The division-leading Raiders will face off against rival Kansas City in Sunday’s AFC West battle in Oakland.
Historically, the Chiefs claim bragging rights over the Raiders. Kansas City, 2-2 through the season’s first five weeks, holds a series record of 58-51-2 over the Raiders. The Chiefs have also defeated the Raiders in five of their last six matchups.
Led by quarterback Derek Carr, the Raiders’ offense ranks fourth in the league in yards per game (391.6) and fifth in points per game (28.4). Wide receiver Michael Crabtree, who leads the team with five receiving touchdowns, has reached the end zone in each of the last two contests between the teams.
Marcus Peters, the second-year cornerback for the Chiefs and an Oakland native, looks to stifle the Raiders’ red-hot receiving corps in his return to his hometown. Since entering the league in 2015, Peters leads the NFL in interceptions with 12, including four picks this season.
The beef is real between Peters and Crabtree, evident in the NFL Network’s "Top 100 Players of 2016" video. Peters, ranked 65th out of 100, is shown on the sidelines in a game against Oakland saying that "15," Crabtree’s number, was "on that bullshit."
Crabtree’s response?
"I don’t really want to talk about Marcus Peters," said the Oakland receiver before flashing a cheek-to-cheek grin.
The nine experts at ESPN offer no clear choice in the game, with five votes for the Raiders and four for the Chiefs. Out of the eight expert picks from CBS, the Chiefs come out on top by a tally of 5-3. Here at SB Nation, the Raiders are the obvious favorite.
| Game | RVB | Stephen White | Thomas George | Jeanna Thomas | Adam Stites | Tyler Tynes | Louis Bien | Joel Thorman | Fooch | OddsShark computer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KC vs OAK | OAK | KC | OAK | OAK | OAK | OAK | OAK | KC | OAK | OAK |
That’s eight for Oakland, and two for the Chiefs. Tune in this Sunday to see if the 4-1 Raiders can continue their scorching start.