The Kansas City Chiefs have re‑emerged as a force, the NFL's London showcase is back in action, and the Los Angeles Rams have a reason to celebrate with the possible return of wideout Puka Nacua. I was present at Sky Sports NFL's weekly production meeting on Wednesday when analyst Jason Bell boldly claimed that Brock Bowers can perform every task that Jaxon Smith‑Njigba does – the only distinction being that Bowers does it from the tight‑end position. Bell was spot‑on. Bowers is a versatile weapon.
He runs every route on the tree, can line up anywhere across the formation, possesses some of the most reliable hands in the league, and creates separation with clever fakes rather than relying solely on raw speed. He can win one‑on‑one battles, attack every level of the defense, and serve as a focal point in the passing game.
In the Raiders' surprising 35‑27 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Bowers recorded ten receptions on thirteen targets for 116 yards and a touchdown, helping Las Vegas improve to an unexpected 3‑0 start. "It's self‑explanatory – he's the best in the business," said Raiders pass‑rusher Maxx Crosby.
"He's a complete game‑changer. Unguardable. Having a player like that back in the lineup definitely lifts the whole team." The Raiders also highlighted that Bowers has become only the third non‑receiver in NFL history to amass at least 1,900 receiving yards in his first 30 career games, joining legends Mike Ditka and Kellen Winslow.
Drafted 13th overall in 2024, he has already exceeded the lofty expectations placed on him, embodying the modern tight end archetype that once propelled his Kansas City counterpart. For years, Travis Kelce set the standard for a receiving‑focused tight end, shredding press coverage and soft zones while splitting time between the slot and the outside as quarterback Patrick Mahomes' most trusted target. Now 36 and having postponed retirement, Kelce has opened the season with a team‑leading 14 catches on 19 targets for 231 yards and two touchdowns, helping revitalize the Chiefs' aerial attack. Kansas City’s flawless 3‑0 start has been driven by Mahomes looking, once again, like the league’s premier quarterback.
After recovering from a knee injury last season, he is attacking defenses with swagger and aggression, using play‑action to great effect. Andy Reid’s revamped passing scheme now gives Mahomes the freedom to launch off‑platform throws and deep‑field splash passes that had faded in recent years. While Mahomes deserves credit for his early impact, the arrival of former Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III has been a game‑changing addition that fuels the Chiefs' resurgence.
Play‑action success rarely works without a credible rushing threat, and Walker provides exactly that. The Super Bowl MVP from February leads the league with 360 rushing yards, averages 5.5 yards per carry, and has scored two rushing touchdowns.
He also contributes 11 receptions for 82 yards and two scores, adding a new dimension to an offense that has relied heavily on Steve Spagnuolo's defensive schemes in recent seasons. Sunday also promises a continuation of Mahomes' budding rivalry with Raiders edge‑rusher Maxx Crosby. The two have faced off numerous times and share mutual respect.
"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," Crosby said. Mahomes responded: "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 like, 'Let's show the world who we are.' There's a rivalry—when we step onto the field we go at it.
That's just how it is, and we both know that. At the end of the day, man, you want great competitors, great players in this league because it makes the league better and makes the win even sweeter." The Chiefs' offense is finally opening up. The tandem of Walker and Mahomes is demanding respect and carving out space downfield.
Credit also goes to returning offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, whose experience with Chicago's downhill rushing attack in 2025 has translated back to Arrowhead, giving the team a balanced attack that looks like a legitimate contender again. The NFL's return to the United Kingdom kicks off with three games in October, raising the total of regular‑season matchups in London to 45 since 2007. The first contest features the Indianapolis Colts against the Washington Commanders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The Commanders come off an upset win over Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, with backup quarterback Marcus Mariota stepping in for the injured Jayden Daniels. Daniels traveled to London but his status remains uncertain. The Colts arrive after a narrow 19‑17 victory over the Houston Texans, with running back Jonathan Taylor still the engine of Shane Steichen's offense. Later, the Los Angeles Rams travel to Philadelphia to face the Eagles.
The Rams were billed as a super‑team early in the season, but a 1‑2 start and injuries to Myles Garrett and star receiver Puka Nacua have tempered expectations. Nacua is expected to return against the Eagles. Meanwhile, Davante Adams has emerged as a bright spot, hauling 332 yards over the past two weeks as Matthew Stafford's primary target. Tight‑end Terrance Ferguson's injury has forced head coach Sean McVay to lean even more on his multiple‑tight‑end formations.
The Dallas Cowboys host the Houston Texans. The Cowboys' offense remains elite, but their defense continues to be a glaring weakness, ranking near the bottom in yards allowed and EPA per play. Injuries have compounded their struggles, and after a heartbreaking loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Rio de Janeiro, the defense's performance will be under intense scrutiny.
Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and George Pickens can light up the scoreboard, but without a solid defensive effort, victories will be elusive. Kansas City will square off against the Las Vegas Raiders later Sunday. The Raiders have added former Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean in the offseason, and he is already making an impact with 27 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles.
Alongside fellow newcomer Quay Walker, Dean is expected to help contain Kenneth Walker and limit Mahomes' play‑action. For the first time in years, questions may now linger more over the Chiefs' defense than their offense, as the pass rush appears to rely heavily on blitzes to generate pressure. In the West Coast matchup, the Denver Broncos visit the San Francisco 49ers. The Broncos are beginning to find their rhythm after a dramatic 30‑point second‑half comeback against the Rams and a comeback win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, but early‑down rushing woes persist.
Meanwhile, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is leading the league with nine touchdowns to one interception and a passer rating of 133.1, positioning San Francisco as a serious Super Bowl contender. The Los Angeles Chargers travel to Seattle to take on the Seahawks. The Chargers risk slipping to 0‑4 after a series of miscues, including a loss to the Buffalo Bills where they squandered five turnovers.
Justin Herbert's offense struggled again, while Seattle's Jaxon Smith‑Njigba dazzled with 10 catches for 128 yards and two scores. Finally, the Detroit Lions face the Carolina Panthers in a Monday‑night showdown.
Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs continues to be the focal point, tallying three touchdowns and 164 yards from scrimmage in a 31‑24 win over the New York Jets. Only a handful of players in NFL history—Barry Sanders, Maurice Jones‑Drew, and Todd Gurley—have recorded more touchdowns before turning 25. The Panthers, coming off a narrow loss to the Cleveland Browns, saw quarterback Bryce Young lead the league in passing yards (939) despite a tough defensive battle, highlighting ongoing protection issues for the league's top aerial attack. All of these storylines will unfold as Sky Sports broadcasts the 2026 NFL season live, including every playoff game and Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027.
Viewers can watch via Sky Sports subscriptions or stream for free with NOW.