Chiefs vs Raiders puts two unbeaten AFC West rivals against each other in Week 4, with Patrick Mahomes, Brock Bowers, Maxx Crosby and Kenneth Walker III among the key players to watch.
The Chiefs vs Raiders matchup arrives in Week 4 with something unusual at stake for one of the NFL’s oldest rivalries: both teams enter the game at 3-0.
Kansas City has opened the 2026 season with wins over Denver, Indianapolis and Miami, while Las Vegas has beaten Miami, the Los Angeles Chargers and New Orleans. Neither team has lost yet, making Sunday’s AFC West meeting an early test of which unbeaten team has the stronger foundation.
The matchup is also historically unusual. The Chiefs and Raiders have met several times when both were 2-0, but they had never faced each other in the regular season with both teams entering at 3-0 or better. That makes this Week 4 game more than an early divisional meeting — it is a rare opportunity for one team to take sole control of the AFC West race.
Most Successful NFL Teams of All Time: Packers Lead With 13 Titles
Chiefs vs Raiders: Why This Week 4 Matchup Matters
Kansas City has looked particularly strong on offense through three games. The Chiefs are averaging 416.3 yards per game, which ranks second in the NFL, while averaging 29.3 points per game. Their rushing attack has also become an important part of the offense, with Kenneth Walker III leading the NFL with 360 rushing yards entering Week 4.
The Raiders have taken a different route to their 3-0 record. Their offense is averaging 311.7 yards per game, but the defense has repeatedly created opportunities. Las Vegas leads the NFL with nine takeaways and owns a league-best +5 turnover differential through three games. The Raiders also have 10 sacks, giving them a significant advantage in the pass-rush department entering this matchup.
That creates a fascinating contrast. Kansas City has been more productive overall with the ball, while Las Vegas has been particularly effective at generating pressure and forcing mistakes.
Kansas City Chiefs Team Form
The Chiefs are 3-0 after defeating the Broncos 31-10, the Colts 33-30 in overtime and the Dolphins 24-10.
The results have been supported by a balanced offensive attack. Kansas City has produced 1,249 total net yards through three games and owns a +415-yard differential over its opponents. According to the Raiders’ official preview, that is the second-highest total-net-yards differential through three games in Chiefs history, behind the +464 mark from 1962.
Patrick Mahomes has thrown for 812 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions while completing 68.4% of his passes. The bigger development, however, has been the impact of Kenneth Walker III on the ground. His 360 rushing yards lead the league, and his running has helped Kansas City build one of the NFL’s most effective play-action attacks.
Kansas City’s defense has also been solid. The Chiefs are allowing 278.0 yards per game and 16.7 points per game, with both figures ranking among the league’s better marks entering Week 4.
Las Vegas Raiders Team Form
Las Vegas has been equally impressive in terms of results.
The Raiders opened with a 27-13 victory over Miami, followed that with a 26-14 win against the Chargers and then rallied past New Orleans 35-27 in Week 3. The victory over the Saints was particularly revealing because Las Vegas overcame a double-digit deficit by forcing four turnovers in the fourth quarter.
Kirk Cousins has thrown for 661 yards and nine touchdowns through three games, completing 67.4% of his passes. He has produced three touchdown passes in each game, while his 107.2 passer rating ranks among the league’s strongest marks entering Week 4.
The return of Brock Bowers adds another major dimension. After missing the first two games with a knee injury, Bowers returned against New Orleans and immediately made an impact, catching 10 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets. His presence also allowed Las Vegas to use two-tight-end formations on 52% of its offensive plays in Week 3.
Key Matchup No. 1: Patrick Mahomes vs Maxx Crosby
This is the matchup that could have the biggest influence on the game.
Mahomes is coming off a strong opening three weeks, but Las Vegas has one of the league’s most dangerous pass rushes. The Raiders have recorded 10 sacks and produced a 36.3% pressure rate, the second-highest rate in the NFL entering Week 4.
Maxx Crosby has been central to that success, recording 17 pressures through three games. Malcolm Koonce and Kwity Paye have also contributed significant pressure, meaning Kansas City cannot simply focus all of its protection attention on Crosby.
The Chiefs’ answer is likely to involve their running game. If Walker can force Las Vegas to respect the run, Kansas City can use play-action to slow down the pass rush and give Mahomes more favorable opportunities.
Key Matchup No. 2: Brock Bowers vs the Chiefs Defense
Bowers presents a completely different challenge.
His 10-catch, 116-yard performance in Week 3 showed how quickly he can become the center of the Raiders’ passing attack. Kansas City’s defense will have to account for him while also dealing with the Raiders’ ability to use multiple tight ends.
