The Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers taking care of business to start the NFL season with 3-0 records surprises no one.
But few predicted the Las Vegas Raiders and Minnesota Vikings would join them in the early undefeated club entering Week 4.
The Raiders’ defense leads the league with nine takeaways and has allowed no points in the fourth quarter through three games, while star tight end Brock Bowers has returned from a knee injury that sidelined him the first two weeks.
The Vikings’ success has stemmed from big plays on defense and special teams and winning “ugly.” Carson Wentz quarterbacked Minnesota to victories in its first two games after Kyler Murray suffered a concussion on the first series of the season.
Murray
started last week against the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and was rusty in his return, but he did enough to keep the Vikings undefeated.
Battle of unbeatens: Chiefs vs. Raiders
The classic AFC West rivalry has real stakes this week as both teams collide at Allegiant Stadium with 3-0 records. A rejuvenated, 31-year-old Patrick Mahomes has returned to form for Kansas City, and running back Kenneth Walker III leads the NFL in rushing yards through three weeks. But the Chiefs will have to contend with a surging Raiders defense that has carried Las Vegas to its best start in years.
Baker Mayfield’s injury shakes up winless Bucs
The Buccaneers are off to a brutal 0-3 start, and their uphill climb just got much steeper. Starting quarterback Baker Mayfield is expected to miss at least three weeks after dislocating his right thumb. Head coach Todd Bowles confirmed that undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels will get the start this Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.
Slow start for the Super Bowl favorite Rams
The Los Angeles Rams look vulnerable after squandering a 16-point halftime lead to the Denver Broncos. Sitting at 1-2, the Rams are struggling without edge rusher Myles Garrett, who is on short-term injured reserve with a knee injury, and star wide receiver Puka Nacua, who has missed the past two games with a lingering hip and groin injury. Nacua is expected to return in time for a tough road matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Bears looming quarterback question
After third-string quarterback Case Keenum stepped in and delivered a stellar performance to beat the Eagles on Monday Night Football, the Bears’ coaching staff faces a choice between continuing with the hot-hand veteran or returning to the designated backup, Tyson Bagent, in Week 4 against the New York Jets at Soldier Field. Bagent missed the last game with a concussion. Starting quarterback Caleb Williams is expected to miss at least another week or two with a hamstring injury.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Undefeated Raiders, Vikings among top storylines entering NFL Week 4
