You’ve seen the banners. You’ve heard the "dynasty" talk for years. But honestly, looking at the recent Kansas City Chiefs score from their season finale against the Las Vegas Raiders, things feel different. A 14-12 loss to a team that was 2-14 going into the game? That’s not just a bad day at the office. It’s a gut punch to a fanbase used to January parades.
The Chiefs finished this 2025-2026 season at 6-11. Let that sink in for a second.
What Actually Happened in That 14-12 Shocker?
The game on January 4, 2026, at Allegiant Stadium was basically a defensive slog that turned into a nightmare for Kansas City. If you just look at the box score, you see a lot of Harrison Butker. He was responsible for every single one of the Chiefs' 12 points. Four field goals. That’s it. No touchdowns. No explosive plays from Travis Kelce—who, by the way, is 36 now and looking every bit of it after a 3-catch, 12-yard performance.
The ending was pure chaos.
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With 1:01 left on the clock, Butker nailed a 41-yarder. Chiefs lead 12-11. You’d think the defense could hold for sixty seconds against a struggling Raiders squad. Instead, Daniel Carlson, who had already been keeping Vegas in the game, stepped up for a career-long 60-yard field goal with eight seconds left.
The ball cleared the uprights. The Raiders bench went wild. The Chiefs' losing streak hit six games.
Why the Offense Has Completely Stalled
It’s weird to say, but the Kansas City Chiefs score has become predictable in the worst way. They aren't breaking 20 points anymore. Throughout December, the numbers were grim: 13 points against Denver, 9 against Tennessee, 13 against the Chargers, and 10 against Houston.
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What's the culprit? Honestly, it’s a mix of things:
- Quarterback Uncertainty: With Patrick Mahomes dealing with the wear and tear of a decade of dominance, we saw Shane Buechele and Chris Oladokun taking meaningful snaps. Buechele threw for 88 yards against the Raiders. Oladokun had 58. You aren't winning in the modern NFL with those numbers.
- The Run Game: Kareem Hunt is back, but he’s not the 2017 version. He managed 14 yards on 5 carries in the finale. Brashard Smith showed flashes with 56 yards, but the consistency just isn't there.
- Turnovers: Two fumbles lost in a two-point game. That is how you lose to a three-win team.
The Playoff Ghost and the 2026 Outlook
There was some confusing chatter online about "first-quarter dominance in the 2026 playoffs." Let’s be clear: there were no playoffs for Kansas City this year. They finished third in the AFC West, well behind the 14-3 Denver Broncos and the 11-6 Chargers. For the first time in a long time, the road to the Super Bowl doesn't go through Arrowhead. It doesn't even have a stop there.
Looking ahead to the 2026 schedule, the Chiefs have a mountain to climb. They’ll be facing the AFC East and the NFC West next season. That means dates with the Bills, 49ers, and Dolphins. If the offensive line doesn't get a massive overhaul in the draft—where they finally have a decent pick—those scores aren't going to look much better next autumn.
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Actionable Steps for the Offseason
If you’re a fan or just someone following the betting lines, here is what needs to happen before the first kickoff in September:
- Draft Focus: The Chiefs need a "Blue Chip" left tackle. Suamataia has struggled with penalties and sacks, specifically that back-breaking sack-safety against the Raiders.
- The Kelce Factor: The team needs to plan for life after Travis. Relying on a 36-year-old tight end as the primary target is no longer a viable strategy. Watch for them to target a pass-catcher in the first two rounds.
- Salary Cap Management: They have some aging contracts that are starting to hurt. Restructuring or moving on from veteran depth to find explosive rookie talent is the only way to get the Kansas City Chiefs score back into the 30s.
The era of "finding a way to win" seems to have hit a wall of reality. This offseason isn't about fine-tuning; it's about a hard reset.