It's Chiefs week. Or if you're in KC, it's Raiders week. Anyone who's been part of the rivalry for a time knows the importance of it. And that it's no small thing. The Chiefs have dominated the matchup for more than a decade, but that doesn't make it any more heated.
This week both of the teams' head coaches were asked about the significance of the matchup and the responses from each were wildly different.
First was Chiefs head coach Andy Reid earlier this week, showing he gets it.
"Yeah, I think it'll be a great atmosphere for a football game. I think they (Raiders) have done a nice job of improving their football team. This is what it's all about, and I think it'll be great for the fans. It's a heck of a rivalry over the years, and the better
the two teams are, the better the rivalry. So, this is what it's all about."
Reid has been the head coach of the Chiefs for 14 years. He's seen the Raiders come up and be a formidable opponent a few times and his Chiefs have their struggles as well. But through it all, there's always the element of 'anything can happen.'
On the other end is new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak who is in his very first Chiefs week. And he is either honestly not getting it or attempting to severely downplay it.
"We're just worried about playing this game and playing our best game," said Kubiak. "I think when you treat them all the same, then your approach shouldn't change. So, every game in the NFL is a dogfight. Every game is a Super Bowl. It's 17 weeks in a row."
That's a nice sentiment. And probably, generally, a good approach. But if your point is to give maximum effort for the next game (whatever game that might be), it probably couldn't hurt to lean into the rivalry aspect of it all. I mean it's not like next week the players would all be like 'Well, this one isn't a heated rivalry, so what will motivate us now??'
I also get the idea of saying one thing to the players and another thing to the media. If that's what's happening here. But, come on, live a little, Klint. It's Chiefs week. Andy gets it. Maybe at some point you will too.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Raiders, Chiefs head coaches have very different approaches to rivalry game
