Oakland Raiders Playoff Push: 10 Keys Against Kansas City

If you had told me a few months ago that the game between the Raiders and Chiefs at the Coliseum on November 7th, 2010, would be of great significance to both teams in terms of playoffs and the AFC West Division title, I would have declared you nuts. I'm definitely not the only one who felt this way prior to the 2010 NFL season.

But here we are eight weeks later, with the bitter rivals set to battle to get ahead in the race for the AFC West crown. Although this game will not necessarily determine the leader of the West, the winner will benefit greatly. If Kansas City can sneak into Oakland and get a win, they will hold a 2.5 game lead in the division and mark themselves as the clear favorites for the remainder of the season. However, if Oakland can win its third straight game, a feat they have not accomplished in eight years, they will put themselves only half a game behind the Chiefs and in excellent position to push for the division title that has also eluded them for eight long years.

Oakland started off the week as a 2.5 point favorite, and most of us believe this game will be that close. The Raiders have played phenomenal the past two weeks, out-gaining opponents in total yards 1,053 to 402, and winning both games by a combined 75 points. However, you have to believe the Chiefs will not give up these sort of numbers, especially with their seventh-ranked run defense.

If the Raiders want to win, they need to come out and execute like they have the past two weeks. Here are the 10 keys for the Raiders to rise back to the top of the AFC West.

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