Silver And Black Pride
It may only be Week 7, but the Las Vegas Raiders’ season is on life support with a 2-4 record. Heading into next week’s bye and November at 2-5 will pretty much sink the Raiders’ ship and have people looking toward the future rather than a playoff push, if they aren’t already. That means Las Vegas has to find a way to take down the organization’s biggest rival and a surging Kansas City Chiefs team on the road this Sunday.
To preview the game, Silver and Black Pride reached out to our frenemies at Arrowhead Pride, and Maurice Elston was kind enough to answer a few questions about the Chiefs.
Q: The Chiefs started the season slowly but have bounced back with three wins in their last four games to get back to .500. What’s been the difference between Weeks 1 and 2 and the three wins?
A: The biggest difference has been the offensive line’s improvement and Patrick Mahomes’ growing trust in it. Early on, he didn’t always stay in the pocket, but recently he’s shown more patience and confidence in his protection. The return of Xavier Worthy has also added a much-needed vertical element to the offense. Defensively, the secondary has settled in after a shaky start. Without a true veteran leader like Justin Reid or Tyrann Mathieu from past seasons, this young group needed time to gel.
Q: Wide receiver Rashee Rice is set to make his 2025 debut after serving a six-game suspension. How does Rice change things for Kansas City’s offense and Mahomes?
A: Rashee Rice brings a dynamic that’s been missing from Kansas City’s offense. He’s the one receiver who can turn a short slant into a 20- or 30-yard gain thanks to his yards-after-catch ability. That kind of explosiveness underneath complements the deep threats of Xavier Worthy and Tyquan Thorthorn. His return gives Mahomes a reliable, physical target who can create separation and add balance to the passing game.
Q: Left tackle was an issue that the Raiders exposed in the Week 13 matchup last year and was the Chiefs’ biggest need in the offseason after the Super Bowl loss. Thus, the front office drafted Josh Simmons in the first round. Has the rookie solved the problem so far? And is he expected to play this Sunday after missing last week’s game?
A: Josh Simmons has definitely helped stabilize the left tackle position. While he’s still learning and hasn’t been perfect, his progress each week has been evident. He looks like a long-term solution for protecting Mahomes’ blind side.
However, Simmons hasn’t practiced this week due to what the team is calling a personal family matter, and the Chiefs have been fairly quiet about the situation. He’s highly questionable for Sunday, but the coaching staff has confidence in Jaylon Moore to hold things down if Simmons remains out.
**Q: Defensive tackle Chris Jones is a future Hall of Famer, but he recently came under fire for his lack of effort on Jaguars quarterback...
