Tag: Las Vegas Raiders vs Kansas City Chiefs

Raiders Week 8 snap counts vs Chiefs: Jackson Powers-Johnson sees time at center

Andre James went out with an injury and the Raiders moved their rookie guard over to play center the remainder of the game.

Late in the game against the Chiefs on Sunday, the Raiders had to make some quick decisions along the offensive line. Andre James went out with an injury, which meant some shuffling was in order.

Moving over from left guard was rookie Jackson Powers-Johnson, and coming in for him for the final 16 snaps of the game was veteran Cody Whitehair.

Both Powers-Johnson and Whitehair have past experience at center. but Powers-Johnson is the reigning Rimington Award winner as the nation’s top center. So, playing the position is still pretty fresh in his mind, making the move the natural one for the Raiders to make.

Offense Spec Tms
Player Pos Num Pct Num Pct
Jackson Powers-Johnson G 58 100% 4 17%
Kolton Miller T 58 100% 4 17%
Jordan Meredith G 58 100% 4 17%
DJ Glaze T 58 100% 4 17%
Gardner Minshew II QB 58 100% 0 0%
Brock Bowers TE 53 91% 0 0%
Tre Tucker WR 53 91% 0 0%
Jakobi Meyers WR 47 81% 0 0%
Andre James C 42 72% 0 0%
Alexander Mattison RB 38 66% 0 0%
DJ Turner WR 31 53% 9 38%
John Samuel Shenker TE 23 40% 10 42%
Ameer Abdullah RB 17 29% 13 54%
Thayer Munford T 17 29% 4 17%
Cody Whitehair G 16 28% 4 17%
Alex Bachman WR 6 10% 5 21%
Justin Shorter TE 2 3% 12 50%
Zamir White RB 2 3% 2 8%
Andrus Peat G 1 2% 4 17%
Defense Spec Tms
Player Pos Num Pct Num Pct
Isaiah Pola-Mao FS 72 100% 5 21%
Maxx Crosby DE 72 100% 3 12%
Jack Jones CB 72 100% 0 0%
Tre’von Moehrig FS 72 100% 0 0%
Robert Spillane LB 71 99% 0 0%
Jakorian Bennett CB 66 92% 0 0%
Nate Hobbs CB 65 90% 0 0%
Divine Deablo LB 61 85% 2 8%
Adam Butler DT 56 78% 5 21%
John Jenkins DT 45 62% 5 21%
K’Lavon Chaisson LB 37 51% 0 0%
Tyree Wilson DE 34 47% 2 8%
Matthew Butler DT 19 26% 4 17%
Charles Snowden DE 18 25% 5 21%
Jonah Laulu DT 15 21% 5 21%
Thomas Harper FS 9 12% 13 54%
Janarius Robinson DE 6 8% 5 21%
Tommy Eichenberg LB 1 1% 20 83%
Decamerion Richardson CB 1 1% 15 62%
Special Teams Spec Tms
Player Pos Num Pct Num Pct
Amari Gainer LB 0 0% 20 83%
Amari Burney LB 0 0% 20 83%
Christopher Smith SS 0 0% 15 62%
Trey Taylor SS 0 0% 13 54%
Daniel Carlson K 0 0% 9 38%
Darnay Holmes CB 0 0% 7 29%
AJ Cole III P 0 0% 6 25%
Jacob Bobenmoyer LS 0 0% 6 25%
Desmond Ridder QB 0 0% 0 0%

Raiders can’t take advantage of opportunities, falling to Chiefs in Las Vegas 27-20

Despite several golden opportunities to make a game of it against the undefeated Chiefs, the Raiders can’t get out of their own way.

There were times in this game the Raiders seemed like they might keep pace with the Chiefs. But each time, they would fall flat.

After the Chiefs opened the game with a touchdown drive, the Raiders responded with a touchdown drive of their own to tie it back up at 7-7. Then the RAiders added a field goal to take a 10-7 lead. But you knew it wouldn’t last.

It was still 10-7 at the two-minute warning of the second quarter. Then the Chiefs scored their second touchdown, this time on a pass over the middle to Travis Kelce to take re-take the lead at 14-10. 

The Raiders response this time was not a touchdown. It wasn’t even a first down. It was a quick three-and-out to give the Chiefs a chance to score again before the half. The Chiefs said thank you very much, and drove into field goal range to take a 17-10 lead at the half.

A 60-yard AJ Cole along with a holding on the return, put the Chiefs deep in their own territory. Consecutive holding penalties ensured they would punt out of their own end zone. DJ Turner fielded it and returned it to the 43. With a late hit out of bounds tacked on, the Raiders were already in field goal range.

