Patrick Mahomes' Kansas City Chiefs face the next Travis Kelce as Brock Bowers continues rise to NFL dominance - NFL Gameday Guide

The Kansas City Chiefs are back, the NFL London games are back and, much to the delight of the Los Angeles Rams, Puka Nacua could be back.

The lead

I was sat in on our weekly production meeting at Sky Sports NFL on Wednesday when Jason Bell declared Brock Bowers can do everything Jaxon Smith-Njigba can do, the only difference being that he does it from tight end. How right he is.

The Las Vegas Raiders star runs every route on the tree, can line up in any spot across the formation, boasts some of the safest hands in football, buys separation with feints and guile over electrifying speed, can win in isolated situations, can attack all levels of the field and offers focal point output.

Bowers put up 10 catches from 13 targets for 116 yards and a touchdown as the Raiders improved to a shock 3-0 in Sunday's 35-27 win over the New Orleans Saints.

"I mean, it's self-explanatory, he's the best in the business," said Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby. "He's a complete game-changer. Unguardable. So, yeah, we have a guy like that back in the lineup, it definitely helps the team out."

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The Raiders noted this week that he is now the third non-receiver in NFL history to record at least 1,900 receiving yards through his first 30 career games behind Mike Ditka and Kellen Winslow. He is everything he was billed as and more upon being drafted with the 13th overall pick in 2024, becoming the quintessential modern tight end whose makeup would previously fuel the rise of his position-mate in Kansas City.

For so long Travis Kelce has been the blueprint of receiver-traited tight end production, torpedoing press and soft coverage while splitting his time between the slot and perimeter as Patrick Mahomes' most trusted ally. Having shelved retirement for now, a 36-year-old Kelce has started the season strongly with a team-high 14 catches from 19 targets for 231 yards and two touchdowns as part of a reinvigorated Chiefs passing offense.

Behind Kansas City's unbeaten 3-0 start have been signs of Mahomes looking like Mahomes once more, the league's best quarterback attacking defenses with both swagger and aggression through the air after returning from last season's knee injury. A heavy use of play-action has breathed new life in Andy Reid's passing scheme, opening the floor to Mahomes' off-platform exploits and the downfield splash plays that have disappeared in recent seasons.

But for all that Mahomes might be praised for his early impact, the arrival of former Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III has been a game-changer in inspiring this apparent Chiefs resurgence. Play-action success doesn't happen without him.

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Walker, the Super Bowl MVP in February, leads the NFL with 360 rushing yards while averaging 5.5 yards per carry and scoring two touchdowns on the ground, as well as making 11 catches for 82 yards and two scores. He is a long-awaited new dimension to a Chiefs offense that has been carried by Steve Spagnuolo's resistance in recent years, offering a blue-chip cog with which to help restore Mahomes' best.

Sunday also awaits as the latest instalment of Mahomes' mini-rivalry with Raiders edge rusher Crosby, the pair having gone head-to-head on multiple occasions in recent years all while remaining mutual admirers of one another.

"It's been a long time since we really got to go, and I know we're both looking forward to it. I respect him. He knows what it is: it's war," said Crosby.

Speaking on Crosby, Mahomes said: "He actually texted me right when I got cleared to play and just kind of said, 'Hey, we're both back.' And for me, I was just kind of like, 'Let's show the world who we are'.

"And so, I think that's just the competitors in this league. There is a rivalry, when we step on that field, we're going to go at it. That's just kind of what it is and we both know that."

"But at the end of the day, man, you want the great competitors, the great players in this league because it makes the league better. And it makes when you go out there and do get the win even better.

The field is beginning to open up against for Mahomes and his Chiefs offense, a tandem of Walker and his quarterback demanding the respect capable of creating space further downfield. Credit, too, must also go to returning offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, whose experience with Chicago's downhill running attack in 2025 has translated back to Arrowhead.

Suddenly, they look like contenders again.

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Live on Sky this Sunday:

Indianapolis Colts v Washington Commanders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - KO 2.30pm - LIVE from 2pm on Sky Sports NFL and Sky Sports+:

The NFL returns to the UK for the first of three more games in October, which will see the league lift its tally to 45 regular-season matchups in London since 2007. The Commanders are coming off an upset victory over the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks behind backup quarterback Marcus Mariota, filling in for the injured Jayden Daniels following his elbow injury. Daniels has flown to London with the team though his status for Sunday remains uncertain. The Colts meanwhile arrive on the back of a 19-17 win over the Houston Texans, with running back Jonathan Taylor still the heartbeat of Shane Steichen's offense.

Los Angeles Rams @ Philadelphia Eagles - KO 6pm - Exclusively LIVE from 6pm on Sky Sports NFL, Sky Sports Football and part on Sky Sports Main Event:

The Rams were billed as a super-team destined to lead the way in this season's Super Bowl race. It hasn't quite gone to plan after a 1-2 start to the year, but amid the hype has been marquee injuries to both Myles Garrett and their star wide receiver Puka Nacua, so panic would be premature; Nacua is notably expected to be back against the Eagles. Among the shining lights to their rickety start has been Davante Adams, who has 332 yards over the last two weeks as Matthew Stafford's primary target. His role has only been heightened by an injury to Terrance Ferguson, who has become symbolic of the value Sean McVay places in his multiple tight end sets. The Rams just blew a 16-point lead in a 30-26 loss to the Denver Broncos, while the Eagles are nursing the wounds of a 27-7 loss to the Case Keenum-led Chicago Bears.

