The Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders will battle for the top spot in the AFC West when they face off at Allegiant Stadium this afternoon.
At 3-0, both teams are undefeated and looking to cement their status as contenders in a conference that is expected to get even more competitive as the season progresses.
This week, Chiefs Wire sat down with Levi Damien of Raiders Wire to get the inside scoop on Las Vegas before today's game.
Take a look at Damien's answers to our top questions below:
What has changed in 2026 to make the Raiders one of the NFL's hottest teams?
"It was a lot of things, really. But it can be traced back to John Spytek’s plan when he came in. It wasn’t clear at the time, but it’s become clear now. Despite the team having a lot of money to spend in the 2025 offseason, he held off. The only guy he signed
to more than a one-year deal was S Jeremy Chinn. And Chinn proved to be one of their best additions and that remains true. That money Spytek didn’t spend then led to the 'tank' season and the huge spending spree this offseason. And, of course, the hiring of Klint Kubiak, who is showing how he helped the Seahawks win the Super Bowl in his only season in Seattle. Having a competent coaching staff goes a long way."
Which offseason acquisition was Las Vegas' best move?
"That’s a tough one, honestly. Since we already mentioned Kubiak, let’s go with players. On offense, it’s probably a tie between Kirk Cousins and Tyler Linderbaum. Cousins was the perfect signing to run Kubiak’s offense and lead the team until Fernando Mendoza is ready. And Linderbaum has been the glue for a Raiders line that was the worst in football last season. But I would be remiss not to mention the impact of LB Nakobe Dean has had on the defense. He has been a revelation. Hard to believe they actually landed him in free agency. The most amazing stat for him so far is that he has forced a fumble in the fourth quarter in all three games so far this season. Two of them sealed the win for the Raiders."
How long do you expect the Raiders' hot streak to last?
"If by hot streak, you mean win streak, not much longer. Perhaps it ends Sunday. If not, then probably when the Bills come to town in Week 6. I say that because I see them beating the Patriots in Week 5. Have had that as a win for months. Either way, the Raiders have a pretty brutal stretch that starts with this game, so their win streak won’t last much longer. But I still think they will be a tough out in those games and beyond."
Final score prediction: Who wins this week, and why?
"Well, at the risk of being wrong for a third straight week… I see the Chiefs taking this game. I am in the early stages of developing belief in the direction of this Raiders team. Each week has presented a test tougher than the last. But the skeptic in me would point out that their first two wins came against teams that are both now 0-3. The win in New Orleans was impressive, but it still looked like the game could have been lost several times if not for four fourth quarter takeaways. I don’t suspect the Raiders will be racking up takeaways like that in this one, so they will have to stop the Chiefs the old fashioned way. I will believe it when I see it. Final score: Chiefs 27, Raiders 23"
This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Behind Enemy Lines: Top intel on Las Vegas before Chiefs vs. Raiders
