After beating Denver 19-10 on Thanksgiving, the Chiefs were 7-4 and had the look of a team poised to make a run at the playoffs. Three straight losses, though, have derailed the team and it finds itself needing plenty of help to make the postseason.
Last year, Kansas City went 10-6 and became only the fourth team since 1990 to miss the playoffs after winning at least 10 games. This season, the Chiefs could also finish with a winning record, but a poor performance against AFC teams is likely to cost Kansas City (7-7 SU & 6-8 ATS).
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The Chiefs are only 3-7 against conference teams, one reason they face long odds to claim one of the two wild-card berths. Denver and Cincinnati, at 8-6, currently hold those spots, and there are five other teams besides Kansas City that are either 8-6 or 7-7.
The slide began when the Chiefs blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead in a 31-28 overtime loss at Cleveland on Dec. 3. In the last two games, Kansas City has scored only one TD and was held to field goals in a 20-9 defeat at San Diego on Sunday night, the Chiefs' third straight loss on the road. The Chiefs are 26-8 against the Raiders since 1990, including playoffs.
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The Raiders (2-12 SU & 6-8 ATS), who have lost seven straight overall, need to win out to avoid their first season with fewer than four victories since going a franchise-worst 1-13 in 1962.
Aaron Brooks will start at QB on Saturday, even though he was pulled in favor of Andrew Walter during the third quarter of Sunday's loss. Brooks is 0-7 as the starter this year.
Oakland hasn't scored more than 14 points in any game during the losing streak and its offense — averaging a league-worst 244.5 ypg — has overshadowed the play of a solid defense.
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Notable game trends:
- Chiefs are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 vs. AFC West.
- Chiefs are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 night games.
- Chiefs are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games as a road favorite.
- Chiefs are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings in Oakland.
- Chiefs are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
- Raiders are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. AFC West.
- Raiders are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 night games.
- Raiders are 7-19 ATS in their last 26 games in December.
- Raiders are 3-11 ATS in their last 14 games as a home underdog.
- Raiders are 20-42-1 ATS in their last 63 games overall.
- Road team is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings.
