Chiefs’ Andy Reid and Alex Smith dominate the Raiders
Chiefs’ Andy Reid and Alex Smith dominate the Raiders
Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith said he loves the rivalry with the Raiders.
Scratch that, Smith and Kansas City head coach Andy Reid share custody of the Raiders.
Smith, dating to his 49ers days, is 8-1 against Oakland with 18 touchdowns and three interceptions (and his teams average 29 points a game).
Reid is 6-1 against the Raiders since he took over the Chiefs in 2013 and has not lost to them at Arrowhead Stadium.
“This is fun,” Smith told reporters.
The Chiefs, who have beaten the Raiders four straight times, have exploited the right matchups, whether it’s Jamaal Charles catching screens or receiver Jeremy Maclin moving inside to the slot, misdirection plays or Spencer Ware running straight ahead.
Smith does not throw the ball deep or to the other team (four interceptions this season, 34 in the past six).
[...] he was a little taken aback after the teams’ first matchup, a 26-10 Week 6 win in which he was 19-for-22 for 224 yards and Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio gave hin a backhanded compliment.
“If he’s got to rely on throwing the ball, it’s really not his strong suit,” Del Rio said.
[...] if you allow them to run the ball, do some of their gimmicky things, then he comes to life.
Smith tried to play off the comment at first.
Reid downplayed the back and forth, though for all we know, he has dropped the word “gimmicky” in every team meeting this week.
In five starts against, Kansas City, Carr has only six touchdown passes, five interceptions and a 72.0 passer rating.
The Raiders didn’t have injured running back Latavius Murray in October, and backup Jalen Richard, fullback Jamize Olawale, slot receiver Seth Roberts and the tight ends have since hurt defenses focused on receivers Amari Cooper or Michael Crabtree.
“I think we’re better than we were early in the year,” said offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave, whose unit is ranked fourth in passing and seventh in rushing.
[...] they can clinch their first playoff berth since 2002 with a win and either a Miami loss or tie, or a Denver loss.
Not to mention, the AFC West champ likely will get a first-round bye in the playoffs.
“The guys are really excited to play,” defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. said.
Vic Tafur is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.
Oakland’s Derek Carr and Kansas City’s Alex Smith have played five games against each other — with Smith’s Chiefs winning four.
19-22, 224 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 1 sack
22-34, 225 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 2 sacks
14-24, 156 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs, 1 sack
21-33, 194 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 6 sacks
16-22, 162 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INT, 4 sacks
31-48, 283 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT, 4 sacks
18-30, 297 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INT, 1 sack
27-56, 222 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 4 sacks
20-36, 234 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INT, 2 sacks
18-35, 174 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 1 sack
87-134, 1,073 yards, 8 TD, 2 INTs, 9 sacks
119-206, 1098 yards, 6 TDs, 5 INTs, 17 sacks