Chiefs-Raiders Live Game Thread

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First quarter

The Raiders have won the toss and deferred. Chiefs will get ball first.

Brashard Smith and Jalen Royals in the starting lineup. First NFL start for Smith, and he gets ball on first snap. Oladokun looked like he was in quicksand on third down and takes a sack. Three-and-out.

Cooper McDonald starts at outside linebacker. Chamarri Conner jumps route of intended receiver Jack Bech, picks off Kenny Pickett. First down, Chiefs, at Raiders’ 46.

Brashard Smith drops pass on first play of drive. Smith is focus of Chiefs’ offense on four of their first five snaps. Oladokun extends play but also fools own linemen. Third-down conversion negated by ineligible man downfield. Kansas City does nothing with turnover. Two drives, two three-and-out punts for Chiefs.

Ashton Gillotte gets tip of cap there, forcing Pickett up in pocket, on Chris Jones sack. Nearly a safety. Jones ties Karlaftis (who is inactive today) for team lead with six sacks.

Oladokun looks a little lethargic, with short pass off target to Smith. On third-and-3, Smith shows good vision, cutting back into hole to move chains on 9-yard pickup; Smith then bursts around right edge for 14. Helps to set up Harrison Butker first-blood field goal.

SCORING UPDATE NO. 1 – Harrison Butker 36-yard field goal. Chiefs 3, Raiders 0, 4:58 first quarter. Drive: eight plays, 36 yards, 3:33.

Great cornerback play on that series for Chiefs. Kristian Fulton breaks up deep pass on first down. Nohl Williams picks up first career sack on corner blitz, and Chiefs force another punt.

Dameon Pierce makes Chiefs debut with a few quality carries to end the quarter. Travis Kelce extends NFL’s longest active streak with catch in a 191st straight game.

END OF FIRST QUARTER: Chiefs 3, Raiders 0.

Chiefs have now shut out Raiders over 5 consecutive quarters. First-quarter stats: pic.twitter.com/rVQReeLyRg
— Zak Gilbert (@zaksgilbert) January 4, 2026

Second quarter

Total net yards are 57-12, Chiefs, and Oladokun hasn't looked good. Aidan O'Connell in at QB for Raiders. Nohl Williams breaks up third-down pass intended for Tyler Lockett. On fake punt, upback takes direct snap and Chiefs stop it short. First down, Kansas City.

Only second lost fumble of season for Chiefs, who were the first NFL team since 1970 merger with one-or-fewer fumbles lost over the first 16 games of a season.

Chiefs’ defense has given Oladokun three possessions starting in Raiders territory: They’ve ended in punt, field goal and his fumble lost.

Raiders cash in Oladokun fumble for game-tying field goal.

SCORING UPDATE NO. 2 – Daniel Carlson 32-yard field goal. Chiefs 3, Raiders 3, 7:20 second quarter. Drive: eight plays, 30 yards, 4:17.

On next Kansas City possession, Smith makes nice cutback to pick up 8 yards but Oladokun careless with football on third-down carry, coughs it up again. Chiefs went 16 games with just one lost fumble. Oladokun has two in nine minutes.

On next snap, defensive penalty (defensive holding on Jerry Tillery) negates Chiefs fumble recovery. Penalties are now KC 5, LV 0. Flags against Chiefs' defense have negated third-and-long and fumble recovery. Flag against offense negated first down. Cooper McDonald makes third-down stop, though, and Raiders settle for FG.

SCORING UPDATE NO. 3 – Carlson 23-yard field goal. Raiders 6, Chiefs 3, 1:52 second quarter. Drive: four plays, 13 yards, 1:05.

Chu Godrick holding negates first-down run. Oladokun hits Gray for first down but takes killer sack on second down. Ends any Chiefs hopes for points. Not a good half for the 28-year-old quarterback.

END OF SECOND QUARTER: Raiders 6, Chiefs 3.

Dismal first half for Chiefs' offense. Patrick Mahomes backups are just 2-7 in starts without him. Individual/team stats with Raiders leading, 6-3: pic.twitter.com/Vbv7D65X2h
— Zak Gilbert (@zaksgilbert) January 4, 2026

Third quarter

Raiders come out of locker room on fire, with big kickoff return and 23-yard touch pass from O’Connell to Michael Mayer. However, O’Connell scrambles short of line to gain and Nick Bolton stuffs Jeanty on fourth-and-1. Chiefs’ ball.

Shane Buechele now in at quarterback for Chiefs to begin second half. Travis Kelce (192nd game) reaches 13,000 career receiving yards to become the fastest tight end in NFL history – and just third TE all-time – to hit that mark (Tony Gonzalez did it in 232 games and Jason Witten did it in 259 games). Drive stalls but Buechele moved the ball and provided spark to dead offense. Butker good from 40 yards out.

