Pick Six: Establishing and stopping the run will be equally important goals in Week 13

Nov 28, 2024 at 02:45 PM

Levi Edwards

Digital Team Reporter

1. History lesson

While this is the NFL's second ever Black Friday game, this won't be the first time these two teams have played on a Friday.

The Raiders and the Chiefs are split at one game a piece when playing on a Friday, with their last encounter on the weekday being in Week 10 of the 1963 AFL season.

Head Coach Al Davis and his Oakland Raiders pulled out a 22-7 victory against the Chiefs inside Kansas City Municipal Stadium. Pro Football Hall of Fame Coach Tom Flores was the Raiders starting quarterback in this outing, where he connected with receiver Art Powell for six catches, 84 yards and two touchdowns.

2. Building up the backfield

Depth at certain positions still remains a question for the Las Vegas Raiders, starting with the running back corps.

While Alexander Mattison (ankle) has been ruled questionable, Zamir White (quadricep) will miss his second straight game. The unit will once again depend on the services of veteran Ameer Abdullah in Kansas City, who accounted for 65 total scrimmage yards and a receiving touchdown.

However, the leader rusher last week for the Silver and Black was 2022 UDFA Sincere McCormick. The running back saw his first NFL career rushing attempts against the Broncos, averaging 6.6 yards a carry. He was elevated again from the practice squad on Thursday ahead of the Chiefs game.

"He's bouncing off guys and just the energy that he brought to our offense, he's really like that," Antonio Pierce said of McCormick. "I've seen that in practice. It was funny, me and him joked even last week, I think it was one of his first or second carries, he ran about five or 10 yards and turned back around. I said, 'How many career rushing yards you had? He said, 'Zero,' I said, 'Well then your ass needs to start learning how to run in the end zone,' and that's how he ran in the game.

"He ran like they weren't going to tackle him, and he ran like a big boy. And again, I'm excited to see him this Friday."

Related Links

3. Return of Chiefs' lead back

As for the opposing team's running back corps, they're expected to get starter Isiah Pacheco back for Week 12.

Pacheco has been activated from IR after suffering a fractured fibula in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Pacheco is averaging 4.6 yards a carry in his three-year career, with 15 career touchdowns rushing and receiving to his name.

"I love watching him play, hate playing against him," Pierce said. "Tough, rugged. He's a running back that you enjoy watching, and our team is excited to play him. I mean, I go back to that Christmas Day and how hard he was running and how hard we were hitting him, helmets flying off, and this dude gets up with the dreads. I mean, he energizes their team."

4. "Eliminate one element"

The Raiders defense must remain committed to stopping the run against a returning Pacheco and veteran Kareem Hunt, who has scored five rushing touchdowns in 2024.

Recently, the Silver and Black have had success limiting the rushing attack, allowing the 13th fewest rushing yards in the league this season. Additionally, their 18 tackles for loss recorded over the past two weeks are tied for the second most in the NFL in that span.

"It's crucial to get them off track," defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said. "You get them off track and try to eliminate one element, whether it's run game, pass game, whatever it may be. But it's critical to do that. It's critical to do that because when they're able to do whatever they want, obviously they have one of the best players in the league at the quarterback position, one of the better coaches in the league. So, we've got to try to make them one dimensional as much as possible."

5. Stepping up in the secondary

Jakorian Bennett (shoulder) has been placed on injured reserve and Nate Hobbs (ankle) has been ruled out for a third straight contest. Therefore, Darnay Holmes, Sam Webb and rookie Decamerion Richardson will be asked to take on a bigger role once again.

"They competed, just like we're going to have to do this week," Graham said when asked about the cornerbacks' showing in Week 12. "It doesn't get any easier this week with the guys that you have in Kansas City and the quarterback and the scheme they have there. But they went out there, they competed. It just didn't fall the way we wanted it to fall. But they went out there and competed."

"I love their toughness," he added. "I love their toughness and they're willing to go on to the next play. I'm happy about that. And then we've just got to keep getting better every day."

Safeties Tre’von Moehrig and Isaiah Pola-Mao will also have their hands full combatting Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, who's leading his team in receptions (68) and receiving yards (569).

6. More for Meyers?

A player reaping the benefits of Brock Bowers' success – and attention from opponents – has been none other than receiver Jakobi Meyers.

With teams focused on containing the rookie tight end, it's allowed Meyers to make the most of his opportunities in man coverage. He's compiled over 100 receiving yards in two of his last three games, averaging seven receptions a game since Week 8.

It's also worth noting that Meyers has totaled 173 receiving yards, 15 catches and two touchdowns in his career three games against the Chiefs since signing with the Raiders in 2022.

1 / 57

Las Vegas Raiders center Will Putnam (67) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.