Getting a win against the Broncos on Sunday made for a happy Raiders team Sunday night. Come the next morning, however, the celebration is done and game prep for next Sunday begins post haste.
“You got a lot of respect for how hard it is to win in this league,” said Raiders head coach Jon Gruden Monday. “You try and enjoy it for a couple of hours then you got to get up early and get ready for the next one and this is a big one obviously.”
This is the second meeting the Raiders have with the Chiefs this season. They went into Kansas City in Week five and beat the Chiefs. Not only was it the first time they’ve won at Arrowhead in seven years, it remains the only loss the Chiefs have had this season.
Now, not only must they try and once again catch lightning in a bottle, but they will do so against a Chiefs team that is coming off of their bye week and thus has had an extra week to prepare for their revenge game.
As it happens, this is the fourth time in the past five years the Raiders will face the Chiefs coming off a bye.
“I’m sure that’s just a coincidence. You know, I’m sure it’s a coincidence,” said Gruden, followed by a long pause. “I don’t think about it. The schedule is the schedule. You’ve got to adapt to it and that’s what we’ll do.”
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is 18-3 in his career following a bye week.
“His preparation is legendary,” Gruden said of Reid.
“I just got a lot of respect for him and I know he’s going to do thorough preparation. It will be a juggernaut coming in here Sunday and we’ll just have to have a great week of practice and do the best we can.”
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