Oakland Raiders vs. Kansas City Chiefs 2016: Prediction, Betting Odds For Week 14 Thursday Night Football

Every team has four games remaining in the 2016 NFL season, but the upcoming “Thursday Night Football” contest will likely determine the winner of the AFC West. The Kansas City Chiefs host the Oakland Raiders with first place in the division on the line.

Oakland has a one-game lead over Kansas City, but the Chiefs are a perfect 3-0 against divisional opponents. The Raiders' only loss within the AFC West came at the hands of the Chiefs in Week 6, and another head-to-head win for Kansas City would give them sole possession of first place.

The Raiders and Chiefs are not only the best teams in the AFC West, but they are making the case to be known as the best teams in the conference. Oakland is tied with the New England Patriots for the best record in the AFC, and Kansas City might be the biggest threat to New England’s Super Bowl chances. The Patriots remain the favorites in the conference to reach Super Bowl LI.

With both teams coming off big wins Sunday, the Chiefs are three-point home favorites at Las Vegas and online sportsbooks, via OddsShark. Oakland defeated the Buffalo Bills by two touchdowns, and Kansas City got a road victory against the NFC South-leading Atlanta Falcons.

The betting line indicates that the two rivals are even on a neutral field, but the Chiefs might have a slight advantage. Oakland has the AFC’s No. 1 ranked offense, and it’s had its way with virtually every opponent. Kansas City, however, was able to contain Derek Carr and Co. on the road, and they’ve got a chance to do the same at Arrowhead Stadium.

Aside from Kansas City’s visit, the Raiders are averaging 33 points per game at the Oakland Coliseum, with Carr throwing nine touchdown passes and just two interceptions. That, however, did not stop the Chiefs from holding Oakland to 10 points on Oct. 16 as Carr was held to just 225 passing yards, one score and a pick. On Thursday, the Chiefs look to have a repeat performance in Kansas City, where opposing offenses haven’t had much of any success.

The Chiefs have gone 4-1 at home, holding opposing teams to 16.8 points per contest. Kansas City allowed a season-high 27 points to the San Diego Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium in the season opener, but the Chiefs got the win in overtime. The over/under for Thursday's game is 47.

Doing so in different ways, the Chiefs have managed to defeat all the top offenses on their schedule. Holding Oakland’s No.3 scoring offense to 10 points, Kansas City gave up 21 points in a win over the New Orleans Saints, holding the NFL’s second-highest scoring offense to eight points fewer than its season average. Three months after the Chiefs defeated the Chargers’ No. 4 scoring offense in a high-scoring affair, Kansas City did the same in Atlanta, upsetting the top-scoring team in all of football.

Even when Kansas City stumbles against high-powered offenses, the team usually comes up with key plays to steal the victory. Against San Diego, Kansas City didn’t allow the Chargers to score in the second half. The Falcons scored 28 points against the Chiefs, but an interception returned for a score by Eric Berry on an Atlanta two-point conversation attempt was the difference in the game.

Alex Smith has been known as a game manager for most of his career, but the quarterback should be able to have some success against Oakland. Only the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers have given up more yards than the Raiders, and the prospect of a returning Jeremy Maclin will only help a Chiefs team that’s totaled 59 points in two consecutive wins.

Prediction: Kansas City over Oakland, 27-21