If you're frantically refreshing your feed to see who won the Chiefs game today, you're probably going to be a little confused—or maybe a lot disappointed depending on how much you bleed red and gold.
Honestly, there wasn't a game today. The Kansas City Chiefs' 2025-2026 season actually wrapped up on January 4, 2026, in a gritty, field-goal-heavy battle against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. If you were hoping for a deep playoff run or a Super Bowl repeat, this year just wasn't it. The Chiefs ended their season with a 12-14 loss, officially putting them at a 6-11 record for the year.
It’s a weird feeling seeing a Patrick Mahomes-led team miss the postseason entirely. But that’s exactly where things stand right now as the rest of the league moves into the Divisional Round.
What Happened in the Last Chiefs Game?
The season finale against the Raiders was basically a microcosm of the entire year. It was messy. It was frustrating. And it came down to the very last second.
Kansas City actually had a 12-11 lead with about a minute left after Harrison Butker nailed a 41-yard field goal. For a second, it felt like they might at least end the season on a high note. But then Daniel Carlson, who has been a thorn in the Chiefs' side for years, stepped up and crushed a career-long 60-yard field goal with only eight seconds remaining on the clock.
Final score: Raiders 14, Chiefs 12.
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What's even wilder is that the Chiefs didn't even score a touchdown in that game. All 12 points came from Butker’s foot. When you can't find the end zone against a Raiders team that was 2-14 going into that game, you know things have gone off the rails.
Why the Chiefs Aren't Playing Today
The NFL playoffs are currently in full swing, but the Chiefs are watching from home. This is the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era that the team has looked this vulnerable. They finished 3rd in the AFC West, trailing far behind the Denver Broncos (14-3) and the Los Angeles Chargers (11-6).
If you're looking for football today, January 14, 2026, you're actually in a bit of a mid-week lull between the Wild Card and Divisional rounds. The Wild Card games just finished up on Monday with the Houston Texans beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6.
The next round of games starts this weekend:
- January 17: Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos
- January 17: San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks
- January 18: Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots
- January 18: Los Angeles Rams vs. Chicago Bears
The Travis Kelce Retirement Question
One of the biggest reasons people are still searching for who won the Chiefs game today is the looming cloud of Travis Kelce’s future. During that final game in Vegas, Kelce officially crossed the 13,000-yard mark for his career. That puts him in the elite company of only two other tight ends in NFL history.
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But he’s 36.
He hasn't officially said "I'm done," but the vibe after the Raiders loss felt heavy. He stayed on the field a little longer than usual. He took a long look at the stands. If that was his last game, it’s a tough way to go out—catching a 2-yard pass from Shane Buechele on a desperate lateral play as time expired.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Season
Since the season is over, the focus has already shifted to the 2026 draft and the upcoming schedule. Because the Chiefs finished with a losing record, they’ll actually have a decent draft pick for once, which is a silver lining.
We already know who they’ll be playing next season, even if we don't have the exact dates yet. The 2026 home schedule at Arrowhead looks brutal:
- San Francisco 49ers
- Indianapolis Colts
- New England Patriots
- Arizona Cardinals
- New York Jets
- Plus the usual AFC West rivals (Broncos, Raiders, Chargers)
They’ll also have nine road games next year, including trips to Buffalo, Cincinnati, and a visit to SoFi Stadium to face the Rams.
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Next Steps for Chiefs Fans
Since there’s no game today, the best thing you can do is keep an eye on the injury reports and the looming retirement announcements. Expect an official statement from Travis Kelce sometime before the Super Bowl in February.
If you’re looking to scratch that football itch, the Divisional Round starts this Saturday. It’ll be weird not seeing the arrowhead logo on the screen, but it’s a good chance to scout the competition for 2026.
You can also start looking at mock drafts. With a 6-11 record, the Chiefs are in a prime position to snag a top-tier wide receiver or some much-needed help for the offensive line.
Check the official NFL schedule release in May to see exactly when the 2026 redemption tour begins.