The Las Vegas Raiders picked up their biggest win of the season on Christmas Day as they went on the road to defeat the division rival and defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs. Perhaps most impressive was that it was the defense who carried them as All-Pro Davante Adams had just one catch in the game.
The Raiders offense as a whole, particularly through the air, struggled all game long. Aidan O’Connell didn’t complete a pass after the first quarter, but it didn’t matter because the defense provided two touchdowns and despite the struggles, the offense made plays when it needed to.
To defeat the Chiefs on the road is a huge accomplishment, but not one that surprises Adams, as the receiver feels that the Raiders can beat anyone as long as they are locked in on game day.
“I’ve been saying that all year. It doesn’t really matter who we’re playing, this team in particular, it kind of just depends on who we go out as that day,” Adams said. “That’s how football is in the NFL. It’s not about how good you are, it’s about how good you play. So, you can be the best team in the world, which they have been for quite a bit of time now. But they weren’t on Monday, so that’s how it works.”
The Raiders were certainly the better team on that day as they were able to force a pair of Kansas City turnovers and cash them in for scores. To his point, Adams has always maintained his confidence in what this team is capable of even as the team went through its struggles and he is proving to be right in his assessment.
There have certainly still been some rough games along the way, but when the Raiders come out ready to play they are, at the very least, competitive and give the opposition fits. Ever since Antonio Pierce took over as interim head coach, the energy and focus of this team have greatly improved and the results have been positive.
Obviously, the Raiders aren’t going to be able to win many games in this fashion, with just 205 total yards on offense and a single catch for four yards for Adams. But it is all about the mindset and belief in themselves that Adams has always had for this team, and Pierce has brought out of everyone even more that has seen these Raiders turn a corner.
