Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs -- Week 8
Where: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Mo. (grass, outdoors)
When: Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET (CBS)
Spread: Chiefs by 1.5
Forecast: Sunny with temperatures in the low 50s at kickoff.
Records: Raiders (Overall: 2-4, AFC West: 0-2); Chiefs (Overall: 1-5, AFC West: 0-1);
Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Dec. 24, 2011: Raiders 16, Chiefs 13 OT; Oct. 23, 2011: Chiefs 28, Raiders 0. Series record: Chiefs lead regular-season series 53-48-2 and postseason series 2-1.
What matters: The Raiders dug themselves a 17-3 first-half hole last week and had to wage a furious comeback to beat lowly Jacksonville, 26-23, in overtime. They can't afford another slow start on the road against the Chiefs, who, like Jacksonville last week, are coming off a bye and had extra time to rest and prepare for the Raiders. The Jaguars unveiled some new looks of offense and defense that the Raiders hadn't seen on tape. They can expect more surprises and another energized opponent Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.
Who matters: SS Tyvon Branch, OLB Philip Wheeler and MLB Rolando McClain -- the Raiders' top three tacklers -- should have a busy day Sunday against the Chiefs and lightning-fast RB Jamaal Charles. Charles is averaging a league-best 98.5 rushing yards per game and rushed for 233 yards against New Orleans. He can turn missed tackles into long touchdown runs. The Raiders' run defense has climbed to 13th in the NFL, a big improvement over recent seasons. This is no time for a step back. If the Raiders can contain Charles, then the front four -- DTs Richard Seymour and Tommy Kelly and DEs Lamarr Houston and Matt Shaughnessy -- can turn up the pass-rush heat and force QB Brady Quinn into mistakes. Quinn will make his second start this season and second since the 2009 season.
Key matchups: Raiders QB Carson Palmer and WRs Denarius Moore and Darrius Heyward-Bey vs. Chiefs CBs Stanford Routt and Brandon Flowers: The Chiefs rank a solid 13th against the pass, but Tampa Bay QB Josh Freeman tore them apart two weeks ago, completing 15 of 26 passes for 328 yards and three touchdowns with a passer rating of 124.7. Routt, a former Raider, had a particularly rough day against the Bucs and will be determined to have a better showing against his ex-teammates.
Injuries of note: Starting CB Shawntae Spencer (sprained right foot) and starting RT Khalif Barnes (groin) will be out for the fifth straight game. Starting CB Ron Bartell (broken shoulder blade) is on IR/designated for return. Backup DT Desmond Bryant (elbow) is questionable, but Raiders coach Dennis Allen expects him to play. Reserve TE Richard Gordon (hamstring) missed the past three games but practiced all week and will likely play, although he's listed as questionable.
Inside stuff: Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski loves kicking at Arrowhead Stadium. He's made 28 of 32 field goals in his career at Kansas City, and from 2003-2010 he was a perfect 18 for 18. Last Dec. 24 at Arrowhead, the Raiders beat the Chiefs 16-13 in overtime, and Janikowski made a 36-yard game-winner.
Connections: First-year Chiefs cornerback Stanford Routt played his first seven seasons with the Raiders, who drafted him in the second round in 2005 out of Houston. The Raiders released him after last season, and he signed as a free agent with Kansas City. ... Raiders special teams coordinator Steve Hoffman coached Kansas City's special teams from 2009-2011. ... Raiders senior offensive assistant Al Sauders spent 15 seasons as an assistant coach with the Chiefs.
Record watch: Running back Darren McFadden has rushed for 2,951 yards in his career and needs 49 more to become the 12th player in Raiders history with at least 3,000 career rushing yards.
Stats you should know: The Raiders have won five straight games at Arrowhead Stadium, their all-time longest road winning streak in the series.
Bulletin board material:
- "(The Raiders) are coming in and they're a good team and a fast team and they play dirty. We've got to come out swinging. We've got to be ready for that. You can let these guys come in and if they do it and you let them do it, they're going to enjoy themselves doing it and they'll run over you. So you have to be prepared for that and stay with the game plan. They Raiders, they come in, they cheapshot, they hit you. I'm not saying (any) names. It is what it is. We've got to be ready to play and keep our composure, stay poised and be able to get this win."-- Chiefs LB Tamba Hali to the Kansas City Star.
- "If somebody's talking about you, you're doing something right. You're doing something good. We play hard. We don't play dirty. But everybody has a right to their own opinion. Obviously, divisional opponents are going to feel it a little more because it's a rivalry. Those weeks are different. You just see it and you keep moving. He plays hard. I was surprised to hear it from him. I could expect it from some other people, but from him I was real surprised because he plays hard, he's a tough guy. To each his own." -- Raiders FB Marcel Reece
Looking ahead: The Raiders return home next week to play 3-4 Tampa Bay, which is coming off a 36-17 win Thursday night over Minnesota and has won two of its past three games. After that, they hit the road to play Baltimore.
Prediction: Raiders 24, Chiefs 17
Follow Raiders reporter Eric Gilmore on Twitter @CBSRaiders.