The Raiders’ fast start has made Sunday’s meeting with the Chiefs feel even bigger than a typical AFC West showdown. Las Vegas enters Week 4 at 3-0, Kansas City is right there with a 3-0 mark of its own, and the winner at Allegiant Stadium at 4:25 p.m. ET will leave with sole possession of first place in the division.
For the Raiders’ offense, the biggest question is whether Kirk Cousins can keep rolling against the toughest defense Las Vegas has seen so far. The 38-year-old has thrown three touchdown passes in each of the first three games, but that streak is expected to end against a Kansas City unit led by Steve Spagnuolo.
His blitz packages could create problems for Cousins, even if the veteran quarterback’s pre-snap command and quick release help him stay ahead of the rush. In what could be a high-scoring game, Cousins still looks positioned for another productive outing.
Brock Bowers also comes into the matchup with momentum after making his season debut in Week 3 against the New Orleans Saints. He caught 10 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown, and he should again be central to the game plan.
Spagnuolo’s defenses are known for taking away the top target with double teams, so Bowers is likely to see bracket coverage throughout the afternoon. That makes Klint Kubiak’s pre-snap usage of the tight end especially important.
Kubiak should keep Bowers moving around and line him up in the slot or close to the line of scrimmage as often as possible to create favorable matchups with linebackers. Even with the Chiefs focusing on him, Bowers has already shown he can still produce.
The backfield carries its own uncertainty. Ashton Jeanty has been quiet over the last two games, averaging fewer than three yards per carry in each of those outings.
Still, this is a chance for him to get back on track against a Kansas City defense that can be vulnerable against the run. Mike Washington Jr. could also continue to work into the mix after a strong showing last week, when he had five carries for 54 yards and a 36-yard touchdown.
Even so, Jeanty should still handle a meaningful workload in a game that matters plenty in the division race.
In Other News...
Raiders Were At Center Of A Brutal Late Chiefs Controversy
The Raiders trip to Kansas City turned into one of those divisional finishes that leaves everybody talking long after the final whistle. In a 30-27 Chiefs win, Las Vegas found itself at the center of a late controversy when a catch ruling went the Raiders way and was finalized before a review could be requested, adding a fresh layer of tension to an already tight game.
Kansas City still managed to close it out, with safety Xavier Nwankpa coming up with an interception that helped swing the ending back in the Chiefs favor. A penalty against the Raiders then further tipped the final sequence, turning a disputed moment into another frustrating chapter in a rivalry that rarely comes without drama. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Pressure Is Building Around One Move They May Not Delay
The narrow loss to the Chiefs only sharpened a conversation that has been building around the Raiders for weeks: this offense still looks like it needs a true No. 1 wide receiver. On Raider Nation Radio, Q Myers made the case that receiver help should be at the top of the teams shopping list, and the timing matters with the November 10 trade deadline drawing closer.
Marvin Harrison Jr. has even been floated as a speculative name if he were to become available, a reminder of how aggressive the Raiders may need to be if they want to change the shape of this passing game. For a team trying to keep pace in a tight AFC race, the pressure is no longer just about making a move, but about whether they can afford to wait much longer to make it. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Let Chiefs Game Slip Away After A Few Brutal Decisions
The Raiders had a chance to make life difficult for the undefeated Chiefs at home in an AFC West matchup, and for stretches they were right there. The game swung on a series of big moments, from Kansas Citys fake punt to scoring drives that kept both sides trading the lead, while Las Vegas answered with touchdown throws from Kirk Cousins to Ian Thomas and Michael Mayer.
Still, the kind of game the Raiders needed to finish cleanly started to tilt the other way on a few brutal decisions and mistakes. A critical Dareke Young fumble added to the frustration, and Kansas City kept finding answers, including a late fourth-quarter touchdown run by Kenneth Walker III, leaving Las Vegas to wonder how a winnable game got away. [Read more 🡒]