The Chiefs don’t need a reminder about Brock Bowers. They already know where the danger starts when they walk into Las Vegas.
Nick Bolton said it plainly: “You’ve got to have 22 eyes on him.”
That’s the assignment for Kansas City’s defense this week as it heads to face the 3-0 Raiders, who have become one of the NFL’s early surprises. Las Vegas is off to its first 3-0 start since 2021, and only the second time in the past quarter-century that the franchise has opened with three straight wins.
Bowers has been central to that surge. The Raiders got through their first two games - against the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Chargers - without him after he underwent a meniscus-cleanup procedure on his knee just before the season. But there was no easing back in last week against the New Orleans Saints.
On the Raiders’ first snap, Bowers caught an eight-yard pass from Kirk Cousins. He added two more catches on that opening drive for 29 yards, helping set up a field goal.
By the end of the game, he had piled up 10 receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown in his first outing under new coach Klint Kubiak. It was the fifth 100-yard game of Bowers’ three-year career.
Kansas City has already seen what he can do up close. As a rookie in 2024, Bowers had his most productive game against the Chiefs, catching 10 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown in a 19-17 Kansas City win at Arrowhead.
“They find different ways to get him involved in the offense,” Bolton said. “Spread him out, screen game. We have to be aware of where he’s at.”
Last weekend, Bowers was the first read on almost half of Cousins’ 33 pass attempts, which is the kind of usage that brings back memories of Travis Kelce in his prime. Bolton sees the resemblance, too.
“There are definitely some similarities,” Bolton said. “He’s a little bit smaller than Kelce, a little more twitchy.
I guess you could say (he’s) a younger ‘Kels’. But (he’s) definitely good with the ball, good ball skills, able to run all the routes.”
Kansas City’s pass defense has been solid overall through three games, but not spotless. The Chiefs have allowed 10 points twice, including in last week’s 24-10 road win over the Dolphins. They rank third in the NFL in points allowed, fourth in yards allowed and sixth in passing yards.
Still, there are cracks. The Chiefs have not had a sack since their four-sack opener against the Denver Broncos, and Miami converted eight of 16 third-down tries last week, most of them on medium-distance situations.
That’s part of what makes this matchup tricky. Cousins gets the ball out quickly, which limits what pass rushers can do.
“Kirk Cousins staying clean, throwing the ball on time and on target, so it’s definitely a challenge for us to get them off the spot,” Bolton said.
The AFC West picture adds another layer. The Broncos are 2-1, the Chargers are 0-3, and the winner in Las Vegas will leave the weekend with the inside track in the division. For the Chiefs, the defensive plan starts and ends with keeping Bowers under control.
In Other News...
Kelce Brothers Are Adding A New Twist To Chiefs Game Day
The Chiefs will spend their bye week getting ready for a return to Arrowhead Stadium on Oct. 18, when they host the Chargers in a game that already has a little extra buzz around it. Before kickoff, fans headed to the Truman Sports Complex will have a new option to fill the hours, thanks to a New Heights tailgate set for Lot M from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring free food, games and a DJ.
The event is another sign of how much game day around the Chiefs has become its own experience, especially with Travis and Jason Kelce leaning into the family brand they have built around their podcast. Travis Kelce will not be part of the tailgate, since he will be focused on preparing to play that night, but the setup still gives fans a fresh pregame gathering point as the Chiefs get back to work after the bye. [Read more 🡒]
Andy Reids Quirky Chiefs Rule Says A Lot About Team Standards
Andy Reid has never been a coach who leaves much to guesswork, and one of his more memorable Chiefs standards says plenty about how he runs the room. In a recent interview with Jason Garrett, Reid explained that Kansas City players are not allowed to wear tank tops in the dining hall, a rule tied to keeping the salad bar clean. It is a small detail, but it fits the larger point: Reids teams tend to live on order, accountability and the idea that even the little things matter.
What stands out is not just the rule itself, but the way Reid handles it. He said he believes in explaining the reason behind every guideline so players understand the expectation instead of simply being told to follow it. For a veteran coach with plenty of credibility, that approach helps reinforce the kind of team culture the Chiefs have tried to build, one rooted in respect, focus and shared standards rather than vague do-as-I-say demands. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Already Look Like A Bigger Problem Than Expected
Through the first three weeks of the NFL season, Kansas City has already looked every bit like the kind of problem opponents hoped to avoid. The Chiefs entered the year with some offseason concerns hanging over them, but their strong start has quickly pushed them into the conversation with the leagues most reliable early teams. In a league still settling in, they have again shown the sort of steadiness that makes September feel a little misleading.
Across the rest of the league, other surprises have helped frame just how serious the Chiefs start has been. The Giants have banked encouraging home wins even while dealing with quarterback injuries, and Minnesota has stayed unbeaten behind a defense that has carried the load through offensive struggles. Cleveland, meanwhile, has stumbled out of the gate under new coaching, which only sharpens the contrast with Kansas City and raises the question of how much better the Chiefs can still get. [Read more 🡒]