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Dallas Cowboys @ Houston Texans - KO 6pm - LIVE from 6pm on Sky Sports+:

The Dallas Cowboys offense is Super Bowl-worthy. The Dallas Cowboys defense is anything but. It always loomed as their glaring, overwhelming weakness and the debilitating factor in Championship contention and conversation heading into the season, and there has been little to drift from that narrative so far. The Dallas defense enters Sunday ranked 30th in yards allowed and last in EPA/play with injuries beginning to pile up on the back of their last-second heartbreak against the Baltimore Ravens in Rio de Janeiro. Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens can torch teams as much as they like; it shall mean nothing if Christian Parker's defense can't hold their weight.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Las Vegas Raiders - KO 9.25pm - Exclusively LIVE from 9.15pm on Sky Sports NFL, Sky Sports Football, and part on Sky Sports Main Event:

Nakobe Dean signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in the offseason as part of a significant defensive overhaul, and is already making his influence felt. The former Eagles linebacker remains a tone-setting missile to the ball and has 27 tackles, 1.5 sacks and three forced fumbles to show for his early work. He and fellow offseason arrival Quay Walker are the keys to bottling Kenneth Walker and the scrambling threat of Patrick Mahomes as the Chiefs roll out their play-action offense. For the first time in a long time, it is perhaps the Chiefs defense warranting more question marks than its offense based on three-week production, namely a pass rush that seemingly must rely on blitzing to generate pressure. Next up is an offensive line with one of the best pressure rates in the league so far this season.

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Denver Broncos @ San Francisco 49ers - KO 9.25pm - LIVE from 9.25pm on Sky Sports+:

The Broncos are beginning to figure things out, but are desperate to amend the slow starts that have left them playing catch-up on more than one occasion so far this season. Denver scored 30 second-half points to stun the Rams and came from behind to defeat the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week Two, but continue to see struggles running the ball early on early downs hurt them. That Sean Payton and Bo Nix are finding answers points to a Super Bowl contender. Speaking of which, Brock Purdy has helped thrust the 49ers back into the discussion with an MVP-level start to the year, leading the NFL with nine touchdowns to one interception with a league-high passer rating of 133.1.

Los Angeles Chargers @ Seattle Seahawks - KO 9.25pm - LIVE from 9.25pm on Sky Sports+:

The Chargers run the risk of falling to 0-4 on the year after another string of errors saw them gift the Buffalo Bills a route back in last week's 24-16 loss. Jim Harbaugh's side failed to cash in on five turnovers against Josh Allen's side as Justin Herbert's offense endured another miserable outing. Elsewhere Sam Darnold was beaten on his return from injury as champion Seattle fell to the Commanders, during which Jaxon Smith-Njigba dazzled yet again with 10 catches for 128 yards and two scores.

Detroit Lions @ Carolina Panthers - KO 1.20am (Monday) - LIVE from 1.10am (Monday) on Sky Sports NFL and Sky Sports Main Event:

If there was any doubt as to who the Detroit Lions offense runs through, Jahmyr Gibbs reminded all he remains the focal point with three more touchdowns and 164 yards from scrimmage in Sunday's 31-24 win over the New York Jets. Only James Cook's 12 rushes of more than 10 yards better Gibbs' 11 so far this season, while only Barry Sanders, Maurice Jones-Drew and Todd Gurley have more touchdowns than touchdowns than his 55 before turning the age of 25 in NFL history. The Panthers are back at home following their 21-18 loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week Three, during which Bryce Young endured a tough day against a stern defensive effort, albeit while becoming the NFL's leader in passing yards (939). Pass protection mains a major problem for the top passing attack in the league.

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Latest news

• The Steelers traded cornerback Joey Porter Jr to the Cowboys in exchange for a 2027 sixth-round pick and 2028 second-round pick
• The Vikings traded quarterback J.J. McCarthy to the Giants in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round pick
• Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is expected to return from his hip/groin injury for Sunday's game against the Eagles
• The Giants released wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr after just three games and 19 snaps
• Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has been ruled out for at least three weeks with a thumb injury, with undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels to start in his place
• Dolphins running back De'Von Achane will miss the rest of the year with a torn ACL
• Giants pass rusher Brian Burns is out for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL

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Key stats:

• With three touchdown passes against the Eagles, Rams QB Matthew Stafford, who has 147 touchdown passes with the Los Angeles Rams and had 282 touchdown passes with Detroit, can become the first player in NFL history to have at least 150 touchdown passes with two franchises.
• 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey needs one touchdown reception to surpass Marshall Faulk for the most receiving touchdowns by a running back in the Super Bowl era
• Rams wide receiver Davante Adams leads the NFL with 119 career touchdown receptions and ranks third with 12,991 receiving yards since entering the NFL in 2014
• Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is one catch away from overtaking Tim Brown for the seventh-most receptions in NFL history
• Raiders tight end Brock Bowers needs three receptions to surpass Jason Witten for the most by a tight end under the age of 24 in NFL history
• Lions receiver Amon-Ra St Brown needs 10 more receptions to surpass Justin Jefferson (579) for the most by a player in their first six seasons

Watch the 2026 NFL season live on Sky Sports, including every minute of the playoffs and Super Bowl LXI on Sunday February 14, 2027. Get Sky Sports or stream contract-free with NOW.