Superior Defense
It might be tough to admit (understandably so given the struggles in years past) but the Oakland Raiders defense is superior to the Kansas City Chiefs so far in 2019. The Raiders allow an average of 355.6 total yards per game, hovering close to average in the league. The AFC contending Chiefs? They allow an average of 393 yards per game, good for 25th in the NFL.
The Raiders defense is in its early stages of a revamp, and yet they’re already showing more promise than their division rival in Kansas City. So when the Chiefs defense is allowing the opponent to march to the endzone, its no wonder that Mahomes has to play a superhero on Sundays.
Derek Carr does not need to put on the Superman cape (although he’s more than worn it before, as our fellow Raider Jonathan Abram accurately stated on ESPN’s First Take). When you have a defense that is coming into shape and capable of holding their own, Superman isn’t needed every Sunday under center.