The Oakland Raiders have gone a calendar year without a victory.
Now they get to, uh, showcase their act in prime time — against one of the NFL’s hottest teams.
Oakland (0-10), the only winless team in the league, hosts Kansas City (7-3) on Thursday night. The Chiefs, who dropped their first two games, pulled into a tie with Denver atop the AFC West last Sunday with an impressive victory over Seattle.
Of course, facing the worst team in the league can present problems. Chiefs coach Andy Reid never sensed any complacency from his players, in great part because of the long rivalry between these franchises — a rivalry that at times has been downright nasty.
“There’s just something about the history of it,” said Reid, who is in just his second season experiencing Chiefs-Raiders. “I know the guys feel that. You can’t help but feel it when you’re out there. It’s a wild place to play and they remind you that’s it’s a rivalry every snap.”
The short week sometimes is an advantage for the underdog. The desperate Raiders will take any little edge they can find.
“Just losing games is what weighs on us,” safety Charles Woodson said. “We’re not worried about we’re 0-and-whatever. We’re just tired of losing games. We have to find a way to win.”
Kansas City (No. 4 in AP Pro32) is a seven-point favorite at Oakland (No. 32, AP Pro32). The Chiefs’ defense will stymie rookie quarterback Derek Carr from the outset.
CHIEFS, 20-6

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (7-3) AT OAKLAND RAIDERS (0-10)

Tonight, 7:25 p.m., NFL Network

O.Co. Coliseum, Oakland, Calif.

• OPENING LINE — Chiefs by 6
• RECORD VS. SPREAD — Kansas City 9-1, Oakland 5-5
• SERIES RECORD — Chiefs lead 57-51-2
• LAST MEETING — Chiefs beat Raiders 56-31, Dec. 15, 2013
• LAST WEEK — Chiefs beat Seahawks 24-20; Raiders lost 13-6 to Chargers
• AP PRO32 RANKING — Chiefs No. 4, Raiders No. 32
• CHIEFS OFFENSE — OVERALL (23), RUSH (4), PASS (31).
• CHIEFS DEFENSE — OVERALL (8), RUSH (25), PASS (1).
• RAIDERS OFFENSE — OVERALL (32), RUSH (32), PASS (26).
• RAIDERS DEFENSE — OVERALL (18), RUSH (27), PASS (12).
• STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — Chiefs swept series last year, getting nine sacks in 24-7 home win and five TDs from RB Jamaal Charles in 56-31 win in Oakland. ... Alex Smith threw five TD passes that game that traveled a total of 13 yards in air. ... Smith’s 112 passer rating vs. Oakland in four career starts highest of any QB with at least 50 passes against Raiders. ... Kansas City won five straight overall. ... Smith no INTs in seven Kansas City wins; four in three losses. ... Chiefs have not allowed rushing TD all season. Only team since merger to do that through 11 games was San Francisco in 2011. ... Chiefs WR have no TD catches this season. ... Kansas City LB Justin Houston leads NFL with 12 sacks. ... Raiders lost 16 straight games since most recent win Nov. 17, 2013, in Houston. ... Oakland averaging 63 yards rushing per game, lowest in NFL since 1946. ... Raiders last in league with 22 plays of at least 20 yards. ... Oakland rookie LB Khalil Mack had first sack last week.

NFL PRO PICKS

No. 2 Arizona (plus 6 1-2) at No. 11 Seattle — Seahawks are desperate, but the spread over 9-1 Cardinals is too high. ... BEST BET: SEAHAWKS, 20-19
No. 28 New York Jets (plus 4 1-2) at No. 20 Buffalo — Jets off win and bye, Bills slumping and banged-up. Might play in chest-high snow. ... UPSET SPECIAL: JETS, 16-13
No. 6 Detroit (plus 7) at No. 1 New England — Lions have a good defense, Patriots look great in all areas. ... PATRIOTS, 27-13
No. 14 Baltimore (plus 3 1-2) at No. 21 New Orleans, Monday night — Once invincible at home, Saints have lost two straight in Big Easy. Still ... SAINTS, 24-23
No. 15 Miami (plus 7) at No. 5 Denver — Can’t imagine Broncos, even with all their injuries, losing yet another in November. ... BRONCOS, 28-17
No. 3 Green Bay (minus 9 1-2) at No. 24 Minnesota — Pro Picks wants to see if Packers can dominate in a road game. This week? ... PACKERS, 31-17
No. 19 St. Louis (plus 5) at No. 16 San Diego — Two teams impossible to figure out. Rams fear no one, making this close. ... CHARGERS, 21-20
No. 13 Cincinnati (plus 2) at No. 18 Houston — Two more teams impossible to figure out. Here’s WATT will happen ... TEXANS, 24-20
No. 7 Dallas (minus 3 1-2) at No. 26 New York Giants — Cowboys need a win to keep pace with Eagles in NFC East before they meet on Thanksgiving. ... COWBOYS, 31-23
No. 29 Tennessee (plus 11) at No. 8 Philadelphia — Eagles need a win to keep pace with Cowboys in NFC East before they meet on Thanksgiving. ... EAGLES, 27-19
No. 30 Washington (plus 8) at No. 10 San Francisco — 49ers aren’t very impressive, but remain a contender. Redskins are in a funk. ... 49ERS, 28-16
No. 17 Cleveland (plus 3) at No. 22 Atlanta — Falcons are tied for first place at 4-6. Browns are tied for last at 6-4. Go figure. ... BROWNS, 23-20
No. 31 Jacksonville (plus 14) at No. 9 Indianapolis — Even with their injuries, Colts outman struggling Jaguars. ... COLTS, 32-16
No. 27 Tampa Bay (plus 5 1-2) at No. 23 Chicago — Last and definitely least ... BEARS, 24-23

2014 RECORD: Against spread: This week (6-8); Season (77-77-4). Straight up: This week (10-4); Season (105-54-1)
Best Bet: 5-6 against spread, 6-5 straight up.
Upset special: 7-4 against spread, 5-6 straight up.