The rivalry is different. Ask anyone in Kansas City or Las Vegas, and they won't just give you a win-loss record. They’ll give you a vibe. Usually, that vibe involves a lot of noise, some questionable officiating, and a scoreline that defies logic. When you look up the Kansas City Chiefs and Raiders score, you aren’t just looking for numbers on a digital ticker; you’re looking for the moment the momentum shifted in the AFC West.
It happens every year. Twice.
Recently, though, one specific score has haunted the nightmares of the Kingdom. It was December 25, 2023. While most of the country was opening presents, the Raiders were unwrapping a defensive masterclass at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The final? Raiders 20, Chiefs 14. ### The Day the Defense Outscored the Offense
Honestly, it was weird. Usually, a Patrick Mahomes-led offense is a lock for at least 20 points. Not that day. The Raiders didn’t even score an offensive touchdown. Think about that for a second. You win a divisional game against the defending Super Bowl champs on their home turf without your quarterback throwing for a single score. Aidan O'Connell finished the game with 62 passing yards. Sixty-two! He didn't complete a single pass after the first quarter.
Yet, the scoreboard didn't care.
The Raiders defense stepped up in a way that felt like a throwback to the 70s. Bilal Nichols scooped up a fumble for a touchdown. Literally seconds later, Jack Jones jumped a route, picked off Mahomes, and took it to the house. Two defensive touchdowns in seven seconds. That’s how you flip a game. The Kansas City Chiefs and Raiders score reflected a total collapse of the KC offensive line and a masterstroke by Antonio Pierce, who was still the interim coach at the time.
Pierce knew something most people didn't. He knew that if you bully the Chiefs’ receivers at the line of scrimmage, the timing falls apart. He "ill-advisedly" (according to some) unleashed a physical style of play that the Raiders have since dubbed the "Mahomes Rules." It worked.
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Breaking Down the Statistical Anomalies
The raw data from these matchups is often baffling. In that 20-14 loss, the Chiefs actually outgained the Raiders by nearly 100 yards. They had more first downs. They had better third-down efficiency. But they lost.
Football is funny like that.
If you look at the 2024 rematch in Las Vegas, the script flipped. The Kansas City Chiefs and Raiders score ended up being 27-20 in favor of the Chiefs. It wasn't pretty. Travis Kelce finally found the end zone for his first touchdown of the season in that game. It took until Week 8. That tells you everything you need to know about how tough these divisional matchups have become. The Raiders, despite their struggles in the standings, play the Chiefs harder than almost anyone else in the league.
- Total Yards: Chiefs 334, Raiders 228 (Oct 2024)
- Turnovers: Raiders 1, Chiefs 1
- Key Moment: A late fourth-quarter goal-line stand by the Chiefs defense.
Most fans forget that the Raiders actually led that game early. Maxx Crosby was a nightmare for Wanya Morris and the Chiefs' offensive tackles. Crosby is the X-factor. When he’s on, the score stays low. When he’s neutralized, Mahomes starts carving up the secondary like a Thanksgiving turkey.
The Psychological War Behind the Numbers
Why does the Kansas City Chiefs and Raiders score often look so ugly? It's psychological. Antonio Pierce famously talked about his "Jordan Rules" approach to Mahomes. He wanted to hit him. He wanted to frustrate him. And for a while, it genuinely worked.
But Andy Reid is a strategist who thrives on adjustments.
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After that Christmas Day debacle, the Chiefs went on a tear. They didn't lose another game for the rest of the season, eventually winning the Super Bowl. You could argue—and many players like Chris Jones have—that the 20-14 loss to the Raiders was the "wake-up call" they needed. It forced the offense to simplify. It forced Mahomes to stop chasing the "big play" and start taking the check-downs to Isiah Pacheco.
Historical Context: The Blowouts and the Squeakers
We’ve seen some wild swings in this series. Remember 2021? The Chiefs hung 48 points on the Raiders in December, then turned around and dropped 41 on them a month later. Those scores felt like the rivalry was dead. It felt like the Chiefs had simply evolved past the point of being challenged by their silver-and-black neighbors.
Then came the "Bus Incident."
In 2020, the Raiders beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead and proceeded to take a "victory lap" around the stadium in their team buses. The score was 40-32. It was a high-flying, offensive explosion that signaled the Raiders were back. The Chiefs haven't forgotten that. To this day, when the Kansas City Chiefs and Raiders score starts leaning heavily in favor of KC, the fans start chirping about those buses.
What to Look for in the Next Matchup
When you’re tracking the next Kansas City Chiefs and Raiders score, don't just look at the final number. Look at the sack count. Look at the penalties. This game is usually won in the trenches and decided by which quarterback blinks first.
Lately, the Raiders have focused on a "ball control" offense to keep Mahomes off the field. It’s a smart move. If Zamir White can grind out 4 yards a carry, the clock melts away. The problem is that the Chiefs' defense, led by Steve Spagnuolo, has become one of the top units in the NFL. They aren't the "weak link" anymore. In fact, they’re often the reason the score stays close even when the KC offense is sputtering.
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Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
Tracking these scores isn't just about bragging rights; it's about understanding the shift in AFC West power dynamics. Here is how you should evaluate the next game:
Watch the Red Zone Efficiency. The Raiders have struggled to turn trips inside the 20 into touchdowns. If the Raiders score 3 points instead of 7 on their first two drives, the game is basically over. Mahomes is too good at closing gaps late in the game.
Monitor the Turnover Margin. In the last five meetings, the team that wins the turnover battle has won the game four times. It sounds like a cliché, but in a rivalry this heated, a single fumble (like the ones on Christmas Day) can change the entire season trajectory.
Pressure Without Blitzing. If the Raiders can get to Mahomes using only their front four, they have a chance. If they have to blitz to get pressure, Mahomes will find Kelce or the emerging rookie threats over the middle.
The Kansas City Chiefs and Raiders score is a living document of one of the NFL’s most storied feuds. Whether it’s a 13-12 defensive slog or a 45-10 blowout, the intensity never wavers. Keep an eye on the defensive line rotations and the health of the Chiefs' interior linemen, as that's where the Raiders usually find their opening.