The Oakland Raiders and their fans had no idea they would be staring at a 2-4 record through six weeks of the 2017 NFL campaign prior to the season. The Raiders, coming off a successful 2016 NFL season, were pegged as one of this year’s Super Bowl favorites, but have looked nothing like the squad most expected them to be.
It does not help Oakland that every team in the AFC West is beginning to hit their stride. The silver and black face off against arguably the best team in the NFL, the Kansas City Chiefs, in Week 7 and according to Paul Gutierrez of ESPN, Carr admitted how difficult the matchup is:
As cliché as we can get, you have to go 1-0 this week,” Carr said. “But yeah, absolutely, it’s a division game, which really counts for two; they usually do. You want to go out there and beat one of the best teams in football. We have them coming to our place on a short week, so all the challenges are there.
“Everything is pushing our back against the wall, but one thing I know we’re going to do is we’re going to come out … and fight. We’re definitely excited to have them come into our place this week.”
Carr is still recovering from a back injury that forced him to miss Week 5, but is penciled in as the starter against the Chiefs. Kansas City boasts several explosive offensive options and will possibly provide the toughest test so far for Oakland’s defense.
Even with NaVorro Bowman starting the game after signing with the Raiders, the defense will need to figure out ways to slow down a dangerous Chiefs defense. After losing four straight games, it will be interesting to see how the silver and black handle themselves.
