Chiefs Vs. Raiders: Five Pregame Predictions

It's gameday, the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders at whatever-corporate-name-it-is-this-week stadium in the Bay Area. Here are five predictions as we sit here about four before the start of today's game.

Matt Cassel passes 35 or more times. I don't think the Chiefs are going to have a lot of success running the ball so I think Cassel drops back more often with 35 or more passing attempts. 36 attempts is his season high (Week 1 vs. Buffalo BIlls). The Chiefs prefer to have the run game going but I just don't see that happening consistently against Oakland, who does a pretty good job stopping KC's running game. Plus, the last time the Chiefs played this team they had two cornerbacks that won't be here today -- Nnamdi Asomugha and Chris Johnson. Today rests on Cassel and the passing game.

Chiefs keep Darren McFadden under 100 yards. The Chiefs defense held Adrian Peterson to 80 yards on 23 carries and I think they do the same against McFadden. That's clearly been the focus for two weeks and when you give Romeo Crennel that much time I think he puts a defense in place that can contain McFadden. I'm saying something like 18 carries for 90 yards for McFadden -- a good game but he won't kill KC's chances.

Chiefs win the turnover battle. This is probably my biggest prediction, the one that could put the Chiefs in the W column after this. If they win the turnover battle, this is going to be a close game. If they don't, then KC has no shot. I say the Chiefs snag two turnovers today, turn it over once themselves and win the turnover battle 2-1.

All three Raiders quarterback play at some point. Hue Jackson's clearly running the asylum and I think he starts Kyle Boller and has some packages for Terrelle Pryor. I also think at some point that Carson Palmer gets in the game. Playing three quarterbacks seems like such an Oakland Raiders move.

Chiefs win. Yes, I'm back to my laughably optimistic ways and predicting the Chiefs win every week. 20-17, Chiefs win.