For the first time in a long time, the Raiders-Chiefs rivalry served a purpose. With a combined 27 penalties and five turnovers, it made the matchups of the '60s look like a friendly bocce ball game.
The intensity was felt throughout the entire stadium. The hatred the Raiders and Chiefs feel for one another clouded the air like the smog on a crisp California morning. There wasn't a single player on the field old enough to remember the old Raiders-Chiefs rivalries of the expansion days, but it didn't stop any of them from going for blood.
With the top two rushing attacks squaring off with one another, the ground game was sure to play a vital role in the outcome. However it was the run defense that stole the spotlight. The Chiefs and Raiders were held to a combined 216 rushing yards.
The quarterback play was mediocre, but the Raiders returned to their old AFL-style deep-ball maneuvers, which ultimately helped them win the game. Jacoby Ford became the favorite target for Jason Campbell, catching six balls for 148 yards. Ford also stole the show when he opened the second half with a 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, giving hope to Raider Nation after a dismal first half.
The Chiefs' running tandem of veteran Thomas Jones and youngster Jamaal Charles were held in check by the hungry Raider defense. The longest run of the day for Kansas City was a 13-yard scamper by Charles, as the Chiefs struggled to establish their league-leading rushing attack.
The Raiders one-two punch of Darren McFadden and Michael Bush were nothing to write home about either. With the exception of McFadden's 34-yard run in the third quarter, the Raiders had no answer for the Chiefs' powerful rushing defens...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders
