Sunday’s late afternoon game on CBS was the NFL’s most-watched broadcast of the season so far.
The Sunday late window, which was mostly Chiefs-Raiders but also includes the markets that had 49ers-Broncos, drew 28.448 million viewers, making it this year’s most-watched NFL game, CBS announced.
CBS says it was also the most-watched Week 4 game in NFL broadcast history. (Historical numbers are not apples-to-apples comparisons, as there have been changes in how out-of-home viewers are measured.)
The Chiefs have been a big ratings draw throughout the Patrick Mahomes era, and this year is no different. The Raiders’ surprising 3-0 start made their matchup with the Chiefs a particularly big game, and although the Chiefs ultimately won 30-27, the Raiders made it an exciting game and had a fourth-quarter lead. It was a game that earned its big audience.
Raiders Clips
The Raiders opened the season with 130 rushing yards in a win over the Dolphins and that was a welcome development after the team finished dead last in rushing during the 2025 season.
The past three weeks have suggested that might have had more to do with the opponent than anything the Raiders have done to change their scheme or personnel. They’ve run for 242 yards in those games, which isn’t as bad as they were last season but it’s also not where head coach Klint Kubiak would like things to be in Las Vegas.
Among the issues is that Raiders backs Ashton Jeanty and Mike Washington are averaging just 1.8 yards before contact and Kubiak said he isn’t looking at anyone else when it comes to finding ways to “scheme them up better.”
“I put it on myself,” Kubiak said on Monday. “I got to do a lot better job of putting us in better position. We’ve got solid backs, we’ve got a solid offensive line. Myself and the coaching staff, there’s plenty of things we can do better for our players.”
A 3-0 start helped downplay any concerns about the way the Raiders have been playing, but Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs put the lagging run game in greater focus and it will continue to be one if a three-game run against the Patriots, Bills and Rams does not go well for Kubiak’s side.
In the third quarter of Las Vegas’ matchup against Kansas City on Sunday, Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak made a choice.
Matt Gay had sent a 41-yard field goal through the uprights, making the score 16-10, Las Vegas. But the Chiefs had lined up with too many players on one side of the ball for an illegal formation.
So, Kubiak elected to accept the penalty and go for it on fourth-and-2 from Kansas City’s 18.
But the problem was the Raiders didn’t convert, as Kirk Cousins’ pass to Ashton Jeanty was broken up and fell incomplete.
While the Raiders ended up losing 30-27, that choice to take three points off the board was far from the only reason for the ultimate result.
“[O]bviously, there’s a point there where I took three points off the board, and we were going to be aggressive going into the game,” Kubiak said postgame. “I don’t regret it. I regret not getting it.”
Kubiak later reiterated that he knew “we were going to be aggressive, and that was part of the game plan.”
The Raiders have played well to get to their 3-1 record on the season, and Kubiak has made some strong coaching choices. Even if this choice didn’t work out, it doesn’t mean that Kubiak should change his process moving forward.
Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton dislocated his left ankle in Sunday’s victory over the Raiders, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports. Team doctors put the ankle back in place.
Thornton will undergo an MRI and receive a second opinion on Monday.
“That doesn’t look good,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said, via Jared Sapp of SBNation. “He’s going to fly back with us, and we’ll get further evaluation later.”
Thornton didn’t seem to realize his ankle was injured until he tried to stand up after a 55-yard catch. He finished with five catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns.
“That’s a rough one,” Reid said, “especially a guy like Tyquan [who is] a great father, a great husband and all that. Just his attitude. His attitude is unbelievable. He’s great for the team and kind of a leader for that group. For that to happen, especially with the year’s he’s having — he’s had a phenomenal year to this point — and on a great play on top of that, it’s a tough one to see for all the guys.”
At halftime, Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak told CBS’ Tracy Wolfson that his team would win Sunday’s game against the Chiefs.
He ended up being wrong, but not for a lack of fight.
Kansas City defeated Las Vegas 30-27 on Sunday with a surge in the fourth quarter.
Kenneth Walker scored a pair of touchdowns within 20 seconds of game time to put the matchup out of reach.
The Raiders had taken a 19-17 lead with 4:53 left in the contest on Matt Gay’s 48-yard field goal. But after that, the Chiefs got in the end zone in large part due to a 55-yard catch from Tyquan Thornton. While Thornton suffered a lower-leg injury on the play and had to be carted off, he set up Walker for a 2-yard touchdown run to give the Chiefs the lead back.
Then Las Vegas fumbled the ensuing kickoff, giving Kansas City the ball back deep in opponent territory. Walker needed just one play to go into the end zone, putting the Chiefs up 30-19 with his 22-yard score.
But that left plenty of time for the Raiders to get a couple more possessions. Kirk Cousins connected with Brock Bowers on a 20-yard touchdown to cut Kansas City’s lead to three. While the onside kick attempt failed, the Raiders got the ball back with no timeouts at their 1-yard line with 1:16 on the clock.
Las Vegas got lucky that a replay review was not instituted after a pass over the middle to Tre Tucker gained 23 yards. The ball hit the ground, but it was ruled a completed pass. Cousins spiked the ball to stop the clock before a review was called for, leaving the Raiders with 10 seconds left at the Kansas City 49.
