Raiders running game is overrated, ours is legit.

[Hammock Parties]

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/39970275/ns/sports-nfl/

Yes, good teams usually run well. They do a lot of things well; otherwise, they wouldn’t be good teams. But rushing totals are often inflated by clock-killing drives late in games, when the winning team hands off up the middle seven times just to get everybody home in time for dinner. Our Big Four rushing teams might not be smashmouth teams at all: they may just be teams that spend a lot of fourth quarters nursing a lead.

Kansas City Chiefs

190.4 yards per game, 5.2 yards per carry, 6 TD

Fluff factor: Low. The Chiefs have generated just 101 "Ice the Win" yards.


Fast fact: The Chiefs average an extraordinary 6.8 yards per rush on first down. First-down runs of 56 and 70 yards inflate that figure, but even without the big gains, the Chiefs are an excellent first-down rushing team. Against the Bills alone, they ran for 18, 11, 13, 18, 12, 10, and 13 yards on first down. With production like that, the Chiefs can hammer second-rate defenses without taking to the air.


Getting it done: The Chiefs use two- and three-tight end formations to stretch the line of scrimmage, then send Jamaal Charles (quick, shifty) and Thomas Jones (patient, powerful) to exploit the cutback lanes that result when defenders have eight or more gaps to worry about. The Chiefs have been able to grind out wins against some good defenses: the 49ers control the line of scrimmage well, but Jones and Charles hammered out 192 yards against them.


Bottom line: The Chiefs have the easiest schedule this side of the Sun Belt Conference and face defense-challenged opponents like the Broncos and Cardinals in upcoming weeks. They can rush right into the postseason with only the slightest assist from their passing game.


Oakland Raiders

168.5 yards per game, 4.9 yards per carry, 9 TD

Fluff factor: High. 144 "Ice the Win" yards may not seem like a high total, but see below.


Fast fact: Raiders rushing totals include 117 yards of quarterback scrambles and 121 yards of reverses and end-arounds by wide receivers. The Raiders have also played eight games, while most of the league has only played seven because of bye weeks; that’s why the Raiders lead the league in rushing while the Chiefs top them in yards per game. Add it all up, and the fluff factor in their rushing total is pretty high.


Getting it done: The Raiders are creative about hiding the deficiencies in their passing game. Receivers Lou Murphy, Jacoby Ford, and Darrius Heyward-Bey have all produced big plays on end-arounds, and fullback Marcel Reece (91 yards) gets into the act at times. The end-arounds and fullback bellies keep defenses from loading up on Darren McFadden (fast and strong with limited moves) and Michael Bush (slow and powerful), so the Raiders don’t have to worry about a stacked box, even when their passing game isn’t clicking. When facing an opponent like the Broncos, it’s best to just keep handing off and wait for surrender anyway.


Bottom line: Both McFadden and Bush are injury prone, and the Raiders are still the Raiders — hot streak or not. They may be running well, but there’s a lot of air in their statistics. The Raiders will hang around the wild-card race all season, but if you want to back an AFC West surprise team, back the Chiefs.

[Demonpenz]

DMC has looked good this year.

[Mr. Arrowhead]

but the raiders have the more talented RBs clearly /prison bitch raider fan

[JTagg7754]

"Bottom line: The Chiefs have the easiest schedule this side of the Sun Belt Conference"

I LOL'd.

How is the Raiders rushing game overrated by the way? I know you guys want to think fluke, but do you even know the major move that was made prior to the Denver game? Anyone? Beuhler?

[Priest31kc]

Interesting, good find....

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Well the new found Raiders trolls of the board should be by quickly to discount that article. THIS YEAR IS DIFFERENT, MAN!!!

[JTagg7754]

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

Well the new found Raiders trolls of the board should be by quickly to discount that article. THIS YEAR IS DIFFERENT, MAN!!!

No, Ronnie Dobbs, it's actually easy to use any stat to swing an argument in your way. Want to see? OK:

The only reason you're ranked higher than us in rushing is b/c of the bye. You have had a week to sit while we have had to play another game and keep the average where it should be. W/ another game under your belt, you'd be down around us and if you had played any competition outside of the bottom dweller and poor run defenses you've played, it would be around 10th.

See? See how easy it is, Ronnie??

[TrickyNicky]

Is there anything quite as frustrating as gashing the bills with two 10+ yard runs to start a drive, then watch Cassel shit his pants on 3 consecutive downs resulting in a punt?

[Championship]

Well get ready for the Raiders to pad our "Ice the win" yards on Sunday, because this game won't be close. Promise.

[Hammock Parties]

"poor run defenses" we ran all over:

#2 San Diego
#9 San Francisco
#14 Houston

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by Championship

Well get ready for the Raiders to pad our "Ice the win" yards on Sunday, because this game won't be close. Promise.

You might win just due to the heated rivalry, playing at home, and us having to go through an excruciating OT in our last game. But the game's not going to be close?

You clearly haven't seen many Chiefs/Raiders games, have you?

[ModSocks]

Originally Posted by JTagg7754

No, Ronnie Dobbs, it's actually easy to use any stat to swing an argument in your way. Want to see? OK:

The only reason you're ranked higher than us in rushing is b/c of the bye. You have had a week to sit while we have had to play another game and keep the average where it should be. W/ another game under your belt, you'd be down around us and if you had played any competition outside of the bottom dweller and poor run defenses you've played, it would be around 10th.

See? See how easy it is, Ronnie??

What??? GTFO. JFC Raider fans are as dumb as advertised.

[Championship]

Originally Posted by SNR

You might win just due to the heated rivalry, playing at home, and us having to go through an excruciating OT in our last game. But the game's not going to be close?

You clearly haven't seen many Chiefs/Raiders games, have you?

Excruciating OT? LOL, No. That was the most inept overtime game I think I have ever seen. Neither team wanted to win.

And yes, the game will be a blowout. The Raiders just dismantled a Seahawk team that is way better than the Chiefs. And you're expecting the game to be close just because it's a divisional game? Child please.

[ModSocks]

Originally Posted by Championship

Excruciating OT? LOL, No. That was the most inept overtime game I think I have ever seen. Neither team wanted to win.

And yes, the game will be a blowout. The Raiders just dismantled a Seahawk team that is way better than the Chiefs. And you're expecting the game to be close just because it's a divisional game? Child please.

The Seahawks are a shitty road team that does nothing well but manages to somehow win games. Had that game been in Seattle, you'd have your ass handed to you.

And the Broncos......pffff.....it's the Broncos. We were running all over the Broncos before running all over the broncos was cool.

[JTagg7754]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

What??? GTFO. JFC Raider fans are as dumb as advertised.

You formed actual sentences that time. Good for you!!!