As expected, Kansas City is favored heading into the NFL week 2 Chiefs at Raiders free pick but not by as many as you’d expect with a line of KC -7. Oakland had a successful start to the 2019 campaign with a win 24-16 win over Denver, but that was Monday night and Jon Gruden’s squad is on a short week. Do the Raiders keep it close in this early season divisional matchup?
Kansas City Had Precision In Their Opener
The way the Chiefs beat up on the Jaguars 40-26 in week one, it looks like Kansas City can score pretty much at will. It was the first game of the season and temperatures in Jacksonville were reaching 110 degrees but KC still hung 40 on what is supposed to be an above average Jaguars defense.
In that opener, it was business as usual for reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes who threw for 378 and 3 TD with 0 INT. Mahomes put up those numbers while also battling an ankle injury he suffered during the game. Sammy Watkins looked like his old Clemson self with 9 catches for 198 and 3 scores. Andy Reid also now has a viable two back combo as Lesean McCoy debuted with 81 yards on just 10 carries.
After all that offense, why isn’t Kansas City a 14-17 point favorite in the NFL week 2 Chiefs at Raiders free pick? Well, it wasn’t all good in the opener. The Jags ended up scoring 26 points and throwing for 347 yards even though Nick Foles was injured early and rookie Gardner Minshew took his spot. KC also lost one of their best playmakers with Tyreek Hill suffering a “sternoclavicular joint injury.”
Can Raiders Ride Momentum On Short Week?
It actually looked like the Black Hole was an uncomfortable place for opponents to visit again as the Raiders embarrassed Denver 24-16 on Monday night with Oakland being +3 home underdogs. The Broncos offense isn’t even in the same solar system as Kansas City’s, but the Raider defense was still impressive in allowing just 1 TD – a late one with just 2:16 left in the 4th at that.
The Raiders offense also looked good in the opener against a very solid Denver defense. Derek Carr showed a great command of the offense going 22/26 for 259 and a TD. Carr should be able to have a big day throwing against a KC secondary that looked exploitable by a Jaguars rookie in week one as Minshew was 22/25 after replacing Foles. Oakland may have also found a good one in rookie RB Josh Jacobs who toted the rock 23 times for 85 yards and 2 TD a week ago.
The Raiders actually hung tight with Kansas City in their meeting in Oakland a year ago, falling 33-40 as 2 TD home underdogs. Mahomes was his usual great self with 295 and 4 TD in that game with Travis Kelce snagging 12 balls for 168 yards and 2 TD. The Raiders defense is supposedly better in 2019, but will it be enough?
NFL Week 2 Chiefs at Raiders Free Pick
If the Raiders weren’t on a short week taking the 7 points at home in a divisional matchup would be a no-brainer. The thing is it’s just hard to bet against KC until somebody shows they can stop that electrifying offense. Carr looked great with just 3 incompletions in week one against a good Denver defense. Mahomes also showed that the Black Hole is like a man cave to him as he threw 4 TDs there last season. The over is high at 53, but it would still be a comfortable one at 63.
Pick: Chiefs / Raiders *Over* 53