But on the next play, Cousins’ pass was intercepted by safety Xavier Nwankpa, which effectively ended the game.
Walker has continued to make a significant difference for Kansas City’s offense, finishing with a career-high 177 yards rushing. He also rushed for a career-long 76-yard run, which helped set up a touchdown to Tyquan Thornton earlier in the fourth quarter.
Thornton had an excellent game before he had to exit in an air cast, catching five passes for 111 yards with two TDs.
Mahomes finished the game 15-of-30 for 225 yards with two touchdowns and no picks.
On the other side, Cousins continued his excellent start to the season, finishing 31-of-52 for 365 yards with two touchdowns and no picks. Brock Bowers had six catches for 86 yards with a touchdown and Michael Mayer had eight receptions for 82 yards.
Ashton Jeanty was held to 58 yards on 15 carries while he had six receptions for 68 yards.
With the win, the Chiefs are now 4-0. They will have their bye next week before hosting the Chargers in Week 6.
The Raiders are now 3-1 with a strong start to the 2026 season. They will be on the road in Week 5 to face the Patriots. Las Vegas beat New England on the road last year to start the season — one of just three wins for the club in 2025.
Chiefs receiver Tyquan Thornton suffered an apparent serious lower-leg injury during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s matchup with the Raiders.
Thornton caught a 55-yard pass down to the Las Vegas 5-yard line. But as he was tackled by safety Treydan Stukes, the defender landed on his ankle.
It appeared to be a hip-drop tackle.
Thornton was then shown on the CBS broadcast with his left foot positioned in an unnatural manner.
Thornton’s left foot/leg was placed in an air cast, and he was carted off the field.
The Chiefs were able to score on the next play, with Kenneth Walker taking in a 2-yard touchdown to give Kansas City a 23-19 lead. While the team went for two to make it a six-point advantage, the try failed.
Kenneth Walker continues to make a big impact for his new team.
After a punt set the Chiefs up at their own 16-yard line, Walker took the first play of the series for a 76-yard run to set up Kansas City at the Las Vegas 8-yard line.
A play later, Patrick Mahomes connected with receiver Tyquan Thornton for a touchdown, giving Kansas City a 17-13 advantage — the team’s first lead of the game.
Walker has now rushed for 147 yards on 15 carries so far on Sunday. He’s also caught a 2-yard pass.
Mahomes is 13-of-26 for 164 yards with two touchdowns so far.
Kansas City has a four-point lead with 14:50 left in regulation.
Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak told CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson, “We’re going to win the game” as he was being interviewed at halftime.
We’ll see if that happens, but the Chiefs and Raiders will both have pieces missing in the second half.
Kansas City receiver Rashee Rice has been downgraded to doubtful to return with a hamstring injury suffered in the first quarter.
Las Vegas receiver Jalen Nailor is out with a concussion suffered in the second quarter.
It’s still 13-10, Raiders, early in the third quarter. The Raiders had a shot at extending their lead to 16-10 early in the third quarter, but Kubiak elected to take points off the board. Matt Gay had hit a 41-yard field goal on fourth-and-7. But a Chiefs illegal formation penalty allowed the Raiders to re-do the play at fourth-and-2. But Kirk Cousins’ pass to Ashton Jeanty was broken up and incomplete for a turnover on downs.
The Raiders and Chiefs have been pretty even through the first half of their Week 4 matchup, but Las Vegas was able to take a 13-10 halftime lead with a long field goal at the end of the second quarter.
Las Vegas took advantage of good field position for its opening drive after stopping Kansas City on fourth down from midfield, with Kirk Cousins connecting with Ian Thomas for a 27-yard touchdown.
But the Chiefs responded with a 10-play, 69-yard drive to tie the score at 7-7 with Patrick Mahomes’ 2-yard TD to Tyquan Thornton.
Matt Gay hit a 32-yard field goal to cap a 15-play, 75-yard drive that took 8:00 off the clock late in the second quarter to put the Raiders up by three.
But the Chiefs got back on the board late in the half, partially powered by a 42-yard deep catch by Thornton. That put Kansas City on the 5-yard line. But a sack put the Chiefs behind the chains, and Harrison Butker had to hit on a 28-yard field goal to tie the game at 10 apiece.
After that series, quarterback Patrick Mahomes was shown on the CBS broadcast having an animated conversation with offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy on the sideline.
While the Chiefs looked like they’d get off the field on the ensuing drive, a defensive holding penalty gave the Raiders a free first down. Gay connected from 48 yards to give Las Vegas a three-point lead.
Cousins is 12-of-18 for 146 yards with a touchdown.
Mahomes is 10-of-18 for 139 yards with a TD.
The Raiders will receive the second-half kickoff with a chance to double up.
Kirk Cousins continues to play good ball.
Cousins tossed his 10th touchdown of the season to give the Raiders an early 7-0 lead.
The veteran QB hit a wide open Ian Thomas deep down the left side for a 27-yard scoring strike.
That came after the Chiefs had converted a fake punt for a first down, but later failed to convert fourth-and-2 with a Kenneth Walker run.
Cousins has started the game 3-of-3 for 46 yards.
