Kansas City Score Right Now: Why the Chiefs are Sitting Out This Sunday

Kansas City Score Right Now: Why the Chiefs are Sitting Out This Sunday

So, you’re looking for the kansas city score right now and finding... absolutely nothing on the live scoreboard. Honestly, it’s a bit of a shock to the system. For years, checking the score for Kansas City in mid-January was a given. You’d expect to see Patrick Mahomes throwing a sidearm touchdown while Travis Kelce does some goofy dance in the end zone.

But not today. Not this year.

If you’ve got the TV on and you're flipping through channels wondering why you see the Texans, Patriots, Rams, and Bears but no red jerseys, here’s the reality check: The Kansas City Chiefs are officially done for the season. Their 2025-2026 campaign ended on January 4, 2026, with a narrow 14-12 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Where is the Kansas City score right now?

The short answer? There isn't one. The Chiefs finished their season with a 6-11 record, placing them third in the AFC West. It’s the first time in nearly a decade that the Divisional Round of the playoffs is happening without Kansas City involved.

Instead of a live score, we’re looking at a final season tally that looks like this:

👉 See also: Was Bill Belichick Ever Married? What Most People Get Wrong

  • Final Record: 6 wins, 11 losses.
  • Last Game Score: Raiders 14, Chiefs 12.
  • Playoff Status: Eliminated.

It’s weird, right? We’ve basically been conditioned to expect a "Chiefs Kingdom" takeover this time of year. But the 2025 season was a brutal grind. Between injuries and a passing attack that never quite found its rhythm, the team just couldn't scrape together enough wins to stay relevant in a surging AFC.

What happened to the Chiefs in 2025?

If you haven't been following every single snap this season, you might be wondering how a perennial powerhouse fell so flat. It wasn't just one thing. It was a "perfect storm" of bad breaks.

First, the offense looked human. Mahomes is still a wizard, but even wizards need receivers who can create separation. Throughout the fall, we saw uncharacteristic drops and timing issues that led to a six-game losing streak toward the end of the year. That 20-13 loss to the Broncos on Christmas Day was probably the moment most fans realized the magic had run out for the year.

Then there’s the defense. While they had flashes of brilliance—like that 31-0 shutout against the Raiders back in October—they couldn't hold leads late in games. They lost five games by three points or fewer. In the NFL, that's the difference between a #1 seed and watching the playoffs from the couch in Hawaii.

✨ Don't miss: Vertical Leap: What Most People Get Wrong About Jumping Higher

Who is playing today instead?

Since you came here looking for a kansas city score right now, you’re probably a football fan looking for something to watch. Even without KC, today is a massive day for the NFL. We are in the thick of the Divisional Round.

Here is what the actual scoreboard looks like for Sunday, January 18, 2026:

  1. Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots: Kickoff at 3:00 PM ET. This is the battle for the AFC title game spot that usually belonged to Kansas City.
  2. Los Angeles Rams vs. Chicago Bears: Kickoff at 6:30 PM ET. A massive NFC showdown at a freezing Soldier Field.

If you’re a Chiefs fan, it might be a little painful to watch the Texans and Patriots fight for a spot in the AFC Championship. Especially since the Texans were the ones who knocked the Chiefs out of the playoffs exactly one year ago today in 2025.

The 2026 Outlook: When will we see a score again?

The "kansas city score right now" won't return until the preseason in August 2026, but the front office is already moving. The 2026 opponents are already set. Because the Chiefs finished third in their division, they’ll actually have a slightly "easier" schedule next year based on standings.

🔗 Read more: U of Washington Football News: Why Jedd Fisch’s Roster Overhaul Is Working

They are slated to face the AFC East and the NFC West. That means high-profile matchups against the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, and the San Francisco 49ers.

Actionable steps for the offseason

If you’re feeling the void left by the lack of a Chiefs game today, here is how you can stay plugged in:

  • Watch the Draft Order: With a 6-11 record, the Chiefs are looking at a much higher draft pick than they’ve had in years. Keep an eye on the Top 15 projections; they desperately need a true WR1 or a cornerstone tackle.
  • Free Agency: Keep tabs on the "Butker and Kelce" watch. With roster shifts looming, the next few months will determine if the 2026 squad looks like a championship contender or a rebuilding project.
  • Check the Mavericks: If you just need a Kansas City win today, the Kansas City Mavericks (hockey) are actually playing the Utah Grizzlies at 4:10 PM CST. They’re coming off a massive 7-1 win yesterday, so the "Kansas City score" over there is looking a lot better than the football side.

The era of Mahomes isn't over, but the era of "automatic" January wins definitely hit a speed bump this year. Enjoy the games today, even if the scoreboard isn't showing the colors you wanted to see.