On Sunday, the (3-3) Kansas City Chiefs will host the (2-4) Las Vegas Raiders in a Week 7 game on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. on CBS — locally on KCTV/5.
The Chiefs are coming off a decisive “Sunday Night Football” victory over the Detroit Lions, while the Raiders defeated the Tennessee Titans in a 20-10 rock fight last Sunday.
The two teams seem to be headed in opposite directions. Sunday could be the first time this season that Kansas City will display its full offensive firepower to the world.
Here are five things to watch.
1. Rashee Rice’s return
He’s back.
It has been over a year since we have seen the third-year player suit up with the Chiefs. With his devastating 2024 knee injury — and his NFL suspension this year — Rice has faced numerous challenges during that time. Sunday is when the next chapter of his career will begin — in which he hopes to become the premier weapon of an offense led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
As a rookie in 2023, Rice put up 164 yards and a touchdown on 14 receptions over two games against Las Vegas. On Sunday, he could be primed for a big workload. The Kansas City offense has put up big numbers for three straight weeks — and Mahomes is now the frontrunner to be this season’s NFL MVP. Rice’s presence could take the offense to the next level — and no one will be surprised if he has a big game against a porous Raiders defense.
2. Jaylon Moore’s second start
Left tackle Josh Simmons was a late scratch for personal reasons against Detroit, giving Moore his first start with the Chiefs. On short notice — and after spending all night at the hospital as his third child was being born — Moore played a solid game against the Lions, preventing star pass rusher Aiden Hutchinson from collecting a sack for the first time this season.
Simmons is still out, so Moore will square off against Las Vegas star Maxx Crosby, who has long been a thorn in Kansas City’s side. One of the league’s best pass rushers, Crosby is likely to have a chip on his shoulder for this game — and the Raiders will probably maximize his use against Moore.
Fortunately, Crosby is very similar to Hutchinson, so the Chiefs are likely to use a similar plan to hold him in check. And while Moore lacks the pure athletic ability (and jaw-dropping physical prowess) of Simmons, he makes up for it with supremely refined technical play, high football IQ and a calm demeanor to ride out the highs and lows of being an NFL tackle.
3. Intercepting quarterback Geno Smith
The Raiders’ quarterback is having an awful season. Leading the league with 10 interceptions, Smith isn’t doing his team any favors. Las Vegas is tied for the league’s third-worst turnover differential (-4) and is tied with the Cincinnati Bengals for the most turnovers (11).
But Smith’s issues aren’t the only problem. The Raiders have displayed inconsistent offensive line play — Smith is tied for the third-most sacks (18) — and has injured pass-catchers, too. Tight end Brock Bowers is doubtful for Sunday’s game, while wideout Jakobi Meyers is listed as questionable.
The formula for beating the Raiders has been simple: find ways to get the ball from Smith — and capitalize on his mistakes.
The Kansas City defense is coming off a strong outing — and the secondary could be primed for a big game.
4. A record-breaking day for Travis Kelce?
With 82 career touchdowns, the superstar tight end is one touchdown away from tying Priest Holmes’ all-time franchise record. Holmes scored them all over an incredible six seasons in Kansas City. It’s very likely that in his 13th season, Kelce will claim this record — possibly on Sunday.
Kelce has dominated the Raiders as a pro, collecting 1,582 yards and 12 touchdowns over 22 games. This season, Las Vegas has been good at defending against tight ends, giving up only 25 receptions and two touchdowns — but the team has not faced a tight end of Kelce’s caliber. Kansas City may prefer Kelce to break the record on next week’s “Monday Night Football” telecast — but if he’s open in the red zone, Mahomes is likely to target him.
5. A party for Chris Jones and George Karlaftis
Up to now, the Chiefs’ pass rush has not been up to par — and this lack of pressure has strained the rest of the defense. But fortunately, both Jones and Karlaftis have been very good against the Raiders.
Jones has 10.5 sacks in 18 career games against Las Vegas, while Karlaftis has four sacks over six matchups. Smith has made himself a target for pass rushers — and the Raiders’ shaky offensive line hasn’t done much to help.
Sunday’s game will be a great opportunity for the Kansas City defensive line to put up some big performances.
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