Despite getting two first downs – on on a Chiefs holding penalty, the Raiders couldn’t punch it in and settled for a field goal to make it a 17-13 game.

On the ensuing possession, the Patrick Mahomes had his pass tipped by John Jenkins and intercepted by Tre’von Moehrig who returned it to the three-yard-line in first and goal.

The Raiders’ series was indicative of much of their day. An Alexander Mattison run for two yards, a Mattison run for no gain, Mattison run for a loss of two, and on fourth and goal, Gardner Minshew was sacked for a turnover on downs.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Chiefs went on a long drive, but the Raiders would keep it a one-score game by stopping them short of the touchdown. They converted on a field goal to make it a 20-13 game.

On the ensuing Raiders possession, they would lose Andre James and then Minshew would lose the football. The Chiefs would even the turnover ratio for the game taking over in scoring range.

While the Raiders were unable to take advantage of their takeaway from the KC three-yard line, the Chiefs took advantage of theirs from the Vegas 38. They drove to a touchdown, with Mahomes finding Xavier Worth for the score from the nine-yard line to go up by two scores 27-13 with five minutes left, thus essentially putting the game away.

The Raiders drove for a touchdown on the next drive, but with no timeouts they would need to kick and recover an onside kick. Kick it they did, but recover it they did not. The Chiefs were able kneel out the clock and secure the 27-20 victory.

Running the ball was not happening in this game for the Raiders. The finished with 33 net rushing yards on 21 carries (2.75 yards per carry), with the running backs picking up just 16 yards on 17 carries. That’s right, they had fewer than one yard per carry.

The Chiefs remain undefeated at 7-0 while the Raiders fall to 2-6 on the season.

WATCH: Raiders respond with opening drive TD from Gardner Minshew to Jakobi Meyers

The Raiders responded to the Chiefs opening drive TD with their own opening drive TD on a nice pass from Gardner Minshew to Jakobi Meyers.

Welcome back, Jakobi Meyers. The Raiders offense clearly missed him greatly the past two weeks. The veteran receiver returned this week and had an immediate impact.

Meyers caught two passes on the opening drive for the Raiders, including the touchdown from ten yards out.

The touchdown answered the Chiefs after their opening drive touchdown and tied the game at 7-7.

Explaining Chiefs use of Kermit Mahomes puppet controversy as motivation vs Raiders

The Chiefs are said to have not forgotten about the Kermit Mahomes puppet that showed up at Raiders training camp. We explain what’s behind it.

It’s game day in Las Vegas with the Chiefs in town. It’s the first game between the Raiders and Chiefs this season. And the Chiefs have plenty of motivation considering they are facing the last team to beat them. And they did it on Christmas Day last year.

But apparently that’s not enough. No, as predicted the undefeated reigning Super Bowl champs are using this stupid, media manufactured controversy as some form of extra motivation when facing the Raiders today.

Some of you may not follow these things as closely as we do, so for those of you with lives outside of football in the offseason, let’s go back and see how this came about.

Back in late July, when the Raiders were in training camp in Costa Mesa, they had some bleachers set up and were allowing a few fans to attend each day. One of the fans brought a goofy Kermit the Frog puppet and put a little Mahomes jersey on it with a curly wig.

Then, after practice, when some of the players came to the side to sign autographs, he tossed it to rookie Trey Taylor, who understandably thought it was hilarious and proceeded to pick it up and put it on his hand and play with it.

Everyone had a good laugh, and another fan caught it on his camera and tweeted it out.

Keep in mind, the Mahomes Kermit stuff goes way back. His voice sounds like Kermit. It’s no secret. Everyone has fun with it, including Mahomes himself who was asked about it on Super Bowl media day back in February.

Despite that, some rather irresponsible media accounts, who were not on hand at Raiders camp to see how the whole Kermit doll thing transpired, began immediately wildly speculating that this puppet was brought to camp *by* Raiders players who were passing it around *among each other* and mocking Mahomes.

The person who originally posted the video deleted it when they realized how the media was seizing upon it and had misconstrued that the doll belonged to a fan and the only way it was being “passed around” was between fans.

Not only that, it was a young rookie in his first NFL training camp who picked it up. Someone who had never donned a Raiders jersey, let alone been a part of this rivalry or had ever faced Mahomes or the Chiefs in a game.

Was it a stupid move by Taylor? Oh, most definitely. Quite immature. And he was admonished by his head coach for doing it. In other words, the team did not approve of it. It was a stupid move by a young kid who will learn from it and which had absolutely nothing to do with the team.

