Oakland Raiders: Five potential bellweather games to circle on the calendar

Week 13 vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Without a doubt, the Chiefs have become Oakland’s biggest nemesis and the team they’ve fared the worst against in their division for – well – quite a while now.

Though, if we’re being honest, it’s not like Carr has had a ton of success against the other teams in the AFC West, compiling a career mark of just 9-14. Against the Chiefs though, he’s fared the worst – by far.

Consider, against Denver, Carr has posted a 3-4 career mark. Against the former San Diego and current Los Angeles Chargers, he’s an even 4-4. Against the Chiefs though – by far, the biggest thorn in his side – he’s a paltry 2-6.

Carr has a career 61 percent completion percentage, and against both the Broncos and the Chargers, he hovers right around that mark. Against Kansas City though, his completely drops to a meager 55 percent (189 of 340).

He also has a career passer rating of 87.5. Against Denver, he dips down to 82.3, but he rebounds against the Chargers with a rating of 89. Against the Chiefs though, he struggles to a quarterback rating of just 72.

In his eight games against the Chiefs, Carr has thrown 10 touchdowns against seven interceptions. But, consider the fact that three of those touchdowns – a third of his total – came in Oakland’s week seven thrilling 31-30 win last season.

Suffice it to say, the Chiefs have been Carr’s biggest bogeyman to this point in his career.

Next: With The Division In Flux, Defense Must Lead The Way

Week 13 seems pretty late in the game to be facing a hated division foe for the first time all year, but that’s when the Raiders and the Chiefs finally square off in 2018. After 13 weeks of the season has already been played, the playoff picture will likely already start gaining some clarity, and this game could prove absolutely pivotal to the Raiders chances of making it to the postseason dance – assuming they’re still in the race at this point.

All division games are important, but if the Raiders are going to mount a serious challenge to division supremacy and get back to the postseason, he’s going to have to figure out how to slay that particular beast.