Make California Post a Preferred Source They’re not the same old Raiders they used to be, and the rest of the NFL is starting to notice. Including the Kansas City Chiefs.
Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy took the podium for his press conference on Thursday and said this year’s team reminds him of the Raiders from the past.
Bienemy said he got a text message from Neil Smith, former two-time Super Bowl Champion, Neil Smith — who played for every team in the AFC West, except the Raiders.
“I received a text from an old buddy of mine,” Bienemy said. “…He didn’t say Las Vegas Raiders. He said, ‘It’s Oakland Raiders week,’ and he said, ‘enough said.”
“I said, ‘You know what, that’s exactly right, okay?’ It is the Raiders week.”
For most of Bienemy’s coaching career, he’s been on the winning side of the Chiefs and Raiders rivalry, as Kansas City had a 17-3 record against them during his first stint as a running backs coach and offensive coordinator from 2013-2022.
But at one point in time, the Raiders were considered one of the more storied and feared franchises in the NFL.
But since the team lost Super Bowl 37, they haven’t played to the same standard.
A big reason for the lack of success was due to the lack of stability at head coach and the quarterback position.
Since 2004, they’ve had 13 different head coaches and used 22 different starting quarterbacks.
But now, it appears they might’ve found some continuity at both spots as new head coach Klint Kubiak has the team off to a 3-0 start for the first time since 2021.
Kubiak has instilled a new dynamic to the offense that includes a new style of play calling that has them averaging 29.3 points per game, making them tied with the Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys.
Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins has looked like his old self on the field, having a completion percentage of 67.8%, with 661 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions.
The Las Vegas defense has also improved significantly; after giving up an average of 25.4 points per game last year, they’re now giving up an average of 18 points.
Free agent acquisition Nakobe Dean has been stellar in the early stretch of the season, leading the team with 27 tackles, while having 1.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles.
Before the season began, the Raiders and Chiefs Week 3 matchup appeared to be more of an afterthought. Now, it’s one of the most highly anticipated games this week, as it will be a chance for Las Vegas to prove it.
