If you were refreshing your phone last night looking for a score from the Kansas City football game, you probably ended up pretty confused. Honestly, it’s a bit of a shocker for anyone used to seeing Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce dominating the January highlights.
The short answer? Nobody won the Kansas City football game last night because the Chiefs weren't even playing.
For the first time in what feels like an eternity, Kansas City sat out the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs. While teams like the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks were battling it out on Saturday, January 17, 2026, the Chiefs were already home for the winter.
The Reality of the Kansas City Football Game Last Night
It’s weird, right? We’ve basically spent the last decade penciling Kansas City into the AFC Championship. But the 2025-2026 season was a different beast entirely.
The Chiefs officially wrapped up their season back on January 4, 2026. That final game was a tough-to-watch 14-12 loss against the Las Vegas Raiders. That defeat put the final nail in the coffin of a 6-11 season.
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Basically, the "Kansas City football game last night" didn't exist because the team failed to qualify for the postseason. Instead of Mahomes making magic in a snow-covered Arrowhead Stadium, the AFC playoffs moved forward without them.
What Actually Happened in the NFL Last Night?
If you saw football on TV and thought it was the Chiefs, you were likely watching their division rivals. The Denver Broncos—the team that took over the AFC West throne this year—played a thriller against the Buffalo Bills.
Denver pulled off a massive 33-30 win in overtime. It was a wild game, but it also came with a huge cost. Bo Nix, the Broncos' rising star, broke his ankle just before the game-winning field goal. So, while the Chiefs’ rivals won, their road to the Super Bowl just got a lot harder.
On the NFC side of things, the Seattle Seahawks absolutely dismantled the San Francisco 49ers with a 41-6 blowout. It was one of those nights where one team just never showed up.
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Why Most People Are Still Searching for the Chiefs Score
It’s a habit. When January rolls around, people expect a Kansas City football game. For years, "Who won the Kansas City game?" was a question with a very predictable answer.
This year, the team struggled with a lot of moving parts. Injuries to the secondary and a rotating door at wide receiver finally caught up to them. Even the legendary connection between Mahomes and Kelce looked human this season.
- Final Season Record: 6-11
- Last Game Played: January 4, 2026 (Loss to Raiders)
- Playoff Status: Eliminated from contention in December
It’s a jarring shift for the NFL landscape. Usually, the road to the Super Bowl goes through Missouri. This year, it’s going through Denver and Foxborough.
Looking Ahead to Next Season
Kinda sucks for the Kingdom, but the off-season is already in full swing for Kansas City. They’re looking at a high draft pick for once, which is a silver lining.
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The coaching staff is already scouting. General Manager Brett Veach has his work cut out for him to rebuild the depth that made this team a dynasty. You've gotta imagine Mahomes is already in the gym, probably annoyed at watching the Divisional Round from his couch.
If you’re looking for the next live game, you’re going to have to wait until the 2026 preseason kicks off in August.
What to Watch Today Instead
Since there was no Kansas City football game last night, the NFL action continues today, Sunday, January 18, with the remaining Divisional matchups:
- Houston Texans at New England Patriots (3:05 PM ET)
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears (6:30 PM ET)
These games will decide who faces the Broncos and Seahawks in the Conference Championships next weekend.
Basically, the NFL is in a state of flux. The old guard is resting, and a new crop of teams is trying to grab the trophy. It feels weird, but that’s the parity of the league for you.
To stay on top of what’s happening with the Chiefs’ rebuild, keep an eye on the upcoming NFL Scouting Combine and the free agency period starting in March. That's where the "win" for the next Kansas City football game will actually be decided.