Raiders Must Limit Yards After Catch Against Chiefs

The Las Vegas Raiders' inability to limit Kansas City's yards after the catch played a significant role in the Silver and Black's loss to the Chiefs a few weeks ago.

In order for the Las Vegas Raiders to slow down the Kansas City Chiefs offense on Monday, they will have to do a much better job limiting yards after the catch than they did in their first game against the Chiefs this season. 

It's a task few teams have been successful with, as the Chiefs lead the National Football League in yards after catch. 

Many of the Chiefs' passes are short, quick passes that depend on their receivers making plays after the catch. A large portion of their offense is predicated on yards after the catch.

Raiders Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham plans on emphasizing tackling even more this week than in other weeks. 

“Absolutely, you've got to talk about their strengths," Graham said. "So, as we get the stats or the analytics, whatever you want to call it, and you're looking at yards after catch: ‘OK. Whoa, they're good at this. Tackling is important this week.’

"I mean, it's always important, but I think when their strength jumps out to you, you've got to point that out to the players. Because we go into the game, yes, we're trying to minimize the points, we're trying to win situational football, but we're trying to minimize their strengths."

Limiting an opponent's yards after catch is critical every week. It is even more critical against the team that leads the NFL in yards after catch by more than 200 yards.

"So, if that's a strength, you've got to point it out, and then, more importantly, for us as coaches, we've got to tell them how we're going to do that," Graham said. 

"We need to make sure the pursuit is good, and we're running to the ball, and we're gang tackling, and we're limiting the explosives after they catch the ball. So, you've got to always point out their strengths, I think.” 

Graham's defense has continued to elevate its play over the last few weeks. The Raiders will have to limit quarterback Patrick Mahomes and company the best they can in order for Las Vegas to have a chance to pull off an upset on the road. 

The Silver and Black will return to action versus their AFC West rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs, on Christmas Day at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Don't miss it on Monday, December 25, at 1 p.m. EST/10 a.m. PST.

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