The early game of the year for the Kansas City Chiefs is Week 7 against the Oakland Raiders. The Chiefs will visit the Raiders on Thursday night football in that game for their first matchup of the year. Oakland is the darling of the NFL this year but the Chiefs have beat them in five straight games. The Raiders will be hyped for this. The Chiefs know it will be critical for their AFC West hopes that they win this game. I have this circled as one of if not the best game on the Chiefs 2017 schedule. The Chiefs will play them again Week 14 at Arrowhead Stadium.
Maybe it’s just the Chiefs fan in me but the Raiders are getting way too much hype this year. Derek Carr is very good but he is not a top 3-5 quarterback. Their defense has to get better. Marshawn Lynch provides a huge emotional boost but let’s see what he actually does on the field before we crown them. I’m not convinced that Jack Del Rio, whom Andy Reid owns, is ready to take on the Patriots.
Until the Raiders beat the Chiefs, I like Kansas City. This Raiders preview below comes courtesy of SB Nation’s Raiders blog, Silver and Black Pride.
Poll
Chiefs or Raiders, who ya got?
Notable free agent additions: TE Jared Cook, WR/KR Cordarrelle Patterson, OT Marshall Newhouse, LB Jelani Jenkins, QB EJ Manuel
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Notable free agent departures: OT Menelik Watson, LB Malcolm Smith, DT Stacy McGee, RB Latavius Murray, CB DJ Hayden, TE Mychal Rivera, DT Dan Williams (cut), WR Andre Holmes, QB Matt McGloin, LB Daren Bates, S Brynden Trawick, S Nate Allen
Trades: Acquired Marshawn Lynch from Seahawks
Draft picks expected to contribute as rookies: First round pick Gareon Conley as slot corner, second round pick Obi Melifonwu as hybrid LB/S, third round pick Eddie Vanderdoes in rotation at DT/DE spot, fifth round pick Marquel Lee at inside linebacker, seventh round pick Shalom Luani on special teams.
Biggest offseason addition: Marshawn Lynch. As far as free agents are concerned, it’s Jared Cook. He and Lynch are the only who will for sure immediately step into starting role.
Biggest storyline heading into training camp: It’s always Marshawn Lynch. Mainly because he’s such a strong personality, but also because he’s playing for his hometown team after coming out of retirement and everyone wants to know if he can return to his All Pro form at age 31.
Under-the-radar storyline heading into training camp: Will the Raiders add another inside linebacker? They still don’t have an answer at the position. Last year’s starter Perry Riley Jr hasn’t been re-signed and hasn’t signed anywhere else, so there is still a chance he could return or they could add another free agent linebacker. They cut two linebackers recently which adds to the possibility.
Notable injuries heading into training camp: 2016 second round pick Jihad Ward had offseason foot surgery and will miss part of camp. Austin Howard had offseason shoulder surgery and there’s a chance the team could release him once he passes his physical. If not, he will join the competition at right tackle with Marshall Newhouse who also missed offseason practices with an undisclosed injury. Other notable injuries include reserve center Jon Feliciano and defensive lineman Darius Latham. At this time only Ward is not expected to be ready for the start of camp.