The scoreboard at Allegiant Stadium flashed a finality that nobody in Missouri wanted to see: 14-12. It was January 4, 2026. The Kansas City Chiefs had just lost to the Las Vegas Raiders. For most of the NFL, a two-point game in Week 18 is just a footnote. For Kansas City? It was the end of a campaign that felt like a fever dream, and not the good kind.
People keep searching for the kansas city nfl score because the numbers don't seem to add up with the names on the roster. Patrick Mahomes. Travis Kelce. Andy Reid. Yet, they finished 6-11. It's the kind of record that makes you double-check the app to ensure you aren't looking at a different era. Honestly, it was a grind from the start.
The Heartbreak in Las Vegas
Let’s talk about that last game. It was ugly. It was a field goal fest that reminded everyone of 1970s football. Harrison Butker, who has been the most reliable part of this team for years, did his job. He nailed four field goals. He even put the Chiefs ahead 12-11 with just about a minute left on the clock. You’ve seen this movie before, right? The Chiefs lead late, the defense holds, everyone goes home happy.
Except the Raiders didn't read the script.
Daniel Carlson, a guy who basically defines "clutch," stepped up for a 60-yarder. Sixty yards. With eight seconds left. He nailed it. The ball cleared the crossbar, and the Raiders snapped a 10-game losing streak. The Chiefs, meanwhile, headed into an early offseason for the first time in what feels like a decade.
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Why the Offense Stalled
If you’re looking for a single reason the scores looked so low this year, you have to look at the injuries. It wasn't just "bumps and bruises." It was a systemic collapse.
- Quarterback Carousel: Patrick Mahomes missed significant time late in the season. Seeing Shane Buechele and Chris Oladokun under center just didn't have the same magic.
- The Run Game: Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt fought for every yard, but when the passing game isn't threatening the deep ball, the box gets crowded.
- Red Zone Woes: This was the biggest shocker. The Chiefs used to score at will inside the 20. This year? They settled for Butker more than a Super Bowl contender should.
It’s weird seeing a Chiefs score that starts with a "1" so often. They lost 13-20 to Denver on Christmas. They lost 9-26 to Tennessee. The high-flying circus we grew accustomed to during the early 2020s was replaced by a team that was just trying to survive the next series.
Breaking Down the Kansas City NFL Score Trends
If you look at the season as a whole, the kansas city nfl score tells a story of two different teams. They actually started 5-3. There was hope. They beat the Ravens 37-20 in Week 4. That game was classic KC. Mahomes was flicking the ball everywhere, and Xavier Worthy looked like the second coming of Tyreek Hill.
Then the wheels fell off.
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Between November and January, the Chiefs managed only one win—an overtime thriller against the Colts. Everything else was a sea of red on the schedule.
The Defensive Silver Lining
Believe it or not, the scores could have been way worse. Steve Spagnuolo’s defense actually played out of their minds for most of the year. They finished top 10 in overall defense. Chris Jones was still a wrecking ball, and Nick Bolton was cleaning up everything in the secondary.
When you lose games 14-12 or 16-13, you can't blame the guys in the helmets on the defensive side. They did their part. They kept the games close enough for a miracle that just never came.
What the Critics Get Wrong
Some people say the dynasty is over. That’s a bit dramatic. Basically, every great team has a "reset" year. Look at the 2025-26 Chiefs as a perfect storm of bad luck. You’ve got a legendary coach in Andy Reid, and despite the rumors, he’s coming back. You’ve got a quarterback who is still the best on the planet when healthy.
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The misconception is that the Chiefs were "bad." They weren't bad; they were broken. There is a huge difference. A bad team gets blown out 45-0. A broken team loses five games by less than a touchdown. That’s where KC sat this year.
Key Takeaways from the Season Finale
If you’re tracking the kansas city nfl score to see what happens next, here is the reality of the situation. The Chiefs are going into the 2026 NFL Draft with their highest pick in years. That is a terrifying prospect for the rest of the AFC West.
- Health is Priority One: The offseason will be entirely focused on Mahomes' recovery and ensuring the offensive line doesn't crumble again.
- The Kelce Factor: Travis Kelce hit 13,000 career receiving yards this year. He’s a legend, but the team desperately needs a younger "TE1-B" to take the pressure off him.
- Field Goal Reliability: Harrison Butker remains the best safety net in the league. If the offense can just get him 10 yards closer on those final drives, those 12-14 losses turn into 15-14 wins.
The 2025-26 season ended with a whimper in the Nevada desert, but the numbers don't tell the whole story. The scores were low, the losses were frequent, and the frustration was real. But in the NFL, things change fast. By the time the 2026 kickoff rolls around, that 14-12 loss to the Raiders will likely be the fuel for another deep playoff run.
To stay ahead of the curve, watch the injury reports during the spring training camps. The recovery of the starting offensive line is the most critical metric for whether those scores start climbing back into the 30s next year. Keep an eye on the waiver wire for veteran wideout depth, as that was the glaring hole in the late-season collapse.