Las Vegas Raiders vs Kansas City Chiefs: Defensive grades for 2021 Week 10
Defensive Line
When the Raiders signed Yannick Ngakoue this offseason, he had stated that he and Maxx Crosby would be the best pass-rushing duo in the NFL this season, and so far he hasn’t been wrong. Coming into Sunday’s game, Ngakoue and Crosby had the first and second most pressures, with Crosby being first in the league, and both of them already having multiple games with two or more sacks.
However, against Kansas City, they struggled to get after Patrick Mahomes, and a lot of it had to do with being held. In the end, they were not able to get a sack on Mahomes and barely pressured him, which led to the former MVP having a breakout game in comparison to the rest of his 2021 season.
Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow already has an injury history in the NFL, and if the Raiders want any chance to beat the Bengals on Sunday, they have to get after him. This Bengals offense is explosive but does not have the full complement of weapons Kansas City has, but an effort like one on Sunday won’t matter who the Silver and Black trot out.
Grade: C-