If you woke up today, Friday, January 16, 2026, and started frantically searching for the score of Chiefs game last night, I’ve got some news that might sting a little. There was no game. Honestly, there hasn’t been a Chiefs game in nearly two weeks. While the rest of the NFL is gearing up for the Divisional Round of the playoffs this weekend, the Kansas City Chiefs are currently sitting at home.
It feels weird, right? For years, this time of January was practically a local holiday in Missouri. But the reality is that the Chiefs' 2025-2026 season ended on January 4th with a 14-12 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. They finished the year with a 6-11 record. No playoffs. No Arrowhead invitational. Just early off-season evaluations and a lot of questions about how a dynasty hit a wall this hard.
What Really Happened With the Chiefs This Season?
To understand why there was no score of Chiefs game last night, you have to look at the mounting issues that defined their winter. The Chiefs didn't just miss the postseason; they struggled to find any offensive rhythm once Patrick Mahomes was sidelined. Seeing Shane Buechele and Chris Oladokun taking snaps in the final weeks was a jarring shift for a fanbase used to perennial Super Bowl runs.
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The season finale against the Raiders was a microcosm of the whole year. A 14-12 slugfest where the offense just couldn't cross the plane. Harrison Butker was essentially the entire scoring machine, knocking down four field goals. When your kicker is your leading scorer in a must-win or even a pride-based game, things are fundamentally broken.
- The run game lacked explosive depth.
- Injuries decimated the offensive line.
- The wide receiver room struggled with consistency and drops.
- Defensively, they were gassed by the fourth quarter of most games.
The Playoff Picture Without Kansas City
Usually, when people search for the score of Chiefs game last night in mid-January, they expect to see a Wild Card or Divisional win. This year, the AFC bracket looks completely different. Teams like the Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, and even the Raiders—who capitalized on the Chiefs' slump—are the ones dominating the headlines.
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It’s the first time since 2014 that Kansas City hasn't been part of the playoff conversation. That’s an 11-year streak snapped. For context, some of the rookies on this roster were in elementary school the last time the Chiefs weren't playing January football.
What the Chiefs Are Doing Right Now
While there was no score of Chiefs game last night, the front office is anything but quiet. Andy Reid and Brett Veach are already deep into "exit interview" mode. The 2026 off-season is arguably the most critical one of the Mahomes era.
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- Re-evaluating the Roster: Expect a massive overhaul of the receiving corps.
- Draft Prep: With a 6-11 record, the Chiefs have a much higher draft pick than they’ve had in a decade.
- Medical Checks: Getting Mahomes back to 100% is the only priority that truly matters for 2026.
Basically, the "game" they are playing right now is happening in conference rooms and scout meetings. They are looking at opponents for the 2026 season—which we already know includes the NFC West and AFC East—and trying to figure out how to ensure that next year, there actually is a score to report in mid-January.
Practical Steps for Chiefs Fans This Week
Since there's no game to watch, here is how you can stay locked in as the league moves on without KC:
- Watch the Divisional Round: Keep an eye on the Bills and Texans. These are the teams the Chiefs will have to leapfrog next year to regain AFC dominance.
- Track the Coaching Carousel: Changes to the coaching staff often happen in the next 72 hours following the end of the regular season for non-playoff teams.
- Check the Salary Cap: The Chiefs have some tough decisions to make on veteran contracts to free up space for free agency in March.
The score of Chiefs game last night might be non-existent, but the work to fix the 6-11 slide is well underway. It’s a long road to September, but for a team with this much championship DNA, the rebuild starts today.