SCORING UPDATE NO. 4 – Butker 40-yard field goal. Raiders 6, Chiefs 6, 4:11 third quarter. Drive: 12 plays, 50 yards, 7:33.

Raiders get 11 yards on third-and-9, exploiting bigtime Achilles’ heel in Chiefs defense (third-and-long). Then, Raiders convert on third-and-10.

END OF THIRD QUARTER: Tie game, 6-6.

Tied 6-6 entering fourth quarter. Stats through three periods: pic.twitter.com/lYTsAShHmA
— Zak Gilbert (@zaksgilbert) January 4, 2026

Fourth quarter

On first play of final period, Jaden Hicks sells out to break up touchdown pass to Tre Tucker. Raiders have to burn timeout. Ashton Gillotte stops Jeanty on third down to force Raiders to attempt long field goal. Carlson is good from 55 yards out.

SCORING UPDATE NO. 5 – Carlson 55-yard field goal. Raiders 9, Chiefs 6, 13:16 fourth quarter. Drive: 10 plays, 29 yards, 5:55.

Buechele’s drive stalls and Chiefs punt for fifth time. They’re just 3-for-13 (23 percent) on third downs.

Dropped interception by Nohl Williams, 10th time this season Chiefs defense has dropped an interception.

Buechele has a lot of green stains on his back. Araiza punts again. Key drive here for KC defense, with 10:20 left. Chiefs have season-high six punts today.

Jerry Tillery and Bryan Cook injured for Chiefs. Tillery stepped on Cook. Tillery looked like he was poked in the face by Jeffrey Bassa. Two friendly fire injuries on same play. Cook misses just one snap. Chiefs force punt.

Godrick was late getting out on the edge and Wilson sacks Buechele for safety. Second safety allowed by Chiefs in three games.

SCORING UPDATE NO. 6 – Wilson sacks Buechele for safety. Raiders 11, Chiefs 6, 4:37 fourth quarter.

Rookie Ethan Downs in NFL debut forces fumble on ensuing free kick. Jack Cochrane recovers. Chiefs could win with TD here.

Kingsley Suamataia steps on Buechele under center on the snap, setting up third-and-13. Chiefs then flagged for false start (Suamataia). On third-and-18, Buechele’s pass batted at line incomplete. Officials missed roughing-passer flag on Malcolm Koonce (shot to Buechele’s head). Butker connects for third field goal of game.

SCORING UPDATE NO. 7 – Butker 47 field goal. Raiders 11, Chiefs 9, 3:33 fourth quarter. Drive: four plays, minus-8 yards, 0:57.

First two-sack game for Chris Jones since Nov. 29, 2024 (also against Raiders).

On ensuing possession, Hollywood Brown's 51-yard catch puts Chiefs in field-goal range.

SCORING UPDATE NO. 8 – Butker 41-yard field goal. Chiefs 12, Raiders 11, 1:01 fourth quarter. Drive: five plays, 51 yards, 1:22.

Raiders take over with no timeouts. On first play, O’Connell hits Mayer on seam for 21 yards. Daniel Carlson hits 60-yarder with 8 seconds left.

SCORING UPDATE NO. 9 – Carlson 60-yard field goal. Raiders 14, Chiefs 12, 0:08 fourth quarter. Drive: five plays, 26 yards, 0:53.

Kingsley Suamataia ends season on wild last play, hurdling over defender. Chiefs finish season 6-11 but 1-9 in one-score games.

FINAL SCORE, Raiders 14, Chiefs 12.

andy rei — Oct 27, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid reacts in the second half against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Pregame

In a season unlike any other, fittingly, Sunday’s season finale figures to serve as an ending unlike any other – starting with the mix of veterans and youth.

“Yeah, listen,” Andy Reid said Friday, “I think every chance some of these young guys have to play, I think benefits the team, and benefits them being part of the team. So, I’d tell you that the last few games. If there's a plus you can take out of this, that’d be it.”

That’s the plus. The minus, quite literally, is that Sunday’s game in Las Vegas marks the end of the road for at least a dozen Chiefs veterans.

Which of those veterans return – 21 are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents in March – and which take their services to other teams is to be determined. Regardless, Reid’s grateful for the team’s approach despite less-than-ideal circumstances the last two months.

bryan coo — Dec 21, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook (6) warms up before a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images | Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

“I appreciate the old guys for not hanging their heads,” he said, “and kind of fighting through this thing. So, the young guys come with the veteran guys. That's how it rolls.”

But before the Chiefs complete their final 2025 game, a few appetizers…

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