The Raiders got big performances from Maxx Crosby, Malcolm Koonce and Nakobe Dean in September, but if they are going to get past the Chiefs in week 4, it’s going to take everything the defense has to offer to slow down Patrick Mahomes and Kenneth Walker III.
On his Raider Nation Radio show this week, ‘JT the Brick’ talked about the huge amount of attention the Raiders are going to give Walker, and the California Post’s Vinny Bonsignore said one of this year’s overshadowed free agents will be a big part of the team’s efforts to stop Walker.
“I think it’s going to be a big game for Kwity Paye,” Bonsignore said. “[Paye’s] run defense has always been a strength of his, to be able to build that wall and force the Chiefs into doing something maybe they haven’t done these first three weeks.”
Bonsignore added that the challenge to defending the Chiefs is that even when they can’t run the ball, they still have arguably the best quarterback in the NFL.
Raiders will lean on rookie safety to slow down Mahomes…
Former Raiders’ linebacker Kirk Morrison was another guest on JT’s show, and he pointed to rookie safety Treydan Stukes as an important player to have back this week.
Stukes was in concussion protocol in week 3 but is expected to be back for the Chiefs.
Assuming he is able to play, Stukes will be a significant upgrade over Isaiah Pola-Mao, who struggled in coverage last week against the Saints. With Stukes in the lineup, Morrison believes the Raiders will be able to sneak Chinn up to the line of scrimmage to be more involved in defending the run.
“It’s going to be great to have Treydan Stukes back because he’s not just a safety. He can cover,” Morrison said on Raider Nation Radio’s JT the Brick Show.
“So to me, [Stukes] is going to be huge in this game because they’re going to be able to put Jeremy Chinn lower down near the box, but they got a safety who can make up for anything back there in Treydan Stukes.”
As of Thursday, the Raiders (3-0) are 4.5-point underdogs to the Chiefs (3-0) which is the closest betting line to the Chiefs the Raiders have been given since Mahomes became the starting quarterback in Kansas City.
x: @raidersbeat
This is really a statement game. Even if we don’t win, if we stay competitive through 4 quarters and don’t commit a **** ton of penalties it will serve notice. This is a big game for Leonard. And our offensive line.
Our Raiders have proven before, if they go out, and punch Kansas City in the mouth for four quarters they will win!
Agreed. Time to give KC the butt whooping they so deserve.