Raiders' Jones ready for Mahomes: 'You stop the magician, then the act is over'

Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jack Jones believes he knows exactly what his team has to do to stop the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday.

Jones said Thursday that his focus is not on Kansas City's skill-position players. Instead, he thinks all the Raiders have to do is slow down the reigning NFL MVP.

"We're not worried about them," Jones said when asked about the Chiefs' receivers, according to team reporter Levi Edwards. "It's Patrick Mahomes we gotta stop, the magician. You stop the magician, then the act is over."

Easier said than done.

Mahomes is 10-1 in his career against the Raiders, having tossed 29 touchdowns against three interceptions in those meetings. The two-time MVP passed for 298 yards and two scores to help Kansas City take down Las Vegas 31-17 last month. The Raiders haven't beaten the Chiefs since October 2020.

Jones joined Las Vegas on Nov. 14 after being waived by the New England Patriots. The 26-year-old has amassed 15 tackles, two pass breakups, and a pick-6 in four games with the Raiders.

Las Vegas interim head coach Antonio Pierce is also aware of Kansas City's trick plays ahead of Week 16.

"We saw the 'Ring around the Rosie' last year. That's cool," Pierce recently said about the Chiefs' viral red-zone play versus the Raiders in 2022, according to ESPN's Paul Gutierrez. "The best way to stop a trick play is to what? Hit 'em in the mouth."

The 6-8 Raiders are coming off a 63-21 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. Meanwhile, the 9-5 Chiefs - who beat the Patriots last week - will clinch the AFC West title for the eighth straight year if they defeat Las Vegas.