The Kansas City Chiefs, the NFL’s sole remaining unbeaten team, will try to continue that streak Sunday on the road against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The reigning Super Bowl champions, the Chiefs (6-0) haven’t lost since last Christmas Day — 20-14 to the Raiders.
And it’s likely the Chiefs will take a new present to Las Vegas. Reports surfaced earlier this week that the team was acquiring wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins from the Tennessee Titans. The 12th-year receiver has totaled just 15 receptions for 173 yards and a touchdown in six games for the Titans, but the three-time All-Pro has seven 1,000-yard seasons to his credit, including last season when he posted 75 receptions for 1,057 yards and seven scores.
The Chiefs need help in their receiver corps as JuJu Smith-Schuster left Sunday’s 28-18 victory over the San Francisco 49ers after aggravating a hamstring injury. Coach Andy Reid already ruled out Smith-Schuster against the Raiders.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs offense is operating without Rashee Rice, who is expected to miss the rest of the season after suffering a serious knee injury in a Week 4 contest against the Los Angeles Chargers.
With the trade not yet official on Wednesday afternoon, Reid declined to talk about Hopkins during his midweek availability with the media. However, quarterback Patrick Mahomes already is looking forward to playing with Hopkins.
“I think our coaches do a great job of getting guys up to speed, and you’ve seen that throughout this year already,” Mahomes told reporters Wednesday. “Bringing in guys, getting them up to speed fast, and then let them go out there and make an impact and do what they’re great at.”
Raiders coach Antonio Pierce told reporters Wednesday that he expects the Chiefs to have a few plays designed for Hopkins should he be on the roster Sunday.
Hopkins wouldn’t be the Raiders’ only concern against the Chiefs, however.
“To be honest, no disrespect to Hop, this offense still goes through (tight end Travis Kelce) and (rookie receiver Xavier) Worthy now down the field vertically,” Pierce said.
Kansas City’s offense has lost some of the production it generated in recent years. Mahomes has thrown for just 1,389 yards in six games this season. He also leads the NFL with eight interceptions and has thrown only six touchdown passes. No Chiefs player has caught more than Kelce’s 28 passes this season or accumulated more than Rice’s 288 yards through the air.
The Raiders (2-5) enter Week 8 as losers of three straight games. Pierce said Wednesday the team needs to be more disciplined on offense. In last week’s 20-15 loss at the Los Angeles Rams, Las Vegas committed four turnovers, including three interceptions from quarterback Gardner Minshew.
Pierce said he expects the Chiefs defense, which has allowed the fourth-fewest total points in the league, to make it tough for Minshew and company.
“The pressure this year, you see them kind of morphing into something different,” the Raiders coach said. “They got different personnel groupings, playing not as blitz-happy. But they’re still aggressive.”
Las Vegas is expected to welcome wide receiver Jakobi Meyers back this week after he missed the past two games with an ankle injury. The veteran was a limited participant in practice Wednesday, as were defensive tackle Adam Butler (hip) and linebackers Tommy Eichenberg (quad) and Kana’i Mauga (knee). Tight end Harrison Bryant (elbow) and offensive linemen Kolten Miller (elbow) and Dylan Parham (foot) did not practice, but Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby (ankle) was a full participant.
For the Chiefs, defensive end Mike Danna (pectoral) did not practice and running back Kareem Hunt (hip) was limited.
