One of the quietest but most important battles in the Kansas City Chiefs’ road game against the Las Vegas Raiders is sitting right at the line of scrimmage.
Chris Jones and Tyler Linderbaum are set for a heavyweight matchup, and it’s the kind of trench fight that can shape everything else around it. Jones, the Chiefs’ defensive tackle, is still playing at a high level, but the questions about whether the 32-year old is beginning to decline are real.
Even so, the production is there: nine tackles and a fumble recovery through three games. The bigger issue is the constant attention he draws.
That attention matters because it opens the door for everyone else. Levi Edwards of Raiders.com pointed out that Jones’ presence creates chances for the edge rushers around him, and George Karlaftis has already taken advantage. Karlaftis has four quarterback hits and a 30 percent pass-rush win rate, according to ESPN Analytics.
Jones has also done damage against Las Vegas over the years. Per Edwards, he has 58 total tackles and 13.5 sacks in his career against the Raiders. Of course, some of that production came against weaker Raiders teams, but the numbers still underline how much trouble he has given them.
Linderbaum is no soft target on the other side. ESPN Analytics has him at a 93 percent pass blocking win rate, and his game is built on more than just talent. His consistency and his ability to read what defenses are showing make him especially difficult to beat.
Linderbaum said Jones “draws a lot of attention,” and also called him a “disruptive” player. That leaves the Raiders with a decision: try to leave Linderbaum alone with Jones, or force help into the middle and change the rest of the protection picture. Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will be watching closely either way, especially as he works through his trademark blitz calls.
Spagnuolo also raised the idea of batting down passes to help contain Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins, and that could become another subtle Jones impact point this week. He’s good at that part of the job, too. With both teams sitting at 3-0, this is the kind of matchup that could tell a lot about whether the Raiders are really back or not.
In Other News...
Russell Wilson Just Added Fuel To Chiefs Raiders Week 4
Russell Wilson is already putting a little extra heat on a rivalry game that usually needs no help. The former NFL quarterback said he believes the Las Vegas Raiders can upset the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4, even going as far as suggesting Las Vegas could leave the afternoon matchup at 4-0. He also singled out Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins for the way he has started the season, adding another layer of buzz to a game that will be shown on CBS at 4:25 p.m. EST.
For the Chiefs, its another reminder that the margin for error in the AFC West is never very large, especially when an opponent starts drawing confidence from outside the building. Kansas City has spent years as the standard in the division, but predictions like Wilsons only sharpen the attention around a Week 4 meeting that already carried plenty of weight before anybody started talking about records and momentum. [Read more 🡒]
Andy Reid Is One Raiders Win From An Ironic Stadium Milestone
Andy Reid has already made plenty of history at Allegiant Stadium, and the next trip there offers another chance to add to it. Since the building opened, Reid has piled up six wins there, most of them coming against the Raiders, with the Chiefs Super Bowl 58 victory mixed in as well.
Reid now sits tied with former Raiders head coaches Josh McDaniels and Antonio Pierce for the most wins by any coach at the venue, which adds a neat layer to an already familiar matchup. One more win over Las Vegas would push him alone to the top of that list, an ironic milestone for a coach whose success in that stadium has so often come at the Raiders expense. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Face An Early AFC West Test Fans Can't Ignore
The Chiefs are heading into Week 4 with a division test that already feels bigger than a September game should. Kansas City and Las Vegas are tied atop the AFC West, and the matchup brings together two teams trying to set an early tone in a race that usually does not sort itself out until much later in the season. Between the expert predictions, the team analysis and the familiar pressure that comes with facing a divisional opponent, this one has the look of a game fans will keep an eye on all week.
For Kansas City, the intrigue goes beyond the standings and into how the roster stacks up against a Raiders team still searching for traction under new leadership. The discussion around this matchup has centered on performances, key players and coaching changes, with plenty of speculation about how the game could unfold. What matters most for the Chiefs is simple enough: a chance to protect their place in the division and get an early read on a rival that could linger in the picture all season. [Read more 🡒]