TheKansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders will renew their longstanding rivalry Sunday afternoon, but this meeting carries more early-season significance than most expected.
Both teams enter the matchup undefeated at 3-0, marking the first time they have simultaneously opened a season with three consecutive victories. The winner will take sole possession of first place in the AFC West.
Kansas City was expected to return to contention after last season’s disappointment. Las Vegas has been the surprise.
The Raiders have already matched their win total from 2025, defeating the Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Chargers and New Orleans Saints behind a rebuilt roster and first-year head coach Klint Kubiak.
Here are three keys to a Chiefs victory in Week 4:
Offensive key: Control Maxx Crosby
Kansas City’s first responsibility will be preventing defensive end Maxx Crosby from taking over the game.
A proposed offseason trade that would have sent Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens fell through after the Ravens reportedly had concerns about his surgically repaired knee. Crosby remained in Las Vegas and appears motivated to prove those concerns were misplaced. Through three games, he has generated 17 pressures, including two sacks, four quarterback hits and 11 hurries.
The Raiders’ pass rush extends beyond Crosby. Las Vegas ranks second in the NFL in pressure rate at 36%, according to Pro Football Reference, and has the fourth-most sacks in the NFL with 10, despite rarely needing to blitz.
Edge rusher Malcolm Koonce recorded six pressures and a pivotal strip-sack against New Orleans, while Kwity Paye has also been productive opposite Crosby.
That creates a significant challenge for Kansas City’s offensive line, particularly rookie left tackle Kahlil Benson, the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Month for September; he has allowed just three pressures in each of his first three games without surrendering a sack. This will be his most difficult assignment yet.
Crosby moves around the defensive front, so the Chiefs cannot expect one blocker to handle him throughout the game. They must identify his location before every snap and provide help when necessary through tight ends, running backs, and protection slides.
Kansas City can also neutralize the Raiders’ rush by continuing to run the football and use play action. A credible rushing threat can make Crosby hesitate before attacking upfield, even if only for a moment.
The Chiefs should mix in quick throws, screens, moving pockets and misdirection rather than repeatedly asking Mahomes to operate from obvious passing situations. If Kansas City protects him long enough to attack downfield, it can challenge a Raiders secondary that has occasionally surrendered opportunities despite the defense’s impressive start.
The Chiefs do not have to eliminate Crosby. They simply cannot allow him to wreck the game.
Defensive key: Keep Brock Bowers under 75 yards
Las Vegas has a talented backfield featuring Ashton Jeanty and rookie Mike Washington Jr., but Kansas City’s primary defensive concern must be tight end Brock Bowers.
Bowers missed the Raiders’ first two games after undergoing a meniscus procedure. He returned against New Orleans and immediately reminded the NFL why he is one of its most dangerous tight ends, catching 10 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown. That performance earned him AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
What makes Bowers especially difficult to defend is how Las Vegas deploys him. He can line up as a traditional tight end, in the slot or outside like a wide receiver. That versatility allows the Raiders to identify favorable matchups.
This presents a challenge for a Chiefs defense that has occasionally struggled when linebackers and safeties are isolated in space. Indianapolis slot receiver Josh Downs caught seven passes for 72 yards in Week 2, and Miami repeatedly used quick passes and motion to extend drives last week.
Kansas City cannot depend on one defender to cover Bowers all afternoon. Steve Spagnuolo should vary his approach by using bracket coverage, safety help and physical contact near the line of scrimmage. Changing the coverage picture could also prevent Kirk Cousins from immediately recognizing where Bowers will be available.
Completely stopping Bowers is unrealistic. Keeping him below 75 receiving yards is a more reasonable goal.
If the Chiefs prevent him from dominating the middle of the field and producing explosive gains, Cousins will have to rely more heavily on the rest of the Raiders’ receiving corps to sustain drives.
X-factor: Win on third down
Third down could decide which undefeated team leaves Allegiant Stadium in control of the division.
Kansas City’s offense has converted 17 of 37 third downs this season — a 45.9% success rate. The Raiders are slightly behind at 16 of 39, or 41%.
The Chiefs converted three of seven opportunities against Miami, but several stalled possessions prevented them from taking complete control earlier. Against a Raiders defense that generates pressure without blitzing, staying in manageable third-down situations will be essential.
Kansas City cannot consistently face third-and-8 or longer and allow Crosby, Koonce and Paye to rush without respecting the run. Success on first and second down will give the Chiefs access to their entire playbook and allow Mahomes to use play action, quick passes, or the running game to move the chains.
Defensively, the Chiefs must improve upon what happened against the Dolphins. Miami converted eight of 16 third downs, including several during an early 17-play drive. The Chiefs entered the game holding opponents below 30% on third down, but quick throws and coverage breakdowns repeatedly kept Miami’s offense on the field.
Allowing Bowers and Cousins to duplicate that success would enable Las Vegas to control possession while keeping Mahomes on the sideline. Kansas City must communicate through motion, tackle immediately after the catch, and find ways to pressure Cousins without leaving Bowers isolated against a linebacker.
The bottom line
Offensively, Kansas City needs to control Crosby by helping its tackles, maintaining its commitment to the running game and using play action to create opportunities downfield. Defensively, the Chiefs must limit Bowers’ favorable matchups and keep him below 75 receiving yards. On both sides of the football, they must consistently win on third down.
If Kansas City accomplishes those three things, it will have an excellent opportunity to improve to 4-0, take sole possession of first place in the AFC West, and remind Las Vegas that the division still runs through the Chiefs.
