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The Kansas City Chiefs remain undefeated in 2026, securing their fourth consecutive win to start the season with a 30-27 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. However, for the third straight week, the win was anything but flawless. In the NFL, only the final score matters, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, head coach Andy Reid, and the rest of the team did just enough to leave with a win.
Several key developments, both positive and negative, emerged from Sunday's game, setting the stage for an intriguing bye week for Kansas City. Here are three of the most important takeaways.
Kenneth Walker Continues to Dominate
When the Chiefs signed running back Kenneth Walker to a lucrative multi-year deal in the offseason, some questioned whether he could justify the investment. Four games into the season, the reigning Super Bowl MVP has silenced those doubts and then some. Walker turned in another spectacular performance on Sunday, rushing 22 times for 177 yards (8.0 yards per carry) and two touchdowns. Remarkably, 152 of those yards and both scores came in the second half.
Heading into Monday Night Football, Walker leads the league in rushing yards and yards per attempt, and his 43 forced missed tackles are far ahead of the next closest player, Jahmyr Gibbs of the Detroit Lions, who has 28. Walker also joined Jim Brown and O.J. Simpson as the only players in NFL history with two or more games of 170-plus rushing yards in the first four weeks of a season. His elusiveness, explosiveness, and consistency make him a perfect fit for the Chiefs' revamped offensive scheme, and he continues to endear himself to teammates and fans alike.
Defensive Concerns Mount for Steve Spagnuolo's Unit
Yes, Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins attempted 52 passes, and Las Vegas managed just 2.8 yards per carry on the ground. But allowing a 38-year-old quarterback to throw for 365 yards and two touchdowns while controlling the ball for 35:42 is far from ideal. The Chiefs' defense surrendered 27 points and looked vulnerable once again. According to RBSDM, Cousins averaged 0.25 EPA per play, and the Raiders had a 61% success rate on early-down passes. Kansas City's linebackers were repeatedly exploited by tight ends Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer.
Excluding their Week 1 blowout of the Denver Broncos, the Chiefs' defense now ranks 20th in EPA per play and 17th in success rate allowed. While coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's unit generated pressure at the 14th-highest rate (per TruMedia) and hit Cousins frequently, they failed to record a sack for another week. Given the youth and small sample size, it's not time to panic, but this is a situation worth monitoring closely.
Tyquan Thornton's Injury Clouds Passing Attack's Future
Already without left tackle Josh Simmons (back) and with left guard Kingsley Suamataia benched, the Chiefs' passing game took another hit when wide receiver Rashee Rice exited in the first quarter with a hamstring injury. Tyquan Thornton stepped up with the best game of his career, but his outing ended abruptly due to a gruesome ankle injury in the fourth quarter. Losing a player with 11 catches for 219 yards and two touchdowns over four games isn't catastrophic, but the timing and nature of Thornton's impact make this a significant blow.
A former second-round pick, Thornton is a big-play threat, averaging 23.1 yards per reception in 2025 and 19.9 at the time of his injury. In Weeks 1-4, 53.3% of passes thrown his way resulted in a first down or touchdown. On Sunday, the Chiefs targeted him four times on third down, with two conversions. His chemistry with Mahomes is arguably second only to tight end Travis Kelce, and his ability to exceed expectations (+18.4% catch rate over expected) adds a spark to the passing game.
It's unknown when or if Thornton, who suffered a dislocation, will return in 2026. Possible solutions include giving rookie Cyrus Allen more snaps or reuniting with Tyreek Hill, but something must change to prevent a major regression, especially with Simmons still sidelined.