Sunday’s Can’t-Miss NFL Slate: Chiefs-Raiders, a Vikings Buzzsaw and a Primetime Shootout

Sunday’s NFL slate is stacked with exactly the kind of chaos that makes football the best day of the week. There’s a breakfast game across the pond with a quarterback mystery, a historic showdown between two teams nobody expected to be undefeated, a defense that might actually embarrass an entire offense, and a shootout waiting to happen under the lights. Grab the snacks and clear your afternoon — here’s what to watch on October 4.

Chiefs at Raiders: Two 3-0 Teams Nobody Saw Coming

This one is a certified rarity. The Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders both enter Sunday at 3-0, and according to Statz AI, it marks the first time in the history of this series that both teams have opened a season this hot after each franchise finished with 10-plus losses a year ago. Kickoff is 4:25 PM ET at Allegiant Stadium, with Kansas City favored by 3.5 to 5.5 points depending on the book and the total sitting around 47.5.

Patrick Mahomes looks fully back to his MVP self as he continues working his way through recovery, and Kansas City’s run game has quietly found a new life with Kenneth Walker III taking on a bigger role after an offensive coordinator shakeup. On the other side, Geno Smith and the Raiders have ridden a league-leading turnover differential to their best start in years, and this is being billed as the biggest home game in Las Vegas since the franchise relocated. Both rosters are banged up on the fringes — Kansas City is without OT Josh Simmons and LB Cooper McDonald, while Las Vegas is missing WR Jack Bech and TE Carter Runyon — but neither team has needed much outside help to win so far.

Dolphins at Vikings: A Mismatch Hiding in Plain Sight

If you want to watch a buzzsaw defense dismantle an overmatched offense, set your channel to Minneapolis at 4:05 PM ET. Minnesota opened as a 10.5-to-11.5-point home favorite over Miami — the largest spread anywhere on the Sunday slate — and the total sits at a minuscule 38.5, the lowest of the week. Brian Flores’ Vikings defense ranks first in the league in EPA through three weeks, with 37 quarterback hits, 14 sacks and six takeaways already banked.

Miami is walking into this one freshly reeling: rookie standout running back De’Von Achane tore his ACL in Week 3 and is done for the year, leaving Malik Willis to try to move the ball behind a Dolphins offense that ranks dead last in the league through three games. Minnesota isn’t at full strength either — star receiver Justin Jefferson (ankle) has officially been ruled out, pushing Jordan Addison into the No. 1 role — but with Minnesota’s defense this dominant, that might not matter much against a Miami team still hunting for its first win at 0-3.

Lions at Panthers: Sunday Night’s Built-In Shootout

Save room for the Sunday Night Football game, because Detroit at Carolina has shootout written all over it. The Lions have scored exactly 31 points in all three games this season — an oddly specific streak — but their defense ranks near the bottom of the league in points and yards allowed, which is a big reason the total for this one has climbed to 50.5-to-51.5, the highest mark of the week. Kickoff is 8:20 PM ET from Bank of America Stadium.

Running back Jahmyr Gibbs has been nothing short of a problem, piling up 307 rushing yards and four touchdowns through three games while also chipping in 156 receiving yards and two more scores. He gets to face a Carolina defense that just lost both of its starting cornerbacks, Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson, to injured reserve this week. Panthers quarterback Bryce Young — who happens to be Gibbs’ former Alabama teammate — leads the NFL in passing yards with 939 but has been pressured on more than half his dropbacks behind a line that’s also missing starters at guard and tackle. Detroit leads the league in sacks, which does not bode well for a banged-up Carolina front.

Colts at Commanders: A London Mystery Guest

The day kicks off early with a 9:30 AM ET breakfast game from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, where Indianapolis and Washington meet at 1-2 apiece. Indianapolis is favored by about 3.5 points with a total near 47.5-48.5, but the bigger storyline is at quarterback for Washington. Jayden Daniels, who dislocated his elbow in Week 2, traveled with the team and has practiced in London, but backup Marcus Mariota looked plenty capable last week, throwing three touchdowns in a 33-31 upset over Seattle.

Whoever lines up under center for Washington will have plenty to work with, while Indianapolis will lean on running back Jonathan Taylor against a Commanders run defense that ranks third in the league. Both teams snapped early-season funks last Sunday, so whichever side returns home with a win effectively seizes momentum in a muddled AFC/NFC wild-card race.

This Week’s Best Bets

Across these four marquee matchups, a few picks stand out as the most interesting watches of the day.

• Chiefs at Raiders: Lean Chiefs, but expect this one to go down to the fourth quarter.
• Dolphins at Vikings: Minnesota’s defense should carry the day even without Jefferson.
• Lions at Panthers: Take the Over — Detroit’s offense versus Carolina’s injury-ravaged defense points toward fireworks.
• Colts at Commanders: Indianapolis in a tight one, with Washington live for the upset if Mariota keeps rolling.

Whichever games you flip between, Sunday’s slate has no shortage of storylines worth the remote control. Check the NFL odds page for the latest lines before kickoff.