Kansas City Chiefs Aim to Secure Eighth Consecutive AFC West Title Against Las Vegas Raiders
The Kansas City Chiefs have the opportunity to clinch their eighth straight AFC West title with a victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas. Although the Raiders are currently outside of the AFC postseason picture, they still have a slim chance of making it, which would require a win in this Monday matchup. The Chiefs, playing at home, are heavily favored.
Kickoff and Broadcast Details
The game is scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. ET on Monday at Arrowhead Stadium. CBS will broadcast this highly anticipated AFC West rivalry clash.
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Chiefs’ Recent Performance
The Chiefs, with a record of 9-5, have not managed to win consecutive games since October. However, they have maintained their position at the top of the division. Despite this, there are concerns when evaluating their performance.
Travis Kelce, an elite tight end, has only recorded one touchdown reception in the last seven games. Patrick Mahomes, one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks, has already matched his career-high interception total for this season with 13 interceptions. Receiver Kadarius Toney has only scored three touchdowns since being traded to the Chiefs in October 2022. On the other hand, Rashee Rice has emerged as one of Mahomes’ trusted targets.
Kansas City’s defense, ranked fourth in the NFL in yards allowed and third in average points against (17.5), has played a crucial role in compensating for the team’s offensive shortcomings and maintaining their success.
Raiders’ Playoff Hopes
The Raiders, with a record of 6-8, need to win all their remaining games to secure a spot in the playoffs. Their upcoming games against Indianapolis and Denver provide a slim chance to make a late-season surge into the postseason.
In Week 15, quarterback Aidan O’Connell doubled his touchdown total with four scores in the Raiders’ dominant 63-21 victory over the Chargers. The defense also contributed with two touchdowns, courtesy of John Jenkins’ scoop and score and Jack Jones’ interception return. However, it’s important to note that momentum doesn’t always translate to success in the NFL. Additionally, the Raiders have only won once in Kansas City since 2012, which is a significant statistic working against them.
All odds from BetMGM. Looking for NFL tickets? Buy them here.
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(Photo of Travis Kelce: Jamie Squire / Getty Images)