QB Smith is chief reason Kansas City to be feared

ALAMEDA, Calif. — The numbers don’t lie.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith is successful almost every time he plays the Raiders.

Smith has a 9-1 career record against the Raiders. He has thrown for 2,113 yards and 19 touchdowns, with only four interceptions. It all adds up to a 105.9 quarterback rating.

His 19 touchdowns are a personal high against any team.

Smith, though, sees his success against the Raiders as a coincidence.

“A lot of these last ones have been really, really close,” Smith said. “These are big games in the division.

“You know there’s going to be four quarters. You know they’re going to come down to the end. You just try to go out there every single play and execute. They’re all hard-fought and have been close.”

Smith has played big in recent years. Since his last loss to the Raiders in 2014, Smith has put together a fivegame winning streak against them.

The Raiders face the Chiefs for the first time this season on Thursday night. Despite personnel changes, the Raiders will not be facing the Alex Smith of years past.

In six games this season, Smith has thrown 12 touchdowns and no interceptions. He leads the NFL in passer rating and is an early candidate for league Most Valuable Player.

Defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. is tasked with slowing Smith.

“Well, he’s good,” Norton Jr. said Tuesday. “He’s very talented, mobile, smart. He’s a really good talent and has good players around him.”

Contact reporter Chris Booker at cbooker@reviewjournal.com. Follow @Bookerc94 on Twitter.