The Raiders’ defense is staring at a Chiefs offense that can hurt them in a few different ways, and the challenge goes beyond just the biggest names. Kansas City has been looking more dangerous lately, and if Las Vegas wants to stay unbeaten and take down a division rival, it has to account for the hidden threats too.
One of those threats is Royals, who has only seen limited action but has made the most of it. In 22 snaps, he has three catches for 17 yards and a touchdown.
He brings speed to the table, and even though he is not a polished route runner, he can still flash as a depth receiver if the Raiders lose track of him. Las Vegas would be smart to keep him from winning over the top and taking away a chunk of the field.
The backfield also demands attention. Kenneth Walker III has been the star there, but Johnson has quietly done enough to matter.
Through three games, he has carried 16 times for 56 yards, giving the Chiefs a useful secondary option in a run game that has not been especially effective in the Patrick Mahomes era. With 53 snaps, he has not exactly been a workhorse, but Kansas City clearly trusts him enough that he could see more work if the team wants to lighten Walker’s load.
For the Raiders, that means disciplined run fits and sharp gap control are a must, because Johnson can make them pay if they are sloppy.
Then there is Thornton, who has started this season with an impressive burst while trying to get his career back on track. He has six receptions for 108 yards, and his speed is the kind of thing that can turn a routine play into a problem in a hurry.
The Raiders cannot let him get behind the secondary and create explosives. Having Treydan Stukes back at safety should help in that department, and if Las Vegas can keep Thornton in check, it will go a long way toward slowing Kansas City’s offense overall.
In Other News...
Raiders Were At Center Of A Brutal Late Chiefs Controversy
The Raiders trip to Kansas City turned into one of those divisional finishes that leaves everybody talking long after the final whistle. In a 30-27 Chiefs win, Las Vegas found itself at the center of a late controversy when a catch ruling went the Raiders way and was finalized before a review could be requested, adding a fresh layer of tension to an already tight game.
Kansas City still managed to close it out, with safety Xavier Nwankpa coming up with an interception that helped swing the ending back in the Chiefs favor. A penalty against the Raiders then further tipped the final sequence, turning a disputed moment into another frustrating chapter in a rivalry that rarely comes without drama. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Pressure Is Building Around One Move They May Not Delay
The narrow loss to the Chiefs only sharpened a conversation that has been building around the Raiders for weeks: this offense still looks like it needs a true No. 1 wide receiver. On Raider Nation Radio, Q Myers made the case that receiver help should be at the top of the teams shopping list, and the timing matters with the November 10 trade deadline drawing closer.
Marvin Harrison Jr. has even been floated as a speculative name if he were to become available, a reminder of how aggressive the Raiders may need to be if they want to change the shape of this passing game. For a team trying to keep pace in a tight AFC race, the pressure is no longer just about making a move, but about whether they can afford to wait much longer to make it. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Let Chiefs Game Slip Away After A Few Brutal Decisions
The Raiders had a chance to make life difficult for the undefeated Chiefs at home in an AFC West matchup, and for stretches they were right there. The game swung on a series of big moments, from Kansas Citys fake punt to scoring drives that kept both sides trading the lead, while Las Vegas answered with touchdown throws from Kirk Cousins to Ian Thomas and Michael Mayer.
Still, the kind of game the Raiders needed to finish cleanly started to tilt the other way on a few brutal decisions and mistakes. A critical Dareke Young fumble added to the frustration, and Kansas City kept finding answers, including a late fourth-quarter touchdown run by Kenneth Walker III, leaving Las Vegas to wonder how a winnable game got away. [Read more 🡒]