The AP staff (and our readers) pick the Chiefs-Raiders game

Let’s see what AP staffers (and readers) think about Sunday’s game between Kansas City and Las Vegas.

Before the Kansas City Chiefs played the Miami Dolphins in Week 9, a quarter of Arrowhead Pride’s contributors picked the Dolphins — but the Chiefs won. So before Kansas City played the Philadelphia Eagles on “Monday Night Football,” things were back to normal: all of us picked the Chiefs; our combined prediction was for a 30-25 win. But this time, Kansas City lost 21-17. Among the staff, Pete Sweeney and Stephen Serda’s predictions that the Chiefs would win 27-24 (and 27-23) turned out to be… well… the least wrong. Our readers, however, were less confident in a Kansas City win: one in four picked Philadelphia.

In Week 12, the Chiefs will take on the Las Vegas Raiders in an AFC West matchup at Allegiant Stadium. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, Kansas City is favored by 8.5 points.

Let’s see what the staff — and our readers — think about the matchup.

Nate Christensen (@natech32)

I’m a subscriber to the “New Coach Theory.” The Raiders have been better since firing Josh McDaniels, but I feel there’s a shelf life for an interim head coach to make a difference. The Chiefs are going to be ultra-motivated to win this game — and I don’t see Las Vegas having any ability to move the ball against the Kansas City defense.

Chiefs 27, Raiders 6

John Dixon (@Arrowheadphones)

As the week began, the Chiefs were favored by 9.5 points. Given that the Chiefs are 17-3 against the Raiders during Andy Reid’s time as the head coach — and have now won five in a row — that seemed reasonable. The spread then narrowed to 8.5 points, opened to 10 points and settled back at 8.5 points. That also seemed reasonable, since new interim head coach Antonio Pierce has had the Raiders playing better. But Pierce and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo are well acquainted with each other; Pierce was a linebacker under Spagnuolo when both were with the New York Giants. While I think that familiarity should make the game closer than the spread would suggest, I still think the Chiefs will extend their streak to six games.

Chiefs 24, Raiders 17

Ron Kopp Jr. (@Ron_Kopp)

I have a hard time believing Maxx Crosby misses this game — but either way, I see the Chiefs’ offense using this matchup as an opportunity to get back on the same page. Moving past last week, this can be the start of the playoff stretch— and that will be reflected in the team’s play. I see an all-encompassing performance leading to a Kansas City victory — even if it isn’t always comfortable.

Chiefs 31, Raiders 10

Rocky Magaña (@RockyMagana)

Every time the Chiefs play an AFC West opponent, they have to know that they are going to get the kitchen sink thrown at them. The rest of the division is tired of losing to Kansas City year after year. And given the Chiefs’ offensive woes, it’s reasonable for Las Vegas to smell blood in the water. This, however, will be more than a moral victory for Kansas City. The team needs this win. It’s one thing to lose to the Eagles. But the Chiefs can’t lose to the Raiders and Denver Broncos in the same year. Despite Las Vegas’ recent surge, it is still a team without a solid NFL quarterback on its roster. I expect an angry Kansas City squad to come out and lay the wood, reminding everybody whose division this really is.

Chiefs 28, Raiders 3

Jared Sapp (@TrumanChief)

Make no mistake: this is the Super Bowl for the Raiders. A win over Kansas City will almost certainly lead to Antonio Pierce having “interim” removed from his job title. The Chiefs’ recent struggles are also likely to have created a blueprint to Las Vegas could copy in hopes of stopping Kansas City’s offense. Still, no one should be picking a team with rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell to beat an offense being led by Patrick Mahomes — even if he’s… underwhelming right now. The Chiefs’ passing game will not return to its gold standard, but it will look much better against a Raiders’ secondary that has struggled much of the year. If Maxx Crosby doesn’t play — which is likely — that will increase the possibility for a “get right” opportunity. Las Vegas’ own offensive issues (which were displayed in the fourth quarter against the Dolphins in Week 11) will be compounded against Kansas City’s defense. Expect the Chiefs to control the game — and a final score implying it was closer than it really was.

Chiefs 24, Raiders 16

Stephen Serda (@StephenSerda)

As Kansas City continues to try and make this offense work, we could continue to see some frustrating games. I’m hopeful that this week — in a divisional matchup against the Raiders — we don’t get that frustrating version of the Chiefs. I’m at least confident in the defense’s ability to shut down a struggling Las Vegas offense. I’m not ready to believe Kansas City can once again score serious points — but I do believe the team will get back in the win column against Las Vegas.

Chiefs 24, Raiders 13

Matt Stagner (@stagdsp)

This season, the Raiders have mostly been involved in low-scoring games. So it’s likely going to be another opportunity for the Chiefs’ defense to assert itself. Even if the offense can’t find its way, that will give the team a chance to win. The Las Vegas offense features Josh Jacobs and (sometimes) Davante Adams — but with both Jimmy Garoppolo and Aidan O’Connell, there have been more interceptions than touchdowns; watch to see if the young Kansas City secondary can get their hands on a few passes. The Chiefs are still looking for the right combination of receivers to create an offensive formula that can have consistent success. But just remember: offensive success against the Raiders won’t necessarily mean all is well. We can hope to see positive steps by the offense that we can identify as signs of things to come. Along with a victory, that’s Sunday’s only real goal.

Chiefs 27, Raiders 10

Pete Sweeney (@pgsween)

The Raiders are certainly a different team under Antonio Pierce — and maybe this interim time around, owner Mark Davis will make the right decision: keeping him in the role for 2024. But despite the indisputable juice Pierce has provided Las Vegas, the Chiefs are still a better team in every phase of the game. Kansas City’s defense is among the best in the league, and there is absolutely no way it will allow Aidan O’Connell to score more points than Patrick Mahomes — even as the offense still continues to seek its identity more than halfway through the season. I like Kansas City in the bounce-back spot — and I’ll take the prediction a step further: the Chiefs will score in the second half this week. Yes… we’ll be able to stop talking about it.

Chiefs 31, Raiders 13

Prop bets (from Pete Sweeney)

Head on over to DraftKings Sportsbook and take… Isiah Pacheco to have a day with Jerick McKinnon sidelined.

• Pacheco rushing and receiving over 90.5 yards (-115)
• Pacheco anytime touchdown (-120)
• Pacheco rushing and receiving over 90.5 yards, a Pacheco touchdown and Chiefs win (+208)