Kansas City Chiefs vs Raiders score: What Really Happened in the Season Finale

Honestly, if you looked at the records before kickoff, you probably expected a snoozer. A 6-10 Chiefs team against a 2-14 Raiders squad? On paper, it looked like two heavyweights who had spent the season punching themselves in the face. But when the kansas city chiefs vs raiders score finally settled at 14-12 in favor of Las Vegas, it wasn't just another game. It was a bizarre, field-goal-heavy defensive struggle that ended a decade of misery for the Silver and Black.

The Raiders hadn't beaten the Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium. Ever. They were on a 10-game losing streak overall. They were stuck in an 11-game skid against the AFC West. Then, Daniel Carlson stepped up.

With only eight seconds left on the clock, Carlson hammered a career-best 60-yard field goal. The ball cleared the uprights, the Vegas crowd went wild, and the Chiefs headed home with their eighth loss in ten games. It was a weirdly poetic way for a rough season to end.

Breaking Down the Kansas City Chiefs vs Raiders Score

This wasn't a game of highlight-reel touchdowns. In fact, there weren't any offensive touchdowns.

Think about that for a second. In an NFL game in 2026, two professional offenses failed to find the end zone for 60 minutes. The scoring was a gritty collection of kicks and a defensive safety.

Here is how the points actually hit the board:

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• First Quarter: Harrison Butker got things started with a 31-yarder. (KC 3, LV 0)
• Second Quarter: The Raiders capitalized on a Chris Oladokun fumble. Daniel Carlson knocked through two short ones (23 and 31 yards) to give Vegas the lead. (KC 3, LV 6)
• Third Quarter: Another Butker field goal tied it up. (KC 6, LV 6)
• Fourth Quarter: This is where it got chaotic. Carlson hit a 55-yarder. Then, the Raiders' defense pinned the Chiefs deep, and Tyree Wilson forced a safety. Suddenly, it was 11-6.
• The Final Minute: Butker hit two more field goals—one after a muffed kickoff—to miraculously give the Chiefs a 12-11 lead with about a minute left.
• The Dagger: Aidan O’Connell found Michael Mayer for 21 yards, setting up Carlson’s 60-yard walk-off winner. (KC 12, LV 14)

The Mahomes-less Struggle

You might be wondering where Patrick Mahomes was in all of this. Well, the Chiefs’ season had already spiraled, and with the playoffs out of reach, we saw a lot of Shane Buechele and Chris Oladokun.

Oladokun struggled, losing a fumble that led to the Raiders' first points. Buechele was a bit more sparky, especially when he heaved a 51-yard "haymaker" to Marquise "Hollywood" Brown late in the fourth. That play almost saved the game for Kansas City. Almost.

Why the 14-12 Result Actually Matters

It’s easy to dismiss a game between two losing teams, but this one has massive implications for the 2026 NFL Draft.

Because the Raiders won, they actually messed with their draft positioning, though most fans in the stadium didn't care. They just wanted to beat the Chiefs. For Kansas City, a 6-11 finish is their worst record in the Andy Reid era. It’s unchartered territory.

Travis Kelce’s Silver Lining

Even in a loss, Travis Kelce was doing Travis Kelce things. During the third quarter, he caught a short pass that officially moved him past Terrell Owens for the eighth-most receptions in NFL history.

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He also became the fastest tight end to ever hit 13,000 career receiving yards. He’s 36 now, but he still looks like the only guy on that offense who knows where the first-down marker is. It’s kinda sad to see such a legendary performance wasted in a 12-point effort, but that’s the 2025-26 Chiefs for you.

Defensive Standouts and Statistical Oddities

If you love "Old School" football—the kind where people hit each other and nobody scores—this was your Super Bowl.

The Raiders' defense was led by Maxx Crosby and Tyree Wilson. Wilson, in particular, looked like the player Vegas hoped he’d be when they drafted him, constantly lived in the Chiefs' backfield. On the other side, Chris Jones was his usual self, racking up two sacks and almost single-handedly keeping the Chiefs in the game.

• Total Touchdowns: 0
• Total Field Goals: 8
• Safety: 1 (Tyree Wilson)
• Longest Play: 51-yard pass (Buechele to Brown)
• Winning Kick: 60 yards (Daniel Carlson)

The Raiders’ rookie sensation, Ashton Jeanty, didn't have his most explosive game, but his 87 yards were enough to break Josh Jacobs' franchise rookie record for yards from scrimmage. He finished the year with 1,321 yards. That’s a bright spot for a team that has had a lot of dark days lately.

What’s Next for Both Franchises?

The kansas city chiefs vs raiders score is now in the history books, and both teams are heading into a massive offseason of soul-searching.

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For the Raiders, the win might have saved some jobs, but rumors are still swirling about Pete Carroll's future and whether the team will target a quarterback like Fernando Mendoza in the draft. They have the talent on defense, but the O'Connell experiment feels like it has reached its ceiling.

For the Chiefs, this is an existential crisis. You can't just "plug and play" when you finish 6-11. Expect a massive overhaul of the wide receiver room (again) and some serious questions about the offensive line depth.

Actionable Next Steps for Fans:

• Watch the Draft Order: Keep an eye on the updated 2026 NFL Draft board; this win moved the Raiders out of the top spot, which could change their entire scouting strategy.
• Check the Injury Reports: Both teams had several "young guns" playing in the finale. See who stayed healthy, as these players (like Ethan Downs or Jack Cochrane) will be the foundation of the 2026 rosters.
• Review the Cap Space: Kansas City enters the offseason with significant decisions on veterans. Check your favorite cap tracker to see if the Chiefs can actually afford to keep Chris Jones and Hollywood Brown for another run.

The rivalry is still alive, even if the quality of play in this specific game was... let's call it "acquired taste." But a 60-yard game-winner is a 60-yard game-winner, regardless of the record.