Chiefs at Raiders - Week 2 - Record: 2-0

This was definitely a very satisfying game. It was the last game we'll play at the Oakland Coliseum, it'll be nice not to have to run around on the infield dirt. That is so annoying. Next time we are at the Raiders' stadium it'll be in Las Vegas. I'd heard they won't be allowing Raiders fans to tailgate, is that right? Wow. Nothing like being a Chiefs fans and enjoying that community at Arrowhead for hours before gametime.

Thing about it though is that the Raiders look like they've got a team that if it gels over the years, could be very good. They had three 1st round draft picks this year, they've been able to plug holes, they want Jon Gruden to build something there -- I'd be wary of this Raiders team in the future.

In fact, it looked really good for them to start this game. They shot out to a 10-0 lead while we were flat-footed. Could they have had it come together so soon?

Well, not. We went off on them with 28 unanswered in the 2nd quarter. But at the beginning of this game I was wondering about our ability to get a team to gel. Brett got a slew of fine players to fill out this roster, but the big question is: Are all the pieces gelling? Especially our defense! We were far too bendy in the first two Raiders drives of the 1st half, and we were bendy again at the beginning of the 2nd half.

The Raiders got all the way down to the 4 on one of those first drives, I think it was that first one, but a Breeland INT in the end zone proves you often win by just not breaking even if you bend. Key guys making key plays on the D throughout the game -- Clark, Kpassagnon, Fuller, Jones, Ogbah, Ward. I'm sure I've missed some, but there were times these guys stood out. Something else that is also very nice: our depth. The rotation of several D-linemen keeps them from being tired -- especially in light of our quick strike offense!

It was also nice to see our new D-coordinator make adjustments that worked. The Raiders only had a few meaningful plays in the second half, one of which was a 51-yard run by their fine back Josh Jacobs, but again we did the job of nullifying anything major. Our big test will come next week against a very good Ravens team.

Before we get to the offense, two things are worrisome. Our penalties and our run blocking. First, the penalties. Still ugh. We had a 72-yard Hardman TD catch nullified by a LeSean McCoy hold. Maybe it was good he had to do that to protect Mahomes, but still, you've got to just block better. Second, our O-line did a decent job of protecting Mahomes, but our run blocking was atrocious. We could not get Williams or McCoy untracked. That groin injury to Eric Fisher may have been a major factor.

Couple other notes about the Raiders. First of all they had a lot of injuries. I think that demoralized them as the game wore on. But it is interesting that Derek Carr yet again had a poor game against the Chiefs. I just watch no other football, I really don't, but I hear he actually does really well against the rest of the league! He was picked twice today, sacked three times.

Now to our explosive offense. Wow, all that could be said. Just that Andy Reid, for one, dials up plays like they're on a mega-rolodex. That 2nd quarter was phenomenal. We're down 10-0 then, BAMM.

Then, naturally, what more can you say about Patrick Mahomes. It was as if the Raiders made him just liiiitle bit angry. I mean, his reads, his decision-making, his timing, his touch, his arm strength -- I mean...

It goes without saying that we just have too many weapons. For one, I've always believed that Demarcus Robinson is tremendously underrated. Did you know he was drafted before Tyreek Hill? I have never seen him do anything except make Mahomes look good, snatching everything thrown to him, either in traffic or making his way open so very nicely. Today he had two long touchdown receptions.

Of course we have the extraordinarily reliable Travis Kelce -- he was his typical superman out there. His TD grab was bobbled but clutched firmly just before he rolled out of the end zone. Mecole Hardman had his first touchdown grab, just outrunning the D-backfield on a post route.

With that 2nd quarter display, I just wonder, why even run the ball at all? With this offense, setting up the run with the pass sounds like the way to go, but with Reid calling anything and everything in the cupboard and Mahomes whipping up some fine passing touchdowns... I mean.
___