Here are the top takeaways and highest-graded players from the Chiefs' 34-20 over the Raiders:
Kansas City Chiefs
– Solid, risk-averse game by Alex Smith (+0.5), who had trouble moving the ball for much of the game, but took advantage of short fields late in the contest, leading fourth-quarter touchdown drives of 2 and 13 yards to lead Kansas City to its sixth straight win. As usual, Smith rarely ventured downfield, going just two-for-four on passes targeted more than 10 yards from the line of scrimmage. He fared well under pressure, completing 80 percent of his passes with a 12.2 YPA on 10 dropbacks, but also maintained his high sack rate, allowing Oakland to bring him down four times; for the season, Smith has taken a sack on 21.9 percent of pressures, the third-highest rate in the NFL.
– CB Marcus Peters (-0.6) had an active game in coverage, with a team-high 14 targets. He yielded nine catches for 92 yards on those plays, and was out of position on at least two more plays, saved either by a drop (3Q 9:12) or off-target pass. Positively, Peters continued to display an ability to get his hands on the ball, notching his 14th pass defense (2Q 1:43) and fifth interception of the season, both position-high marks. But two penalties ensured his streak of negative overall grades continued.
-The Chiefs have limited DE Mike DeVito to an early-down and short yardage run defender, but he’s graded well in that role (+11.0 run defense, ninth among 3-4 DEs), and against the Raiders compiled a +1.3 grade in 24 snaps. Both of his tackles counted as a defensive stop—on the second of those at 0:06 of the third quarter, DeVito stood up RT Austin Howard (+0.4) at the point of attack, and took down Latavius Murray for a one yard gain. He also finished with two pressures, though one of them was nullified by a penalty, and the other came after his defender was picked, leaving DeVito unblocked on a stunt.
Top Performers:
C Zach Fulton (+2.3)
RG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (+1.5)
DE Mike DeVito (+1.3)
LB Derrick Johnson (+1.3)
LB Tamba Hali (+1.1)
Oakland Raiders
– Khalil Mack once again had an outstanding day, this week doing his work against tackles Jah Reid (-4.5) and Eric Fisher (-2.3). He finished with two defensive stops to go with five combined pressures in 25 pass rushes, including an impressive sack at 11:52 of the second quarter.
– DT Dan Williams (+4.3) is another player on the Raiders defense enjoying a strong season, with a run defense grade that ranks eighth among all interior defenders—and he’s played the fewest snaps of any player in the top eight). He compiled three stops on Sunday with solid work against LG Donald Stephenson at the point of attack. And as a rusher, he helped collapse the pocket at 7:48 of the first quarter to help Mario Edwards (+0.6) get a sack, while later in the game Williams got in on sack himself, cleaning up after Mack’s initial pressure.
– Rough day at the office for Derek Carr (-1.4) with three fourth-quarter interceptions, two of which that were either tipped or resulted from a hit during his throwing motion (4Q, 12:16). Facing pressure on 36.5 percent of his dropbacks, Carr moved the ball well for much of the game, but had a number of misfires while his receivers dropped four passes. He had particular trouble connecting with Michael Crabtree, with 12 targets resulting in just five catches for 45 yards, though that wasn’t a problem at 0:19 of the second quarter when Carr hit Crabtree for a 25-yard touchdown on probably his best throw of the game.
Top Performers:
LB Khalil Mack (+6.0)
DT Dan Williams (+4.3)
LT Donald Penn (+3.2)
S Charles Woodson (+2.7)
LG Gabe Jackson (+2.2)
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