By Joe Hawkes-Beamon

photo credit: SB Nation of Charcandrick West running back KC Chiefs

OAKLAND — After starting the season 1-5 and looking like a mess, the Kansas City Chiefs are one of the hottest teams in the NFL, having won five in a row giving the Chiefs the first AFC wild-card spot at 6-5.

But the Oakland Raiders (5-6) are also playoff contenders, making Sunday’s match up at O.co Coliseum at 1:05 p.m. PDT in Week 13 that much spicier between these two AFC West rivals separated by just one game.

This is the first meeting between Oakland and Kansas City this season. Both teams see each other again in Week 17.

Kansas City defeated the Buffalo Bills 30-22 last Sunday at rainy Arrowhead Stadium thanks in large part to quarterback Alex Smith.

Smith completed 19-of-30 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns. For the season, Kansas City’s signal caller has tossed 12 touchdowns and three interceptions, but hasn’t thrown an interception in 283 attempts (last interception came in Week 3).

The Chiefs have not turned the ball over during their five-game winning streak, and can become the first team since the 2010 New England Patriots to have no turnovers in six consecutive games.

That Patriots team also won every game during their streak.

Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin caught nine balls for 160 yards, including a 41-yard touchdown catch from Smith in the second quarter.

With running back Charcandrick West (who took over the starting role after Jamaal Charles was lost on Oct. 11 with torn ACL) out with a hamstring injury, backup Spencer Ware shouldered the running load for the Chiefs.

In his first career start, Ware rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.

The Chiefs are dealing with a few injuries outside of the aforementioned West,  with offensive tackle Eric Fisher (neck) and center Mitch Morse (concussion), but the biggest injury could be on their defense.

Linebacker Justin Houston hyper-extended his knee last week and left the game. Houston is Kansas City’s top pass rusher and sets the tone for the defense, given his team-leading 7.5 sacks this season.

If Houston isn’t able to go Sunday, look for the Chiefs to utilize linebacker Dee Ford in Houston’s place.

Oakland went to soggy Nashville and came out with a 24-21 victory over the Titans to snap a three-game losing streak.

Derek Carr continues to establish himself as a premier NFL quarterback with each week in only his second year, completing 24-of-37 passes for 330 yards and three touchdowns. Carr found wide receiver Seth Roberts for the go-ahead 12-yard touchdown with 1:21 left in the fourth quarter.

Roberts finished a career-day with six catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns. Rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper added seven catches for 115 yards.

Carr’s 24 touchdowns has him on pace to pass to challenge Daryle Lamonica’s franchise record of 34 set in 1969, the Raiders’ final season in the AFL. Jeff George’s 29 touchdowns in 1997 is the most by a Raider since the team joined the NFL.

Safe to say that Carr has a strong chance at passing George this season.

Kansas City has won six of the previous seven meetings between the two teams.

Oakland defeated Kansas City 24-20 at O.co Coliseum last season, snapping a 16-game losing streak after opening the season at 0-10.