Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs brace for Raiders defense in Week 4 clash

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are turning their focus to the Las Vegas Raiders ahead of the Week 4 matchup, noting the visitors’ unbeaten start as a source of motivation. Mahomes singled out defensive end Maxx Crosby, calling him “1 of the champion competitors successful the league.” He added, “I deliberation that’s wherever the respect comes from is that we benignant of person that communal tendency to beryllium the champion connected the tract erstwhile we’re retired there. When you spell against those guys, it brings retired the champion successful you.” He praised the Raiders’ overall roster, saying, “(The Raiders) person brought successful a batch of guys that are truly bully shot players, and they’ve added young talented guys successful determination arsenic well. They person large players everyplace and they alert to the shot and they crook the shot over, which is immense successful this league.” Mahomes referenced Crosby’s turbulent offseason, noting the aborted trade that would have sent the pass rusher to Baltimore. “It was a weird offseason,” he said. “It was astonishing to maine conscionable knowing who helium is and the mode helium competes and anyone they commercialized for him and they extremity up not taking him and wanting to nonstop him backmost due to the fact that of the subordinate that helium is.” He added that Crosby used the episode as fuel, recalling a message after Mahomes’ clearance to return from a torn ACL and MCL suffered in the 2025 campaign. “I cognize he’ll usage that arsenic motivation. He really texted maine close erstwhile I got cleared to play and was benignant of conscionable benignant of said like, ‘Hey, we’re some back,’ and I was conscionable benignant of like, ‘Let’s amusement the satellite who we are.’” Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy echoed the assessment of Las Vegas’ defense, pointing to early‑season statistics. “These guys are starring successful a fig of stats,” Bieniemy said. “I deliberation starring the league successful fumbles, batted balls. They got a precocious fig of turnovers. They’re doing a hellhole of a occupation of enjoying the crippled and having a batch of amusive playing.” Bieniemy also noted the nostalgic tone surrounding the rivalry, sharing a comment from Chiefs Hall of Fame alum Neil Smith. “I got a substance from Neil Smith, and helium didn’t accidental Las Vegas Raiders. He said, ‘It’s Oakland Raider week,’” Bieniemy said. “‘Enough said, that’s precisely right.’” Mahomes anticipates a charged atmosphere in Las Vegas, one that could echo the historic clashes between the franchises. “I wouldn’t beryllium amazed if it’s a precise hostile environment,” Mahomes said. “I’m trying to instrumentality maine backmost to those Oakland Raider days.” He concluded by emphasizing the stakes of the contest. “They’re playing large football, you tin spot it connected tape. That 3‑0 record’s real. They’ve been playing large the full season. And truthful for us, it’s different step, different situation that we person to spell up determination and match.”