There’s reason to believe the Kansas City Chiefs’ toughest test of the season will be in Week 4. A road game against the 3-0 Las Vegas Raiders will decide the AFC West leader through the first four games of the season.
The Raiders have matched Kansas City’s hot start with first-year head coach Klint Kubiak leading a young team laced with the right veterans. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid praised Kubiak’s work during his press conference on Wednesday.
“He’s a good football coach, he’s got good assistant
coaches, guys that have been in the business for a while, and they’ve got good schemes,” Reid said. “The guys are executing it and executing it fast and accurate.”
“They’ve got a ton of turnovers, and batted balls and everything else,” Reid pointed out. “So they’re playing aggressive football.”
Las Vegas has forced nine turnovers this year, two more than any other team has. The newcomers the Raiders acquired this offseason are driving that number: former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean leads the league with three forced fumbles, and rookie cornerback Hezekiah Masses leads the NFL in interceptions.
The new-look Raiders look sharp, but even when the team hasn’t had success in recent seasons, it has topped Kansas City. Last year, Las Vegas squeaked out a 13-12 win in the season finale; on Christmas Day 2023, the 6-8 Raiders upset the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium and nearly cost the team its chance at eventually winning Super Bowl LVIII.
“Yeah, they’ve always played us tough over the years,” Reid acknowledged. “I mean, it’s still Raiders and Chiefs, and the records really didn’t matter going into it. Both teams played hard against each other. They’ve got a good
group of guys right now and good leadership, and they’re doing well. A lot of turnovers.”
Up front, everybody knows defensive end Maxx Crosby is the main threat — but edge rushers Malcolm Koonce (2.5) and Kwity Paye (2) each have more sacks than the five-time Pro Bowler does to start this season. It’s a pass-rush group that quarterback Patrick Mahomes knows will test the offensive line, including rookie left tackle Kahlil Benson.
“I have all the trust in the world in those guys,” Mahomes said. “It’s not just Maxx. (Koonce)’s doing a great job. Kwity Paye’s doing a great job of rushing the passer, all those guys, and so it’ll be another challenge for
them, and I’m excited for them to go out there and accept it.”
On the other side of the ball, the Raiders have been captained by quarterback Kirk Cousins; last week, his top target made his season debut: tight end Brock Bowers, after missing the first two games of the season due to a last-minute surgery to trim his meniscus, caught 10 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown.
Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton knows it will take the entire defense’s attention to keep Bowers in check. He talked about Las Vegas’ offense on Wednesday.
“We only got one game on him this year, and how they’re going to use him,” Bolton said. “But obviously, he’s versatile with the ball. They find different ways to get him involved in the offense, spread him out, put him in location, screen game, so we’ve got to be aware of where he’s at. Just kind of have 22 eyes on him… that’s the game plan.”
Running back Ashton Jeanty will also need attention in the run game — but also as a receiver. This year, the 2025 first-round pick has caught 13 passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns.
The Chiefs’ linebackers will need to keep Jeanty in check, putting Kansas City’s defense in position to get off the field.
“They’re running the ball well, playing good up front,” Bolton acknowledged. “Kirk Cousins staying
clean, throwing the ball on time and on target, so definitely a challenge for us to get them off the spot,
stop the running game, get some penetration, and get some third-and-longs.”
