Oakland Raiders Behind Enemy Lines: Q&A with Arrowhead Addict

The Oakland Raiders continue their 2019 schedule against a division rival in Week 2, and we sat down with FanSided’s Kansas City Chiefs website, Arrowhead Addict, to discuss.

In Week 2 of the 2019 NFL season, the Oakland Raiders will play host to another AFC West rival, this time the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs have been the dominant team in the division the past few years, and after a stellar start to the 2019 campaign against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1, they head to Oakland with a full head of steam.

One player who will not be with the Chiefs in Week 2 is Tyreek Hill, their dynamic wide receiver who was injured in Week 1. Still, the Chiefs offensive train kept on rolling, as Patrick Mahomes, who won the NFL Most Valuable Player award in 2018, threw for well over 300 yards and three touchdowns.

The Raiders looked much-improved on both sides of the ball in Week 1, dominanting the Denver Broncos in an easy 24-16 victory. Can they continue their hot start against one of the better teams in the AFC on Sunday, only time will tell?

On Saturday, we sat down with Jordan Mannix from Arrowhead Addict to discuss the Week 2 matchup.

Just Blog Baby: Coming off a 50-touchdown season, what is the expectation for Year 2 for Patrick Mahomes as the starter in Kansas City?

Jordan Mannix: Expectations are pretty high. Most believe that Mahomes will make a significant jump in his processing and decision making, which he seemed to do in the game against the Jaguars. Most also believe the best defensive coordinators will find unique schemes that could slow him down.

Both are likely true, so I could see their effects cancelling out. Consider, the Jaguars allowed 15.7 points per game at home last season. Missing Hill for most of the game, and Mahomes being hobbled by an ankle injury, he still nearly threw for 400 yards and three touchdowns. 

JBB: How do you think the loss of Tyreek Hill will affect the team against an improved Raiders defense?

Mannix: I think it will have a small impact. Hill is one of the best receivers in the league, so losing someone of his caliber will undoubtedly hurt the offense. That said, Watkins looked like a man possessed on Sunday against the vaunted Jaguars secondary.

He looks like he could possibly be a top five receiver this year, which is a dramatic improvement from last year. Add to this the fact that the Chiefs we’re preparing for the possibility that Hill could miss some games, drafting Mecole Hardman, and the impact should be lessened.

Mahomes is know for spreading the ball around which should lessen the impact of losing Hill.

JBB: Gardner Minshew had a nice debut against your defense on Sunday, how confident are you in their ability to shut down Derek Carr in Week 2?

Mannix: Our secondary is still the biggest question mark on this team. If Gruden’s game plan puts players like Charvarius Ward out in space, they’re likely to have good success. I could see Carr having a good day, I’m just not sure it will be enough to keep up with the Chiefs offense.

JBB: Who is one Kansas City Chiefs player Raider Nation may not know of that will have a great game on Sunday?

Mannix: LeSean McCoy might be the surprise of the offseason for the Chiefs. After only being signed for a few days, McCoy ran for 81 yards on only 10 carries against a great defensive front. If there was one question mark for the Chiefs on offense, it was whether or not Damien Williams could shoulder the responsibility of being a starting running back.

It looks like he won’t have to, and many expect that within a game or two McCoy will take over starters duties. He displayed youthful quickness and vision that Williams just doesn’t have.

JBB: What are your expectations for Kansas City in 2019?

Mannix: With how close the team came to playing in the Super Bowl, one they likely win given the paltry offensive production by both teams, it’s Super Bowl or bust. That said, there are still questions on the defense.

It will be tough to gauge what this defense will be capable of until later in the season, but we’ll need more than they have against the Jaguars to overcome teams like the Patriots.

We at JustBlogBaby would like to thank Jordan for sitting down and talking with us, and his insight on the Chiefs is always appreciated. These two teams will battle it out later in the year as well, and we will reconnect with Jordan to see where the Chiefs are at that time.

Thanks again Jordan!