If you're refreshing your browser every five seconds to find out what is the score of the Kansas City Chiefs game, I’ve got some news that might sting a little. The Chiefs aren't actually playing today, Friday, January 16, 2026.
Honestly, it’s a weird feeling for this city. We're used to January being a month of freezing breath at Arrowhead and high-stakes playoff drama. But the reality is that the Chiefs' 2025-2026 season hit a wall much earlier than anyone expected.
Their last game was a heartbreaker on Sunday, January 4, 2026, against the Las Vegas Raiders. They lost 14-12. That final score basically summed up a season where the offense just couldn't find its rhythm when it mattered most.
The Heartbreak at Allegiant Stadium
People are still talking about that final score from the Week 18 matchup. It was a kicker’s duel, plain and simple. Harrison Butker did everything he could, hitting four field goals, including a 41-yarder with just over a minute left to give KC a 12-11 lead.
But then Daniel Carlson happened.
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With only eight seconds left on the clock, Carlson nailed a career-long 60-yard field goal. It wasn't just a win for the Raiders; it ended their 10-game losing streak against Kansas City. Watching that ball sail through the uprights at Allegiant Stadium felt like the final exclamation point on a season that never really got off the ground.
Where the Chiefs Stand Right Now
So, if you’re looking for a live score today, you won’t find one. The Chiefs finished the season with a 6-11 record. It's a tough pill to swallow for a team that has defined dominance for the better part of a decade.
They finished 3rd in the AFC West, trailing far behind the Denver Broncos (14-3) and the Los Angeles Chargers (11-6). For the first time in a long time, the road to the Super Bowl doesn't go through Kansas City. Instead, we're watching the Divisional Round predictions from the sidelines while other teams like the Rams and Bears gear up for what experts are saying could be the highest-scoring playoff game ever.
The Late-Season Slide
It wasn't just the Raiders game that hurt. The Chiefs ended the year on a brutal six-game losing streak.
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- Week 14: 20-10 loss to the Texans.
- Week 15: 16-13 loss to the Chargers.
- Week 16: 26-9 loss to the Titans.
- Week 17: 20-13 loss to the Broncos on Christmas Day.
- Week 18: 14-12 loss to the Raiders.
The offense struggled significantly in the final stretch. Patrick Mahomes dealt with injuries, and we even saw Chris Oladokun and Shane Buechele taking snaps toward the end. In that Raiders finale, Buechele was 7 of 14 for 88 yards after Oladokun started the game. It just didn't have that classic Chiefs magic.
Why Everyone Is Searching for the Score
The confusion usually comes from the fact that we're right in the middle of the NFL Playoffs. January 16 is the Friday before the Divisional Round kicks off. Usually, the Chiefs are the main event this weekend.
Instead, the schedule looks like this for the coming days:
- Saturday, Jan 17: AFC and NFC Divisional matchups (Teams like the Bills, Broncos, and 49ers are still in the hunt).
- Sunday, Jan 18: The remaining Divisional games.
- Jan 25: Conference Championships.
- Feb 8: Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara.
It’s definitely a change of pace. Usually, local bars in KC are packed with people wearing red, but today it’s more about "what went wrong" and "who do we draft?"
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Looking Ahead to the 2026 Season
While the current score is essentially 0-0 since the season is over, the front office is already looking at the 2026 opponents. We know who they’ll face, even if we don’t have the dates yet.
Kansas City will play their usual AFC West rivals twice. They’re also slated to take on the AFC East (Patriots, Bills, Dolphins, Jets) and the NFC West (Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Cardinals). Plus, there’s that 17th game against the Atlanta Falcons. It’s a tough schedule, but maybe a full offseason of rest is exactly what Travis Kelce and the rest of the veteran core need.
Your Next Steps for Following the Chiefs
Since there isn't a game to watch today, the best way to stay in the loop is to track the draft order. Because of that 6-11 record, the Chiefs are looking at a much higher pick than they've had in years.
You should also keep an eye on the injury reports for the returning veterans. The "score" for the fans right now isn't on a scoreboard—it's in the scouting reports and the salary cap moves.
Keep an eye on the NFL Scouting Combine in late February. That’s where the real rebuilding for the 2026-2027 season begins. It might be a quiet January in Kansas City, but the work for the next trophy has already started.