Las Vegas, NV — For nearly three quarters, the Las Vegas Raiders had the Kansas City Chiefs exactly where they wanted them.
Then Patrick Mahomes and Kenneth Walker III took over.
The Chiefs erupted for 20 points in the fourth quarter, overcoming a late deficit and surviving a furious Raiders comeback to escape Allegiant Stadium with a 30-27 victory Sunday.
Kansas City improved to 4-0, remaining the NFL’s only unbeaten team, while Mahomes maintained his perfect record against the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. The Chiefs quarterback finished with 225 passing yards and two touchdowns, but it was Walker who supplied the offensive punch when Kansas City needed it most.
Walker ran for 177 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries, repeatedly breaking through the Raiders’ defense and delivering the biggest plays of the afternoon.
The game appeared to be slipping away from Kansas City when Las Vegas took a 19-17 lead on Matt Gay’s 48-yard field goal with 4:53 remaining.
But the Chiefs answered with one of their most important sequences of the young season.
Facing pressure on third down, Mahomes found Tyquan Thornton for a 55-yard completion that carried the Chiefs deep into Raiders territory. Thornton’s huge play set up Walker’s 2-yard touchdown run with 3:21 remaining, putting Kansas City ahead 23-19.
The celebration quickly turned to concern.
Thornton suffered a serious left ankle injury at the end of the play and was carted from the field. He had delivered one of the best performances of his Chiefs career, finishing with five catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns.
The injury was later diagnosed as a dislocated ankle, and Thornton is expected to miss approximately three to four months.
Kansas City, however, wasn’t finished.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Raiders fumbled, giving the Chiefs another opportunity in Las Vegas territory. Walker needed only one play to capitalize, breaking free for a 22-yard touchdown that pushed the Kansas City advantage to 30-19.
Two Kansas City touchdowns had come in roughly 20 seconds of game action, completely changing the complexion of the contest.
Raiders Refuse to Go Away
Las Vegas responded with one more push.
Kirk Cousins, who threw for 365 yards and two touchdowns, connected with Brock Bowers on a 20-yard touchdown pass with 1:46 remaining. The Raiders then converted the two-point attempt to cut the deficit to 30-27.
After forcing Kansas City to give the ball back, Las Vegas had one final opportunity.
Cousins moved the Raiders toward midfield before Kansas City safety Xavier Nwankpa intercepted him with the game hanging in the balance. The turnover ended Las Vegas’ comeback hopes and secured the Chiefs’ fourth consecutive victory.
For Cousins, it was a difficult ending to an otherwise impressive afternoon. The interception snapped a personal seven-game winning streak that included the final four games of last season with Atlanta.
Bowers, despite battling an illness, continued to be a major part of the Raiders’ passing attack. He finished with six receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown.
The bigger issue for Las Vegas was its inability to establish the run.
The Raiders managed only 72 rushing yards and averaged 2.8 yards per attempt.
“We’ve got to find that answer,” Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said. “That will be a big factor in us being a better football team.”
Walker Changes the Game
The Chiefs needed a spark after trailing 13-10 entering the fourth quarter, and Walker provided it.
Late in the third quarter, Walker exploded through the Raiders’ defense for a 76-yard run. He reached a reported top speed of 21.21 mph before Raiders cornerback Taron Johnson caught him from behind at the 8-yard line.
Walker joked afterward that he thought he was headed for the end zone until he heard Johnson closing in.
That run set the stage for Mahomes and Thornton to connect on an 8-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter, giving Kansas City its first lead of the game.
The Raiders answered with two long field goals from Gay, but the Chiefs had the final word.
Mahomes once again showed why Kansas City remains one of the NFL’s most difficult teams to put away.
“I think you have to stay with it,” Mahomes said. “It’s not always going to be pretty. That’s a good football team, a good defense. It’s not going to always be light it up and go out there and score 50 points.”
Mahomes has now won all six of his regular-season starts against the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium, along with the Super Bowl played there following the 2023 season.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid also continued his remarkable success at the stadium. His victory Sunday moved him to 7-1 at Allegiant Stadium, giving him the most wins of any coach at the venue since it opened in 2020.
Chiefs Pay a Price for the Victory
Kansas City’s victory came with a significant cost.
Thornton’s ankle injury leaves the Chiefs without one of their most productive receivers for an extended period. Wide receiver Rashee Rice also left earlier in the game with a hamstring injury and did not return.
The Chiefs will now have time to regroup during their bye week before returning to action.
Reid also addressed a lineup decision involving left guard Kingsley Suamataia, who did not start for disciplinary reasons. Mike Caliendo opened the game in his place.
“That’s between Kingsley and I,” Reid said. “We’ll figure it out, and down the road, we’ll be better as a team for it and Kingsley will be better for it.”
A Statement Win for Kansas City
The Raiders entered the afternoon determined to prove their fast start was legitimate.
For much of the game, they did exactly that.
Las Vegas controlled stretches of the contest, pressured Mahomes and held the lead into the fourth quarter. But the Chiefs once again demonstrated their ability to find another gear when the game was on the line.
Walker provided the running game.
Thornton delivered the explosive plays before his injury.
Mahomes orchestrated the comeback.
And the defense made the final play.
Kansas City walked out of Allegiant Stadium still undefeated.
Up Next:
Chiefs: Kansas City has its bye next weekend before hosting the Los Angeles Chargers on Oct. 18.
Raiders: Las Vegas travels to New England next Sunday for its third road game in four weeks.
