Three weeks into the 2026 NFL season, only five teams remain unbeaten — a reminder of how difficult it is to win every week in a real-life survivor pool. One of those five will almost certainly lose its perfect record this weekend when the Chiefs visit the Raiders (yes, ties are possible). The other 3-0 clubs entering Week 4 are the Bills, Vikings and 49ers, and all are favored in their upcoming matchups.
Here’s my prediction for when each of the five teams will suffer its first loss.
Las Vegas Raiders — Week 4 at Kansas City
The Raiders’ 3-0 start is impressive on the surface, but the teams they’ve beaten (Dolphins, Chargers and Saints) have gone just 1-5 in their other games, the weakest slate among the unbeaten teams. Las Vegas has generated a lot of defensive turnover luck — they lead the league with nine takeaways after recording 16 all of last season — but Kansas City has protected the ball well, coughing up only two turnovers through three games. Though both clubs have scored the same number of points so far, the Chiefs are piling up roughly 105 more yards per game and are averaging five yards per carry versus the Raiders’ 3.23. Kansas City is a 4.5-point favorite in Las Vegas, and I expect the Chiefs to end the Raiders’ streak. Brock Bowers’ return helps Las Vegas, but they’ve shown vulnerability defending tight ends, which bodes well for Travis Kelce.
San Francisco 49ers — Week 4 vs. Denver
San Francisco has been excellent early, with Brock Purdy perhaps getting the best quarterback start in the league — nine TDs to one interception — despite multiple receiver injuries. The offense ranks elite in yards per play (7.35), third-down conversion rate (63%) and red-zone efficiency (90%). The Broncos’ defense has underwhelmed compared to expectations, sliding far down the rankings, but they’ve still pulled off wins over Jacksonville and staged a late rally to beat the Rams. Talanoa Hufanga returns home this week, and while Bo Nix has been ordinary, a spark connection with a player like Jaylen Waddle might be possible. If the 49ers handle Denver, they’ll head to Seattle next week, which could be the tougher test after their dominant winless run there in January.
Buffalo Bills — Week 5 at Los Angeles Rams
Buffalo should be expected to beat the Patriots at home, yet the Bills’ defense remains a work in progress despite the team leading the league in scoring. Josh Allen’s three turnovers in Week 3 were a reminder of how games can slip away. The Rams have started 1-2 and rank near the top in yards gained but have been inefficient scoring, sitting around 20th in points. Their Monday night matchup at SoFi Stadium looks like a potential Super Bowl dress rehearsal and echoes their wild December 2024 meeting, when Buffalo never led and lost 44-42 — a game in which Allen threw for three TDs, ran for three TDs and still lost, a unique NFL oddity. I’m predicting the Bills fall in Los Angeles, and the bigger question is whether they’ll return to that field later in the year.
Kansas City Chiefs — Week 7 at Seattle
The Chiefs appear to be back to form: Patrick Mahomes healthy, a rejuvenated secondary, and a 3-0 start that should continue with wins over Las Vegas and a struggling Chargers team before their Week 6 bye. After the break they travel to Seattle in a marquee Sunday night matchup — a showdown many will circle on the calendar. Seattle’s defense has been outstanding (third in scoring, first in total and first in pass defense), and Kenneth Walker’s return to face his former team, plus the Seahawks’ stout run defense (about 3.26 yards per carry allowed), could make life difficult for Kansas City. If Sam Darnold limits turnovers and Jaxon Smith-Njigba hits the end zone, I think Seattle will hand the Chiefs their first loss.
Minnesota Vikings — Week 8 at Detroit
Wouldn’t it be something if Kyler Murray ended up the last unbeaten QB standing? He’s done similar before (the 7-0 Cardinals start in 2021). But Minnesota’s early success is really built on Brian Flores’ defense: only Jacksonville has allowed fewer points, Minnesota leads the league in sacks, and they’re tied for third in takeaways with six. Their upcoming schedule is favorable — the Dolphins, Saints, a bye, then the Colts — so the Vikings should stay perfect through that stretch and into the big divisional test in Week 8 on FOX. Detroit, though, has been stingy with turnovers (just one in three games) and has been improving up front; given motivation for revenge after a sweep last year, the Lions look like a team that could end Minnesota’s run in Week 8.
Fan Take: Fans should care because early unbeaten streaks shape narratives, influence playoff expectations and fuel weekly debates about which team can sustain excellence. These early results and the matchups ahead could redefine contenders, expose weaknesses, and make the race for postseason positioning far more compelling.
Source: www.foxsports.com