No matter, message quickly got to Chiefs media who asked Mahomes about it and instead of just brushing it off as silly nonsense, Mahomes gave the media a nice red meat soundbite in response, saying “It’ll get handled when it gets handled” which Schefter put in his tweet about how the Chiefs “have not forgotten” about it.

And now, of course, the media is bringing up their own creation again, to get the fans worked up all over again.

The whole thing is one of the best examples of how the media has become an instigator, creating controversy where there shouldn’t be any and thus inserting themselves into this rivalry. And the Chiefs are willing and enthusiastic participants in this because — for whatever reason — are always looking for another reason to get motivated.

The loss on Christmas Day should be plenty for a dominant Chiefs team to take down a Raiders team in utter disarray, but, by all means, lets revisit the dumbest controversy of the offseason and run with it all over again.

Raiders add depth at QB, TE with practice squad elevations

Quarterback Carter Bradley could be the primary backup on Sunday for Gardner Minshew while Justin Shorter will add depth at tight end.

Injuries have struck at quarterback and at tight end for the Raiders and to maintain depth on the active roster, they hav called up players at each position from the practice squad.

They elevated QB Carter Bradley from the practice squad due to the injury to Aidan O’Connell. They also signed Desmond Ridder this week off the Cardinals practice squad, but he is unlikely to be ready to step in on such short notice.

Bradley is an undrafted rookie who spent the offseason and training camp with the Raiders. He was among the team’s final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad.

Also getting the call up once again is tight end Justin Shorter due to the injury to Harrison Bryant. Shorter will be the third tight end behind Brock Bowers and John Samuel Shenker.

Shorter was a Round five pick by the Bills in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Penn State. He was cut by the Bills in their final roster cuts and signed to the Raiders practice squad.

Raiders vs Chiefs final injury report: Latest updates, news for Week 8

All the latest updates and news on TEAMA’s injury report ahead of a Week X game vs. TEAMB.

Who will play and who will not for the Raiders and Chiefs? Well, the Raiders should get their best receiver back this week while the Chiefs will be without one of their starting receivers.

Injury report

TE Harrison Bryant injury update

Bryant missed practice all week with an elbow injury he sustained in last Sunday’s game against the Rams. He is officially Questionable for the game.

WR Jakobi Meyers injury update

Practiced FULL on Friday and is officially Questionable for the game. Head coach Antonio Pierce said Friday morning that he expects Meyers to return this week after missing the past two weeks with an ankle injury.

G Dylan Parham injury update

Parham has been ruled OUT again as he missed all week with a foot injury. He will once again be replaced at right guard by Jordan Meredith.

LB’s Tommy Eichenberg, Kana’i Mauga injury updates

Both players were Full go at practice on Friday and are Questionable for the game.

Is Jakobi Meyers playing this week vs Chiefs? Injury updates for Raiders WR

Raiders WR Jakobi Meyers has been dealing with an ankle injury. Here are the latest updates.

For the past two weeks, the Raiders have been without starting receiver Jakobi Meyers due to an ankle injury. His absence has left them quite thin at the position, especially since the departure of Davante Adams. He returned to practice on Wednesday, but missed practice on Thursday, putting his status seemingly in doubt.

Jakobi Meyers injury update

Head coach Antonio Pierce is optimistic he will play Sunday.

“I let them get a little more rest on Thursday and they’ll practice today,” Pierce said of Meyers and Maxx Crosby, adding he expects both to play on Sunday against the Chiefs. “If you get Jakobi back that’s a good boost.”

Jakobi practiced FULL Friday and is officially Questionable for the game on the final injury report.

Raiders WR depth chart

Tre Tucker will start on the outside with DJ Turner in the slot. If Meyers ends up unable to play, the reps in his place will again be split between Alex Bachman and Kristian Wilkerson. There would likely be a practice squad call up as well. The team added former second round pick Terrace Marshall Jr this week.

Raiders vs Chiefs injury report: Latest updates, news for Week 8

All the latest updates and news on Raidrers injury report ahead of a Week 8 game vs. Chiefs.

Thursday’s injury report brought mainly bad news for the Raiders. Not only was tight end Harrison Bryant still missing from practice with his elbow injury, but Jakobi Meyers was back to missing practice after returning on Wednesday, suggesting perhaps a setback in his hopeful return this week.