The Chiefs enter the game with the league’s sixth-ranked pass defense at 178.3 yards allowed per game. If Kansas City can limit Bowers without consistently bringing extra defenders, it could force Cousins to look elsewhere under pressure.
Key Matchup No. 3: Kenneth Walker III vs the Raiders Front
Walker has been one of the biggest reasons for Kansas City’s fast start.
He enters Week 4 with 360 rushing yards and 41 forced missed tackles. Those 41 broken tackles are the most through three games in the Next Gen Stats era, according to the Chiefs’ official preview.
That puts pressure on a Raiders defense that has built its identity around creating negative plays and turnovers. If Walker consistently gains positive yardage, Kansas City can keep the Raiders’ pass rush from dictating the game.
If Las Vegas stops the run early, however, the matchup could shift toward Crosby and the Raiders’ pressure packages.
Key Matchup No. 4: Turnovers
Few statistics explain the Raiders’ 3-0 start better than turnovers.
Las Vegas has nine takeaways and a +5 turnover differential, both league-best figures entering Week 4. Kansas City is also protecting the football well, with a +3 turnover differential.
That makes possession particularly important.
The Raiders have already shown they can turn defensive takeaways into points. Against New Orleans, four fourth-quarter takeaways helped transform the game and secure a 35-27 comeback victory. Kansas City cannot afford to give Las Vegas short fields, particularly in a road divisional game.
Injury Updates
The final injury information gives both teams one confirmed offensive-line absence.
Kansas City will be without offensive tackle Josh Simmons, who is ruled out with a back injury. Safety Chamarri Conner, who missed the first three games with a knee issue, is expected to make his season debut.
For Las Vegas, starting right guard Jackson Powers-Johnson is ruled out with a groin injury. The Raiders’ final report also listed quarterback Aidan O’Connell as dealing with a personal matter rather than an injury.
Brock Bowers is available after returning from his knee injury in Week 3, while Ashton Jeanty was listed with an ankle issue during the week but participated fully in Wednesday’s practice.
The status of the offensive lines could matter considerably. Kansas City is trying to protect Mahomes against an aggressive Raiders front, while Las Vegas must keep its protection stable against a Chiefs defense that has allowed just 16.7 points per game.
Chiefs vs Raiders Prediction
This is one of the toughest Week 4 games to predict because the records are identical and both teams have legitimate strengths.
The Raiders have home-field advantage, an opportunistic defense and a pass rush capable of disrupting even the best quarterbacks. Their 3-0 record is not simply the product of close victories; they have repeatedly created turnovers and found ways to win in different game situations.
Still, Kansas City has the more productive offense entering the game. The Chiefs rank second in total offense at 416.3 yards per game and fifth in rushing offense at 153.3 yards per game. Their defense also ranks fourth in total defense and sixth against the pass.
The deciding factor could be Kansas City’s offensive balance.
If Walker establishes the run, the Chiefs can use play-action to reduce the impact of the Raiders’ pass rush. That would give Mahomes more time and make it harder for Las Vegas to manufacture the type of defensive chaos that has fueled its undefeated start.
Prediction: Kansas City Chiefs 27, Las Vegas Raiders 24
The Raiders have enough defensive strength to make this a close game, particularly at Allegiant Stadium. But Kansas City’s combination of Mahomes, Walker’s rushing production and a top-four defense gives the Chiefs a narrow edge.
Expect a competitive AFC West game in which turnovers and third-down efficiency could determine the final result.
Chiefs vs Raiders Game Details
Game: Kansas City Chiefs vs Las Vegas Raiders
Week: Week 4, 2026 NFL season
Date: Sunday, October 4, 2026
Kickoff: 4:25 p.m. ET / 3:25 p.m. CT / 1:25 p.m. PT
India time: 1:55 a.m. IST on Monday, October 5
Venue: Allegiant Stadium, Paradise, Nevada
TV: CBS
Streaming: Paramount+ and NFL+
Play-by-play: Jim Nantz
Analyst: J.J. Watt
Final Outlook
The Chiefs vs Raiders rivalry has produced plenty of important AFC West games, but this Week 4 meeting has a particularly unusual setup. Both teams are 3-0, and neither has previously faced the other in the regular season while both were undefeated at 3-0 or better.
Kansas City enters with the league’s more productive offense and a stronger overall statistical profile. Las Vegas counters with home-field advantage, an aggressive pass rush, Brock Bowers’ return and the NFL’s best turnover differential.
The winner will leave Week 4 at 4-0 and with an early advantage in the AFC West. For two teams that have already made strong starts, this is an opportunity to show whether those unbeaten records can translate into sustained contention.
🔹 🔹 Follow us on Facebook 🔹 🔹
One Comment