Chiefs vs. Raiders: 9 matchups that could decide AFC West showdown
KANSAS CITY, Mo. —
The last time the Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders squared off, draft positioning was on the line.
The Raiders entered the 2025 season finale with a chance to clinch the first overall pick with a loss, while the Chiefs were flirting with a top 10 pick.
In another rarity, both teams “won,” you could say. The Raiders clinched the league’s worst record with a New York Giants win earlier in the day. Hours later, Las Vegas beat Kansas City on a walk-off 60-yard field goal, helping the Chiefs clinch a top 10 pick.
What a difference nine months makes!
The Chiefs and Raiders are both 3-0 heading into Sunday’s AFC West showdown. Like Dancing with the Stars fans waiting for Guillermo to be voted out, NFL fans have been waiting and expecting the Raiders to lose.
Neither have happened yet.
The last Chiefs-Raiders game required a working knowledge of NFL draft tiebreakers. This one is much simpler: two 3-0 teams, first-place implications and nobody rooting for a better draft pick.
From Maxx Crosby’s pass rush against Patrick Mahomes to Kenneth Walker III and the Chiefs’ revamped rushing attack, here are the matchups that could shape the game.
Maxx Crosby and the Raiders’ front seven vs. the offensive line
The Chiefs’ offensive line struggled at times last Sunday in Miami – and it wasn’t just the tackles. On Sunday, they face their biggest challenge of the season: Maxx Crosby and a Raiders team that is among the early league leaders in sacks.
Crosby has help this year and the coaching staff has made it a point to not play him every snap like in previous seasons. Defensive end Malcolm Koonce has 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles for the Silver and Black. Kwity Paye, a defensive end picked up from the Colts in free agency, has two sacks and five quarterback hits.
Linebackers Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker, also signed in free agency, have transformed a Raiders front seven that struggled in 2025 into one of the best through three weeks in 2026.
That depth could make a difference late in games, when Crosby is fresher and the Chiefs are more likely to be in obvious passing situations if it’s a competitive game. With Josh Simmons’ status still uncertain, Jaylon Moore and Kahlil Benson could again have a huge role against Crosby and his friends.
A game of the tight ends
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but he’s also on the way to a very productive season. He has two touchdowns through three weeks and has made big plays throughout the season. It seems like every time he’s caught the ball in 2026, something really good has happened.
Brock Bowers returned to the lineup for the Raiders last week and made his season debut, catching 10 passes for 116 yards. But don’t overlook Michael Mayer and Noah Gray. Mayer has 12 catches this season, while Gray had a good game in Miami.
While wide receiver Tre Tucker and running back Ashton Jeanty have been favorite targets of Kirk Cousins, Bowers and Mayer will be names the Chiefs have to limit.
Tight ends have been thorns in the side of Chiefs’ defenses in years past, including seasons they won the Super Bowl. Entering the year, linebacker was one of the team’s thinnest positions.
Bowers and Mayer could be a problem on Sunday.
Can the Chiefs get to the quarterback?
As head coach Andy Reid said this week, teams can scheme around potential pass protection issues.
Nobody is confusing Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins with Lamar Jackson, but the Chiefs still have to get to him.
His deep ball was accurate against the Chargers and he has thrown three touchdowns each week this season. The Raiders’ rushing attack has been non-existent at points this year, but their offensive line has protected Cousins.
That’s important because Cousins doesn’t need much time to find an open receiver. If the Chiefs can make him uncomfortable, it changes what the Raiders have been able to do through three games.
Patrick Mahomes vs. a Raiders defense creating turnovers
Mahomes has looked more comfortable each week this season, completing 83% of his passes against Miami after struggling to complete just 56% in the season opener against Denver.
The Raiders’ secondary, which has dealt with injuries the past two games, has had its issues in red-zone defense.
But it’s also been opportunistic. The Raiders have forced nine turnovers through three games, while rookie cornerback Hezekiah Masses has three interceptions.
That’s helped the Raiders overcome some of the yards and points they’ve allowed. The Chiefs don’t want to give a 3-0 Raiders team extra possessions at home.
Can the Chiefs take advantage in the red zone?
The Raiders have done a good job preventing teams from getting into the red zone.
Once teams get there? That’s where the good news ends.
Opponents have scored touchdowns on seven of nine red-zone trips this season, a 77.8% rate. That’s 26th in the league and the ugliest mark for the defense so far in 2026.
The Chargers went 2-for-2, while the Saints scored touchdowns on all four of their official red-zone trips. That sets up an interesting matchup with Mahomes, who is 17-of-21 with seven touchdowns and no interceptions in the red zone this season.
If Kansas City can put together long drives and get inside the 20, that’s one area where the Chiefs could have an advantage Sunday.
Kenneth Walker III vs. the Raiders’ rushing defense … and a familiar face
Walker III was Seattle’s starting running back last year, while Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak was the team’s offensive coordinator. They helped the Seahawks win the Super Bowl.
Now, Walker III has helped revamp the Chiefs’ offense while Kubiak has the Raiders off to a 3-0 start after a 3-14 season.
Walker is averaging 5.5 yards a carry and is one of the league leaders in rushing. Miami held him to 70 yards on 18 carries, though he still got in the end zone twice.
The Raiders rank in the middle of the pack against the run this year, though advanced statistics from NFL Savant show they have one of the best marks in defending the run.
Walker III will provide the Raiders with their biggest test so far. And this goes beyond his final rushing total.
If Walker gets going early, it opens up the Chiefs’ play-action passing game, which has been successful so far this season.
Can the Chiefs keep Ashton Jeanty from breaking out?
Jeanty had a big first game of the season but is averaging just 3.3 yards per carry. He hasn’t scored a rushing touchdown this season. He has found ways to contribute, scoring twice off Cousins’ touchdown passes.
The Chiefs’ rushing defense, outside of Week 2’s game against Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, has been solid this season.
If the Chiefs can keep Jeanty and rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. locked up, that puts even more of the game on Cousins.
Third down could decide this one
Both the Chiefs and Raiders offenses have done a good job staying on the field this season. The Chiefs have converted over 47% of their third-down attempts, while the Raiders are approaching 42%.
While they are not among the league leaders, both offenses have improved significantly in this area since 2025.
This is also where the pass rush becomes important. Third-and-long gives Crosby a chance to get after Mahomes and gives Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo more options to bring pressure against Cousins.
Staying out of those situations will be important for both offenses.
Can the Chiefs’ offense keep creating explosive plays?
The Chiefs are averaging just over 6 yards per play this season and have a 50.3% offensive success rate, according to NFL Savant.
The Chiefs are second in yards per game this season. The Raiders’ defense has done a good job preventing explosive plays, but they haven’t played an offense like the Chiefs.
Wide receivers Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton will be worth watching. Rice started getting open late in Miami. He’ll need to get going early Sunday.
The Raiders’ safeties can be picked on, and it will be up to Rice, Thornton and Xavier Worthy to take advantage of any opportunities.