Antonio Pierce Calls Raiders vs. Chiefs Matchup NFL's 'Best Team' vs. 'Worst Team'

The Las Vegas Raiders are tied for the worst record in football at 2-9. The Kansas City Chiefs are tied for the best record in football at 10-1.

Raiders' head coach Antonio Pierce didn't shy away from that brutal truth ahead of Friday's contest.

"[This is] the best team in football against the worst team in football," he told reporters. "Let's change the narrative. Let's make it a dogfight... Let's create a little chaos and have some fun."

It was certainly a more humble message than the team offered the last time they faced the Chiefs in October, when cornerback Jack Jones told reporters that nobody on the Raiders was intimidated by three-time champion and two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes.

Several Raiders also mocked Mahomes back in July:

The Raiders probably shouldn't poke this particular bear. Mahomes is 11-2 in his career against them, including October's 27-20 win. The Raiders did upset the Chiefs last season, though that only ended a six-game losing streak against their divisional rival.

It's hard to imagine the Raiders entering this meeting with too much hubris. The team has lost seven straight games after a 2-2 start and is now without starting quarterback Gardner Minshew, out for the season after breaking his collarbone in Sunday's 29-19 loss to the Denver Broncos.

Aidan O'Connell—who is 5-7 in his career as a starting quarterback, with 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions—will start in his place. He had been slated to start for the remainder of the season after Minshew was benched in Week 6, but broke his thumb and had to go on injured reserve.

"We feel good about Aidan. He's been dialed in," Pierce told reporters. "Obviously throughout this time he's been on IR, he's been in all the meetings; he's been very encouraging on the sideline. He has that laser-eye focus right now. Great opportunity for him."

He'll be welcomed back to the fold by a Chiefs defense that is giving up just 300.8 yards per game (fourth in the NFL) and just 19.8 points per contest (ninth).