With the Kansas City Chiefs set to face the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 8, many are focused on the NFL’s reigning dynasty. As the Chiefs prepare for their matchup against the Raiders, it’s a prime moment to make some bold predictions.
For Kansas City, this game is a chance to maintain their undefeated status. With Las Vegas struggling at 2-5, having lost three consecutive games and four of their last five, the Raiders look like they’re facing yet another rebuild after trading away star receiver Davante Adams. Though the Chiefs-Raiders rivalry is one of the most intense in the NFL, the Raiders may be running low on momentum. However, they’ll still be playing with pride, so it’s worth watching closely.
With that, let’s dive into our predictions for the Chiefs in Week 8.
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes will throw three touchdowns
This season, Patrick Mahomes has accumulated 1,389 passing yards with six touchdowns and eight interceptions, marking a statistically rough year for him. The three-time Super Bowl champion and two-time MVP is having an uncharacteristically poor season, with more interceptions than touchdowns so far in 2024 and a two-game touchdown drought.
“This is an unheard-of bad streak by Mahomes.”
“I just don’t think it’s normal for what you’ve seen from us because there’s not a lot of passing touchdowns,” Mahomes commented earlier this week, as per The Guardian. “There’s been a lot of turnovers, especially by me.”
Despite these struggles, great players rarely stay down for long. The Chiefs have continued to win even amid Mahomes’ setbacks, a testament to their depth and championship experience.
“I think it’s just showing the versatility of our team. It’s not just about me. It’s not just about the stats and the light show and stuff like that. It’s about playing team football,” Mahomes added.
With this rivalry matchup against the Raiders, Mahomes and the Chiefs are well-positioned for a “get right” game. Expect three touchdown passes from him.
New Chiefs WR DeAndre Hopkins will catch one of those touchdowns
Mahomes’ chances for a rebound game are bolstered by the addition of a new offensive weapon. The Chiefs recently traded a 2025 fifth-round pick to the Tennessee Titans for wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Though Hopkins may not be the superstar he once was, he still has plenty of ability.
So far this season, Hopkins has struggled with the Titans, catching only 15 passes for 173 yards and one touchdown, as he was trying to make plays with Will Levis under center. However, last season, he recorded 75 catches for 1,057 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Chiefs are banking on Hopkins returning to his 2023 form, with the belief that his early struggles this season were an outlier. Now, he has the benefit of playing alongside Mahomes, who is arguably the best quarterback he’s ever had.
When asked about Hopkins’ availability against the Raiders, head coach Andy Reid didn’t seem to think there was a need for a slow start.
“Why wait?” Reid replied, according to ESPN. “He’s a good, veteran player and has seen just about everything over 12 years, and he’s a good space player so he has a very good understanding of how to work in space at the same time. He’s a tough matchup because of his size, arm length, big body that knows how to play that in low post area very well.”
Look for Reid to set up a touchdown opportunity for Hopkins, and for Hopkins to capitalize.
Travis Kelce will catch his first touchdown of the season
Despite hauling in 28 catches this season for 245 yards, Travis Kelce has yet to reach the end zone, a surprising drought given his 12 touchdowns in 2022. Though he remains a critical player for the Chiefs, some of his focus may be elsewhere this year, both due to age and possibly personal distractions (but let’s not delve into that here).
Yet, Kelce’s talent is undeniable, and he’s unlikely to go another game without scoring. In this divisional matchup, with Hopkins drawing some attention, expect Kelce to slip into the end zone for his first touchdown of the season.
