The Las Vegas Raiders head into a Week 4 showdown at home against the Kansas City Chiefs with unbeaten records and the top spot in the division on the line. In an unheralded primetime matchup in the NFL’s late window, many fans will be upset because this game won’t be nationally televised. Despite the Raiders surprising hot start and quest to go from worst to first in 2026.
The Chiefs open as -4.5 favorites but even they realize they are in for a dogfight against the Raiders. This matchup has actually
been far more exciting in recent years than it has been. With the Chiefs finishing the 2025 season with a loss to the then-league-worst Raiders. However, this group isn’t those Raiders. As challenges and measuring-stick games go, this week is gargantuan. Calling it huge doesn’t do it justice.
Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak may not be into accepting anyone’s flowers but everything is different about the 2026 Raiders. Even though the majority of the roster remains the same. These guys are tough and have answered every challenge to this point. Displaying signs of growth that indicate they aren’t anywhere near the ceiling of their own potential.
On paper, these teams are evenly matched. One might even surmise the Raiders are the better team. The Chiefs have the bigger star power at certain positions, but the Raiders have taken them to the woodshed and put belts to ass before. It’s got all the makings of a barn-burning, slobber-knocking heavyweight fight. At the end of it we will have an even better idea of just how for real the Raiders really are.
