If you were looking for the typical January fireworks at Arrowhead, I’ve got some bad news. The vibe in Kansas City right now is... let's just say "muted." For a team that usually spends this time of year planning Super Bowl parades, the final kansas city chiefs game score from their season finale felt like a cold splash of water.
They lost. Again.
The Chiefs wrapped up their 2025-2026 campaign with a 14-12 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on January 4, 2026. It wasn't a playoff thriller. It was a Week 18 struggle at Allegiant Stadium that mirrored a season most fans would rather delete from their memory.
Honestly, seeing a 6-11 record next to the Chiefs' logo feels like a glitch in the Matrix.
The Finale: Raiders 14, Chiefs 12
This game was ugly. No other way to put it.
The Chiefs actually had a lead with just about a minute left on the clock. Harrison Butker, who has basically been the only consistent part of this team lately, nailed a 41-yard field goal to put KC up 12-11. For a second, it felt like they might actually end the skid.
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Then Daniel Carlson happened.
The Raiders kicker launched a 60-yard bomb with eight seconds left. It cleared the crossbar, and that was that. Game over. Season over. The kansas city chiefs game score stayed frozen at 12-14, handing the Chiefs their sixth straight loss.
Who actually played?
Andy Reid decided to sit the big guns for a good chunk of this. Patrick Mahomes wasn't out there trying to save the day in a meaningless Week 18 game. Instead, we saw Shane Buechele and Chris Oladokun under center.
- Shane Buechele: Threw for 88 yards. He had one massive 51-yard completion to Hollywood Brown that set up the final field goal.
- Brashard Smith: The rookie tailback got his first start. He looked decent, honestly. 56 yards on 12 carries.
- Travis Kelce: He played just long enough to make history. Kelce passed Terrell Owens for the eighth-most receptions in NFL history and hit 13,000 career yards.
It’s weirdly poetic. Kelce is still breaking records while the team around him is stumbling.
Why the Chiefs Score Has Been So Low Lately
If you've been tracking the kansas city chiefs game score over the last two months, you’ve noticed a pattern. It’s low. Very low.
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The offense that used to scare every defensive coordinator in the league just... evaporated. During this six-game losing streak to end the year, they haven't scored more than 14 points in a single game. Look at these numbers:
- 12 points against Vegas.
- 13 points against Denver.
- 9 points against Tennessee.
- 13 points against the Chargers.
That is not "Chiefs football."
The defense, led by Nick Bolton and Chris Jones, actually played out of their minds most of the year. They held the Raiders to 14 points! Usually, that’s a guaranteed win for Mahomes. But the offensive line struggled, the run game was inconsistent, and the explosive plays just weren't there.
What This Means for 2026
The Chiefs finished third in the AFC West. That’s a sentence I haven't had to write in a long time.
Because they finished third, their 2026 schedule is already taking shape. They’re locked into games against the third-place finishers in other divisions. That means matchups with the Cincinnati Bengals and the Indianapolis Colts are on the books for next year.
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It’s a bizarre reality. The Broncos (14-3) and Chargers (11-6) are the ones heading into the postseason while Kansas City starts looking at mock drafts.
The Silver Lining (Sorta)
Getting a higher draft pick is the only consolation prize here. The Raiders actually clinched the No. 1 overall pick with their win, which tells you how bad they were too. But the Chiefs are firmly in the top 10.
Coach Andy Reid mentioned after the game that it was "great to get the young guys some playing time." That’s coach-speak for "we need to see who is worth keeping for the rebuild."
Actionable Next Steps for Chiefs Fans
The season is done, but the work for 2026 starts now. If you're wondering how to handle this offseason, here's the move:
- Watch the Senior Bowl: Keep an eye on offensive tackle prospects. The protection issues were the biggest reason the kansas city chiefs game score stayed so low this year.
- Monitor the Salary Cap: With Kelce getting older and Mahomes' contract hitting its peak, the front office has some hard math to do.
- Check the All-Pro Lists: Despite the losing record, guys like Chris Jones and Travis Kelce are still playing at elite levels. Their status will dictate how fast this turnaround happens.
The "dynasty" took a massive hit this year. But in the NFL, things move fast. One good draft and a healthy Mahomes usually fixes a lot of problems.
Stay tuned to the local beat reporters—Matt McMullen at Chiefs.com is usually the best source for internal team news—and start prepping for a very busy spring in Kansas City.