the Raiders lost the game).
Carr, meanwhile, has gone 3-14 as a starter against the Chiefs, but he’s logged some memorable games against them. His first victory in the NFL came against Kansas City in 2014, when the 0-10 Raiders jumped to a 17-3 lead, fell behind but then won 24-20 on a late touchdown drive.
In 2017, Carr’s 2-yard pass to Michael Crabtree, following two Chiefs pass-interference penalties in the end zone, was the game-winner.
The Raiders’ 2020 victory may have been the most unlikely: It was Kansas City’s only loss that season in which the starters played the full game (or most of it, anyway), and it came at Arrowhead. Carr threw three TD passes in the second quarter; the Raiders won 40-32 and then took a victory lap around the stadium in the team bus.
Bottom line, the Chiefs have enjoyed ample success against Carr’s Oakland and Las Vegas teams. Assuming he moves on from the Raiders this offseason, who might replace him next season? Speculation has included Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo, if the Raiders choose to go outside the organization.
Here are players besides Stidham and Patrick Mahomes to keep an eye on Saturday:
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce
If the Chiefs’ playoff seeding was set by now, Kelce and other starters might have gotten the weekend off. But they don’t, so Kelce will have a chance to reach some statistical milestones. With 104 receptions so far this season, he needs just one more to match his career best from 2020, and seven to catch former Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill for the team record. He also has a chance to surpass his own season record for receiving yards by a tight end: He set the high-water mark of 1,416 in 2020 and has 1,300 now. The Raiders held Kelce to 36 yards on seven receptions earlier this season, but four of those catches went for touchdowns.
Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones
Did you know that in his first six seasons, Jones was never voted first-team All-Pro? Even his 15 1/2-sack second season in 2018 didn’t earn Jones that honor. He’s been second-team All-Pro three times and was named a Pro Bowl player for the fourth time this season. This should be the year of top individual honors for Jones, who has 13 sacks.
Raiders running back Josh Jacobs
Something strange would have to happen for Jacobs to not finish as the NFL’s rushing champ. He’s at 1,608 yards heading into the finale, and the Chiefs know him well. Jacobs went for 154 rushing yards in the Chiefs’ victory earlier this season. Stidham, the Raiders’ new quarterback, is more of a threat to run than Carr was, so the Kansas City defense will have yet another box to check Saturday.
Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby
Crosby is looking to finish strong. He leads the NFL with 20 tackles for loss but hasn’t had a sack in the past three games. Crosby has played well against the Chiefs. He’s sacked Patrick Mahomes three times, including twice earlier this season, when he also was credited with two quarterback hits.