The Kansas City Chiefs meet up with the Raiders at Oakland this Sunday.  The Raiders have a 4-2 record so far this year and have scored 160 points (26.6 per game) and allowed 150 (25 per game)

In this weekly article, Pro Football Spotlight will bring you the upcoming opponent’s rushing and passing tendencies, as well as some additional data and observations. For example: Did you know that the Oakland Raiders are ranked 1st in the NFL in yards, per attempt, when throwing to the short left side of the field?

Every team in the NFL has strengths and weaknesses, tendencies, and go-to guys. They have plays they like to call during tight situations or directions they like to run when in the middle of the football field.

Let’s take a look at the rest of those tendencies…

Rushing Offense

Rushing Notes:

• If you have watched any Raiders games at all, then you know that Oakland loves to run the football…and they are pretty good at it.  The key contributor to the running game is Darren McFadden.  He has excellent speed to get to the edge of the formation.  But what he really likes to do is cut back…especially when running to the right.
• If you look in the chart above, you will see that the Raiders number of attempts toward the middle of the formation and then left…are in the top 10 in each area.  The Raiders have run the ball 68 times toward the center position…and a lot of those runs are cut backs.
• The most production the Raiders are getting from any area is around the left end.  When running toward that area, Oakland is averaging 8.6 yards, per attempt (4th in the NFL).
• The Chiefs have been attacked 26 times by teams attempting to run the ball toward their left end (right side of defense), which is 4th in the NFL in number of times a team has been attacked in that area.
• The Chiefs, Kelly Gregg, likes to give a little ground and then slide down the line of scrimmage when plays are going wide.  Look for the Raiders to hurt the Chiefs on cutbacks, if he continues this pattern against the Oakland offense.

Passing Offense

Passing Notes:

• These trends could be out the window come Sunday, since Jason Campbell broke his collar bone and the Raiders are scrambling to find a replacement.  But the trends do indicate a general philosophy that the Raiders have, and their approach to attacking a defense, regardless of who the quarterback may be.
• The Raiders like to test the defenses they play by throwing the the ball to the deep sides of the field.  Oakland is ranked 5th in the NFL in the number of attempts toward the deep right side of the field and 9th in the NFL with 15 attempts to the deep left side of the field.
• The Chiefs have been attacked 19 times at the deep left zone (3rd most in the NFL).  Since other teams have found something to focus on…and the Raiders like to throw the ball deep…look for a few balls toward that zone.  Until Brandon Flowers and the Chief’s safeties can show that it is not worth throwing in that location…teams will continue to attack it.
• Look for the Raiders to try and run the ball as much as possible and reduce the number of mistakes their new quarterback might make.  But don’t think that Oakland will abandon the deep ball just because their starting quarterback is out.