The Raiders will play their final home game of the season Sunday against Kansas City, but recent history in the series tells you they can't count on having a home-field advantage.
The Chiefs have won eight of their past nine games at Oakland, and the Raiders have won six straight at Kansas City.
"They've played here in Oakland very well, and it's kind of been the trend it seems the past 10 years," Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer said. "Just knowing that, knowing they've consistently played well here, we know we have to play our best game to beat these guys."
Last year, the Chiefs crushed the Raiders 28-0 in Week 7 at the Coliseum. Kansas City intercepted a team-record six passes that day. Palmer, who made his Raiders debut in relief of Kyle Boller, was picked off three times.
Two year ago, the Raiders beat Kansas City at the Coliseum, but they had to work overtime for their 23-20 win, snapping the Chiefs' seven-game winning streak at Oakland. In those seven games, the Chiefs won by more than seven points only once.
Raiders cornerback Michael Huff said he has "no idea" why home field has turned into a disadvantage for both teams in this series. But he expects the Chiefs to be a confident team Sunday, just as the Raiders were when they beat Kansas City 26-16 at Arrowhead Stadium on Oct. 28.
"You should play better at home, but for some reason this rivalry is different," Huff said. "We have to show up this week and turn it around and win at home."
Setback for Seymour: Starting defensive tackle Richard Seymour has missed five straight games with a hamstring injury, and his quest to play Sunday against Kansas City took a hit Thursday during practice.
"Well, he had a little bit of a setback today as far as the hamstring is concerned," Raiders coach Dennis Allen said. "We'll evaluate him as we finish out the week, but I thought he practiced well yesterday and then early today. It kind of grabbed him a little bit, so we'll see."
Seymour suffered what he said was a "Grade 2" hamstring tear Nov. 4 against Tampa Bay. He returned to practice Monday but has been limited all week.
McClain update: Linebacker Rolando McClain was in the locker room Thursday during the early portion of the media access period, but he declined to answer questions about the two-game suspension he served for conduct detrimental to the team. "Coach covered everything that you could ask me," McClain said of Allen. "I ain't got nothing to say about anything."
Defensive coordinator Jason Tarver said McClain has "worked well at practice" this week.
"He was a little under the weather on Wednesday, but he's worked. And so that's how he's going, day by day, and those two days have been a good two days," Tarver said.
Will McClain get any playing time Sunday?
"I don't know," Tarver said. "We're going day by day. I don't know is an answer on that one. But, he's working. And that's good. He and the rest of us, not a distraction, just working."
Fingers crossed: Starting strong safety Tyvon Branch missed his third straight day of practice with ankle and neck injuries, but Allen said he hasn't given up hope of having Branch in the lineup against Kansas City.
"He was on the side working out with the trainers," Allen said. "I'm hopeful that we'll be able to get him out here and practice a little bit tomorrow. His mindset is he wants to play this weekend."
Allen said Branch "potentially" could play Sunday even if he's unable to practice Friday.
Extra points: RB Darren McFadden (ankle) has "been great all week at practice," Allen said. "I haven't noticed anything where he's had any issues at all, and so I'm really expecting him to be full go." McFadden returned last week against Denver after missing four games but re-tweaked his right ankle late in the fourth quarter. He practiced full Wednesday and Thursday. ... Rookie defensive tackle Christo Bilukidi returned to work after missing practice Wednesday because of an illness. ... Chiefs starting OT Branden Albert (back) and starting C Ryan Lilja (knee) missed practice again. Backup safety Abram Elam (quad) and G Russ Hochstein (back) were also out.
Follow Raiders reporter Eric Gilmore on Twitter @CBSRaiders.