This week's Thursday Night Football matchup puts two Afc West rivals against one another. The Chiefs and the Raiders are looking to bounce back from lackluster performances last week which resulted in losses. The Chiefs are led by MVP candidate Alex Smith and rookie of the year candidate Kareem Hunt. Both players are performing well, leading the Chiefs to a 5-1 start. The Raiders have struggled to find any rhythm, starting the season a disappointing 2-4. Which team will come out on top?
Offensive firepower
Both teams have the capability to put points on the board with the offensive weapons they have.
Alex Smith has played flawless football, throwing for 1637 yards and 12 touchdowns. What is the most impressive stat for Smith is that he has thrown zero interceptions. Smith has been able to not only manage the game but take over the game with his exceptional passing ability. Kareem Hunt has exceeded expectations, leading the league in rushing with 630 yards rushing. Hunts explosive speed and power have defenders making a business decision if they want to tackle him or not.
The Raiders offense is a different story. They have failed to get any rhythm offensively, which could be credited to Derek Carr and his back injury that caused him to miss a game. Marshawn Lynch has been quiet since his dance show against the Jets, failing to crack 100 yards rushing in any game this season.
Amari Cooper hasn't shown up at all this season, and Michael Crabtree isn't the same player he was last season. The offense was supposed to be the best part of their offense, but it has become their worst.
Bounce back games
Both the Chiefs and the Raiders are looking forward to playing Thursday, as they both took tough losses on Sunday.
The Chiefs' offense was shut down against the Steelers defense, only scoring 13 points the entire game. Kareem Hunt was limited to only 21 yards on the ground, and Alex Smith was held in check as well. That is the only blemish on the Chiefs record, and head coach Andy Ried is a coach who bounces back well after a loss.
The Raiders fell short against the Chargers which bumped them down to 2-4.
Derek Carr looked shaky in that game throwing two interceptions. The Raiders probably didn't want the quick turnaround, but it might be the best thing for them so they can find some answers. Marshawn Lynch is due for a breakout game, and he should be able to do it against the Chiefs.
The AFC West has quickly become one of the most interesting divisions in football. With this matchup set for primetime, both teams will get a chance to prove they are the real deal. This has the potential to be an offensive showdown, that is if both offenses can get back on track.
