Chiefs edge Raiders 30-27 as Kenneth Walker III, Mahomes keep Kansas City unbeaten

Chiefs survive a fourth quarter track meet

Kansas City beat Las Vegas 30-27 at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday to stay unbeaten at 4-0, and the Raiders made the Chiefs earn every point. Las Vegas struck first on Ian Thomas's 27-yard touchdown catch from Kirk Cousins, Kansas City answered right before the end of the first quarter on a short touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes to Tyquan Thornton, and the teams spent the second quarter trading field goals before the Raiders took a 13-10 lead into the fourth.

The fourth quarter turned into a track meet. Thornton's second touchdown catch gave Kansas City its first lead of the day at 17-13, Las Vegas answered with back to back Matt Gay field goals to go back up 19-17, and then Kenneth Walker III took over. He scored on a 2-yard run to put the Chiefs up 23-19, then broke off a 22-yard touchdown run two plays later to make it 30-19. Las Vegas answered with a Brock Bowers touchdown catch and a two-point conversion with 1:46 left, but ran out of time to complete the comeback.

Walker III ran wild

Walker carried 22 times for 177 yards and both of his touchdowns came in the final stretch. The biggest run of the day did not even show up on the scoreboard. Late in the third quarter he broke free for 76 yards before Raiders cornerback Taron Johnson ran him down at the 8-yard line. "I thought I was out of there until I started hearing breathing," Walker said. Mahomes finished 15 of 30 for 225 yards and two touchdowns, both to Thornton, who caught five passes for 111 yards before leaving the game on a cart with a left ankle injury.

Raiders won the stat sheet, lost the game

Las Vegas out-gained Kansas City 437 yards to 399 and piled up 28 first downs to the Chiefs' 18. Kirk Cousins threw for 365 yards and two touchdowns, connecting with Brock Bowers for 86 yards and a score on six catches. The problem was the ground game and the turnovers. The Raiders rushed for just 72 yards on the day, and coach Klint Kubiak said after the loss, "We've got to find that answer." Las Vegas also turned the ball over twice, and the loss snapped Cousins's seven-game winning streak.

Injury list and the standings

Thornton's second touchdown catch came on the same series as his ankle injury, which ended his day. Kansas City also listed receiver Rashee Rice as questionable with a hamstring issue. For Las Vegas, receiver Jalen Nailor is questionable with a concussion, offensive lineman Trey Zuhn III is questionable with a knee abrasion, and center Jackson Powers-Johnson was out with groin soreness. Quarterback Aidan O'Connell did not play, a coach's decision. Kansas City moves to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the AFC West. Las Vegas falls to 3-1 and 1-1.

Facts per ESPN box score. Opinion is the taproom's.