The Kansas City Chiefs look like they're back on track after missing the playoffs last season for the first time in a decade. And on Sunday, they took another huge step forward in continuing their climb back to the top of the AFC with a 30-27 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders
, in a battle between undefeated AFC West teams. But they likely wouldn't have achieved that win without running back Kenneth Walker III.The Chiefs added Walker III this offseason, and he already stepped up in a big way with 100-plus yard performances in wins against the Broncos and Colts in the past two weeks, but he had his best performance of the season on Sunday evening in what might be the team's biggest game yet. He posted 177 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns
in the win over the Raiders.
Kenneth Walker vs Raiders:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) October 4, 2026
177 YDS
2 TD
The first Chief with a 175/2 game since Jamaal Charles in 2010. pic.twitter.com/NxrK8gdm5r
Those scores came after the Raiders had taken a 19-17 lead with just under five minutes to play in the fourth quarter. But Walker reeled off two touchdown runs in under 30 seconds of game action to put the Chiefs into the lead before extending it to 11 points, putting the game effectively out of reach for Las Vegas. He was the first Chiefs running back in 16 years to record 175-or-more rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in a game.
It's clear that Walker is having a huge impact for the Chiefs, and it was felt no more powerfully this season than it was during Sunday's AFC West showdown. And after his performance against the Raiders, it's starting to look like he could be the type of offensive weapon that carries the franchise to some critical victories as they look to get back to the postseason.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Kenneth Walker III's elite performance lifts Chiefs to critical win
