The Kansas City Chiefs hit the road for the second straight game and this time it’s a classic rivalry matchup between back-to-back Super Bowl champions.

Hosted this weekend are the Las Vegas Raiders, who have a 2-5 record through seven games. Antonio Pierce’s side are struggling to replicate last season’s great success and things are running as smoothly on the attacking side of the ball as on a potholed road. Andy Reid’s team, on the other hand, is the last remaining undefeated team in the NFL and is heavily favored for a win in Week 8. Will Kansas City get revenge for last year’s Christmas Day loss, or can Las Vegas pull off the upset? about their AFC West foes?

How will the game unfold? The Kansas City Chiefs on SI crew makes its predictions for week 8 of the 2024-2025 campaign.

Joshua Brisco: Thanks in large part to the Grinch-level event of the most recent Chiefs vs. Raiders matchup, there has been virtually no discussion about this being a “trap game” for the Chiefs. With last year’s Christmas shaming and the puppet-based tricks during training camp, this game has the feeling of rivalry again. Add to that the Chiefs debut of DeAndre Hopkins and KC’s attempt to rebuild the wide receiver room in the air – the Chiefs have no excuse to be unfocused in Week 8. Although this would be a great opportunity for Patrick Mahomes to to restore its ugly 2024 statistical line, the Chiefs defense is the unit that should dominate this game from start to finish.

Prediction: Chiefs 30, Raiders 10

Jordan Foote: While it’s true that the Chiefs sometimes avoid knocking out the teams they should, they are on the heels of back-to-back double-digit wins. Despite their laundry list of injuries, they are simply a much more talented and better-coached team than the Raiders heading into this battle. In my preview for this weekend’s match, I highlighted how bloodless the Las Vegas offense is, both in the air and on the ground. That’s a recipe for a masterclass from Steve Spagnuolo. Offensively, the addition of Hopkins should keep things afloat as Kansas City pulls off another convincing win and moves to 7-0 on the season.

Prediction: Chiefs 24, Raiders 13

Zack Eisen: The Chiefs return to the stadium where they captured their third Super Bowl in five years and cemented their dynastic rule over the NFL. This time they return with a new weapon named DeAndre Hopkins. After a midweek trade, it will be interesting to see how many snaps Hopkins plays and how involved he is in those snaps. It will also be nice to see him and Xavier Worthy work together as it will signal the Chiefs’ offensive vision moving forward. Patrick Mahomes returns to his gaudy set of ways today and Andy Reid earns his sixth win at Allegiant Stadium, tied for the highest ranking by all coaches.

Prediction: Chiefs 31, Raiders 10

Mark Van Sikkel: The Chiefs continue to win despite the injuries that continue to pile up in the first half of the season. JuJu Smith-Schuster and Jaylen Watson are the latest additions to that list, but the team is pressing on. The Raiders remain a garbage organization, and a fortuitous win in Kansas City on Christmas Day doesn’t change that. The Chiefs are winning big today as Mahomes spreads the ball around to all the pass catchers (including newly acquired wide receiver Deandre Hopkins), Kareem Hunt continues to hit the rock and the defense remains steady.

Prediction: Chiefs 27, Raiders 12

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