Raiders Look to Contain Mahomes and Company on MNF

The Las Vegas Raiders will face Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs tonight for a Monday Night Football showdown. The Raiders are coming off a 32-23 victory over the Denver Broncos and are looking to add another victory to the win column. Their biggest challenge, though, could very well be the location just as much as the opponent.

The day is October 11th, 2020. QB Derek Carr just sealed his first win at Arrowhead Stadium in his tenure with the Raiders and the players are on the bus and headed to the airport, but at the request of former head coach Jon Gruden, they took a detour – a lap around Arrowhead Stadium. Gruden was a different character than current head coach Josh McDaniels. When Josh McDaniels was asked on Monday if he would take the same route to the airport as Gruden with a win, he grinned and simply said. “I think we will just get back on the plane and come back home. Win, lose, or draw we are going to get on the bus and get to the plane and come on back here.”

The Raiders have not had very much success against the Chiefs in Arrowhead in recent history. QB Derek Carr spoke to the difficulty playing in Kansas City.

“Yeah, it’s a hostile environment,” Carr said. “It’s one of the loudest in the whole NFL, but it’s a division game. It’s going to be tough, it’s going to be a physical game. They have (had) great coaches, great players since I have been here.”

Carr will need to execute effectively Monday night if he wants to quiet the crowd. Fortunately for the Raiders, WR Hunter Renfrow is on track to suit up for the first time since he suffered a concussion on the last play of the Week 2 loss against the Cardinals. If Renfrow returns, Carr will have all his weapons back on the field and a bit of continuity on the offensive line.

Josh McDaniels knows the challenge that they face Monday night against the reigning AFC West champs.

“It’s going to take really good effort from all three phases.” McDaniels said. “There is never a moment where you can relax.”

Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham will have the challenge of trying to contain the explosive and creative Chiefs offense led by QB Patrick Mahomes and TE Travis Kelce, but Graham has star power too, led by DE Maxx Crosby and CB Nate Hobbs.

The Monday Night matchup is set to be a memorable one. If the Las Vegas Raiders want to take the crown as AFC West champs this season, they first need to show the world they can take down the reigning champs and secure their second victory in Kansas City in Carr’s tenure with the team.