Jakobi Meyers injury update

Meyers has missed the last two games for the Raiders, and with Davante Adams also traded away, the Raiders were without their two starting outside receivers. Tre Tucker will start again on the outside with DJ Turner in the slot, but if Meyers can’t go, he will once again be replaced by committee.

Harrison Bryant injury update

Barnes left last Sunday’s game with an elbow injury and didn’t return. He was replaced by John Samuel Shenker. Brock Bowers is the unquestioned starter, but Bryant was showing up well as a number two option. Justin Shorter was on roster as well and would step into the third TE job is Bryant can’t go.

Maxx Crosby injury update

Crosby missed practice Thursday after practicing FULL on Wednesday. While that seems a bit strange, we will wait and see what Friday looks like because Crosby has missed multiple practices each week the past three weeks and still played.

Kolton Miller injury update

Miller returned to practice Thursday as expected. He has been dealing with an elbow injury but it hasn’t caused him to miss any games.

Raiders rookie Brock Bowers set to meet Travis Kelce as he passes torch of NFL’s best tight end

Midway through Bowers’s record pace rookie season, he will take the same field as the man who passes him the torch as the NFL’s best.

No tight end in football has been better this season than Brock Bowers. That’s just the fact of the matter. It’s a role that Travis Kelce has held for most of his career. But not last year. And not this year either. Which suggests we could be watching a torch being passed for the NFL’s best tight end.

As it happens, the two will be on the same field this weekend as the Chiefs visit Las Vegas. So, Kelce will get to meet his heir apparent and Bowers will get to meet one of his idols.

Bowers has studied Kelce in his career and tries to incorporate parts of Kelce’s game into his own.

“Just some of the things that he does, especially on off schedule plays like scramble drill and stuff,” Bowers said of Kelce. “Just the way he works is pretty impressive.”

The rookie leads NFL tight ends this season in catches (47) and yards (477). In fact, he’s second in the NFL in both catches and receiving yards at any position behind only Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin.

Those numbers by Bowers put him on pace for a rookie record 114 catches for 1158 yards on the season. Numbers Kelce surpassed four times in his career with the last time being 2022 at the age of 33. He just turned 35, so his career is clearly on the downslope.

Unquestionably, even in the twilight of his career, Kelce is still the Chiefs’ top receiving weapon, and the Raiders recognize that. By the same token, the Chiefs realize full well that Bowers is the biggest threat for the Raiders in much the same way that Kelce had been for the Chiefs for a solid decade.

This isn’t an outright comparison in terms of play style and abilities. They are different players to be certain. But as we’ve seen so far, Bowers’ yards after catch abilities put him in rarified air alongside the likes of Kelce and George Kittle over the past few years.

This is the fifth time in three years defensive coordinator Patrick Graham has game planned against Kelce. And he wisely would not go down the road of comparisons between Kelce and Bowers.

“This guy Kelce’s a Hall of Famer,” Graham said. “That’s unfair to do that to Brock. These guys got championships, they got multiple All Pros. I know Brock works his butt off to get better every day and he’s made the most of his opportunities so far.”

It would be pretty cool if Kelce and Bowers got a chance to actually have a conversation at some point. It would be a classy move by a certified future Hall of Famer and and certainly an honor for Bowers to get that kind of respect and encouragement as he embarks on one is clearly a very bright future in the NFL.

Raiders still last team to beat Chiefs coming to Las Vegas Week 8

The Chiefs shouldn’t need any extra motivation this Sunday, but not losing again to the last team to beat them should do it.

It’s hard to believe, but the last time the Chiefs lost a game was Christmas last season…to the Raiders. The Chiefs have reeled off a string of 12 straight wins since then.

Now those same Chiefs come to Las Vegas to face the team that was the last to send them off the field with their heads down.

“Our team has talked about it. We’re fired up. We’re excited,” Antonio Pierce said of facing the Chiefs. But Pierce said he’s talking only about trying to end their three-game losing streak against a division foe.

As for last year, he is ready to leave it in the past, adding that his excitement “has nothing to do with last year’s game. That team is not even here this year.”

Though the Chiefs may not be ready to put that one behind them. They are known for trying to dredge up anything they can to give them extra motivation. I wouldn’t even put it past them to bring up the Kermit puppet that fan brought to training camp.

But, let’s be honest, they don’t need to do all that. It’s a division game against an old, hated rival. And they have a streak to try and keep going.

“I don’t think they need to be fired up,” said Pierce. “They know what time it is. We know what time it is. It’s time to strap it up and play it. We need to play, and we know they’re coming with their best, because they’re the best team in football for the last few years.”

We will see soon if they have a happier Halloween this year than they had Christmas last year.