Raider Defender Fuels Rivalry With Mahomes Jab
Giving a three-time Super Bowl champion extra motivation doesn’t seem like a bright idea. Apparently, Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jack Jones didn’t receive the memo.
On Sunday, Vegas (2-5) hosts the Kansas City Chiefs (6-0). Before its divisional matchup, Jones claimed Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes doesn’t “intimidate” him.
Throughout the offseason, the Raiders seemed like they were trying to get in Mahomes’ head.
During a February episode of Vegas edge-rusher Maxx Crosby’s podcast, “The Rush,” head coach Antonio Pierce said he would institute “the Mahomes rules,” similar to the ones the “Bad Boy” Detroit Pistons used to stop former Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan in the late 1980s.
At the beginning of training camp in July, The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov shared a video of Raiders rookie safety Trey Taylor playing with a Kermit the Frog doll dressed in a Chiefs jersey. They were making fun of how some think Mahomes’ voice sounds similar to the famous “Muppet.”
Don’t be surprised if the Raiders’ mind games fail.
Mahomes has more interceptions (eight) than touchdown passes (six) through his first six starts. However, the Chiefs acquired wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins in a trade with the Tennessee Titans Wednesday, and he should help the QB produce better numbers.
In 12 seasons with the Texans, Cardinals and Titans, Hopkins has made five Pro Bowls and earned three first-team All-Pro nods. During his Thursday news conference, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said he may play Sunday.
Plus, Mahomes has dominated the Raiders throughout his eight-year career. According to Stathead, in 12 regular-season starts against Vegas, he has a 10-2 record and has completed 66.2 percent of his passes for 30 TDs and four picks.
Vegas’ defense has underperformed thus far, allowing the league’s fourth-most points (26.1). Perhaps Mahomes will make Jones and the Raiders eat crow.
