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Oakland Raiders: 5 Key matchups vs. Chiefs in Week 7

By Nick Sparrow

OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 15: Michael Crabtree #15 of the Oakland Raiders scores a touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers during their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 15, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 15: Michael Crabtree #15 of the Oakland Raiders scores a touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers during their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 15, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 08: Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs leaps over Andre Hal #29 of the Houston Texans as he runs with the ball after a catch in the first half at NRG Stadium on October 8, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 08: Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs leaps over Andre Hal #29 of the Houston Texans as he runs with the ball after a catch in the first half at NRG Stadium on October 8, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

1. Karl Joseph vs. Travis Kelce

This could be the most important matchup of the night. The Raiders have been notoriously bad defending the opposing tight end position for the last few years. They seemed to be slowly improving that hole this season, allowing just 229 yards and two touchdowns over the first five weeks of the season. However, in Week 6 the defense was exposed as they allowed over 100 yards to the tight end position for the first time this season. They will need to get back to what was working earlier in the season to stop Travis Kelce.

Kelce has been one of the best tight ends in the league for the past two seasons. Kelce enters Week 7 with 309 receiving yards and two touchdowns, averaging 65 yards per game with a 75% catch rate. Zach Ertz and Rob Grownkowski are the only tight ends in the league with more receiving yards than Kelce, who missed the majority of Kansas City’s Week 6 game with an injury. Pro Football Focus Edge ranks Kelce as the second best tight end in the league with 86.3 grade, which is considered high quality.

The good news for Raider fans is that their best defensive back will be tasked with covering Kelce. Karl Jospeh has proven to be an elite defender as he is almost halfway through Year 2 of his career. Pro Football Focus ranks Joseph as the eighth best safety in the league with an 86.7 grade. Joseph has proven to be Oakland’s most consistent player in the secondary, which is good news as Kelce is the Chiefs biggest receiving target. The Chiefs offense is built around a small group of explosive playmakers and if Joseph can take Kelce out of the equation it severely limits what Kansas City can do.

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