If you’re looking for a current Kansas City Chiefs score today, Friday, January 16, 2026, you’re going to find a very quiet scoreboard. There is no game. For the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era, the Kingdom is sitting at home while the rest of the AFC battles it out in the Divisional Round. It’s weird, right? Honestly, it feels a little surreal to see a playoff bracket that doesn’t have that arrowhead logo stamped somewhere in the mix.
The Chiefs finished their 2025-2026 campaign with a 6-11 record. Their final score of the season was a 14-12 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on January 4, 2026. That game was a microcosm of their entire year: close, frustrating, and ultimately falling short because of self-inflicted wounds.
The Last Score That Mattered: Chiefs vs. Raiders Recap
Let’s look at that final score one more time. 12 to 14. It wasn't a shootout. It was a grind. Harrison Butker basically provided the entire offensive output, hitting four field goals (36, 40, 47, and 41 yards). He actually put the Chiefs ahead 12-11 with just about a minute left on the clock. You thought they had it. Everyone did. Then Daniel Carlson happens.
Carlson nailed a 60-yard field goal with eight seconds left to give the Raiders the win at Allegiant Stadium. It was a heartbreaking way to end a season that never really found its rhythm. Mahomes wasn’t even on the field for that final drive; the team had already pivoted to looking at younger talent like Shane Buechele and Chris Oladokun in the final weeks once they were mathematically eliminated.
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Why the Current Kansas City Chiefs Score is "Zero" Right Now
The NFL playoffs are currently in full swing, but the Chiefs are spectators. While teams like the Denver Broncos and the Buffalo Bills are preparing for their Divisional Round matchups this weekend (January 17-18, 2026), the Chiefs are already deep into "offseason mode."
- The Playoff Streak Ended: After making the postseason every year since 2015, the streak died at nine seasons.
- Third Place in the AFC West: Denver took the division, and the Chargers managed to snag a wild card spot, leaving KC at the bottom of the division heap with the Raiders.
- Draft Position: The "score" fans are tracking now isn't on a scoreboard—it's the 2026 NFL Draft order.
What Went Wrong? Analyzing the 6-11 Season
It wasn't just one thing. It was a slow burn of issues that finally caught up to them. The season started with a loss to the Chargers in Brazil (21-27) and just sort of spiraled from there. They had a decent mid-season run where they beat the Ravens and Lions, but the wheels fell off in December. They lost five straight games to close out the year.
- The Offense Stagnated: We saw a lot of 13-16 and 10-20 scores. The explosive 40-point games of the past felt like ancient history.
- Injury Bugs: Key pieces of the offensive line and the receiving corps spent more time in the training room than on the turf.
- The "Dynasty" Fatigue: You could see it. The mental errors, the penalties at the worst possible times. It looked like a team that had played too much high-stakes football over the last five years and finally ran out of gas.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Opponents
Since the current Kansas City Chiefs score is effectively final for the 2025-2026 season, fans are already looking at who they have to face next fall to fix this mess. Because they finished third in the AFC West, their schedule for late 2026 is actually set by the NFL’s rotating formula.
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They’ll have the usual home-and-away battles with the Broncos, Raiders, and Chargers. But they’ve also got the AFC East (Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Patriots) and the NFC West (49ers, Seahawks, Rams, Cardinals) on the docket. Plus, they’ll play the third-place finishers from the other AFC divisions: the Cincinnati Bengals and the Indianapolis Colts.
Actionable Steps for Chiefs Fans
If you're feeling the sting of an empty January, here is what you should be tracking over the next few weeks to stay ahead of the curve.
Monitor the 2026 NFL Draft Order
With a 6-11 record, the Chiefs are looking at a top-10 or early-teens pick. This is the highest they've drafted in a decade. Keep an eye on tackle prospects and high-end WR talent.
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Watch the Divisional Round Games
Specifically, watch the Denver Broncos vs. Buffalo Bills game tomorrow, January 17. The Broncos are currently the team to beat in the AFC West, and seeing how they handle the playoff pressure will tell you a lot about the mountain the Chiefs have to climb next year.
Free Agency Reports
The "new score" begins in March. The Chiefs have some massive decisions to make regarding aging veterans and salary cap space. If they don't get active in the trenches, 2026 might look a lot like 2025.
The scoreboard might be dark at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium right now, but the work for the next current Kansas City Chiefs score is already happening in the front office. It's a long way to September.