On Sunday, the Chiefs were outgained by the Raiders. Overall, Kansas City gained just 3.5 yards per play.
However, the Chiefs’ defense was outstanding, and it was the difference in a 24-7 win. The victory improved the Chiefs’ record to 6-0, which keeps them atop the AFC West.
The Chiefs’ pass rush was dominant. Kansas City sacked Oakland quarterback Terrelle Pryor 10 times, with seven coming after halftime. Outside linebacker Tamba Hali had 3.5 sacks, with inside linebacker Derrick Jackson recording two sacks.
After a solid start, Pryor struggled after halftime, throwing three interceptions. His sixth NFL regular-season start was a tough one on numerous levels.
The Week Seven bye comes at a good time for Oakland (2-4), which is dealing with numerous offensive line injuries. This was simply a very tough matchup for the Raiders, and perhaps they can move forward with some lessons learned as they prepare for the post-bye portion of their schedule.
The Chiefs have to get better, too. In victory, quarterback Alex Smith completed just 14-of-31 passes for 128 yards. However, running back Jamaal Charles had a productive day, racking up a combined 128 yards and two touchdowns on 27 touches.
Those touchdowns were all the Chiefs ultimately needed on Sunday. Their defense was that good.