PARADISE, Nev. — Daniel Carlson’s 60-yard field goal split the uprights with eight seconds left, ending the Raiders’ 10-game losing streak and capping one of the NFL’s strangest seasons with a 14-12 victory over Kansas City on January 4.
The career-long kick gave Las Vegas its third win of 2025, though the real prize arrived hours before kickoff when the Giants beat Dallas, guaranteeing the Raiders the first overall pick in April’s draft. Neither team scored a touchdown at Allegiant Stadium, with all 26 points coming from field goals.
Table of Contents
When Backup Quarterbacks Collide
Kansas City arrived without Patrick Mahomes (torn ACL, December 14) and Gardner Minshew (tibial plateau fracture, December 22). Shane Buechele and Chris Oladokun combined for 146 passing yards on 31 attempts behind a patchwork offensive line that surrendered eight sacks.
Las Vegas fared only slightly better with Aidan O’Connell and Kenny Pickett, who managed 105 yards through the air.
Quarterback Statistics
Team | Player | Comp/Att | Yards | TD | INT | Sacks | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
KC | Shane Buechele | 7/14 | 88 | 0 | 0 | 5-22 | 69.9 |
KC | Chris Oladokun | 11/17 | 58 | 0 | 0 | 3-40 | 70.2 |
LV | Aidan O’Connell | 10/22 | 102 | 0 | 0 | 1-5 | 59.3 |
LV | Kenny Pickett | 1/4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2-14 | 0.0 |
Kickers Battle While Offenses Stall
Carlson and Harrison Butker each converted four field goals. Butker’s 41-yarder with 1:01 remaining gave the Chiefs a 12-11 lead, setting up Carlson’s heroics.
“For all the guys in the locker room, it’s been a tough season,” Carlson said. “There’s no way around that, but to end it like this, I think it was really cool to send everyone to the offseason on a good note.”
The kicking display masked offensive futility. Kansas City managed 168 total yards, Las Vegas 204. Combined, the teams converted 7 of 33 third-down attempts.
Kicking Performance
Kicker | FG Made/Att | Long | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
Harrison Butker (KC) | 4/4 | 47 | 12 |
Daniel Carlson (LV) | 4/4 | 60 | 14 |
Jeanty Grinds Behind Struggling Line
Ashton Jeanty carried 26 times for 87 yards, finishing his rookie season with numbers far below expectations. The sixth overall pick averaged 3.3 yards per carry against Kansas City and 3.7 for the season, hampered by the league’s 30th-ranked run blocking.
Brashard Smith led Kansas City with 56 yards on 12 attempts.
Leading Rushers
Team | Player | Carries | Yards | Avg | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LV | Ashton Jeanty | 26 | 87 | 3.3 | 12 |
KC | Brashard Smith | 12 | 56 | 4.7 | 14 |
KC | Kareem Hunt | 5 | 14 | 2.8 | 4 |
LV | Kenny Pickett | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 9 |
Limited Passing Attack Production
Hollywood Brown caught three passes for 64 yards on six targets, accounting for nearly half of Kansas City’s passing output. Travis Kelce, potentially playing his final game, managed three catches for 12 yards.
Michael Mayer led Las Vegas with 47 yards on three receptions.
Top Pass Catchers
Kansas City
Receiver | Rec | Yards | Avg | Long | Targets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hollywood Brown | 3 | 64 | 21.3 | 51 | 6 |
Noah Gray | 3 | 30 | 10.0 | 13 | 5 |
Kareem Hunt | 3 | 21 | 7.0 | 13 | 4 |
Las Vegas
Receiver | Rec | Yards | Avg | Long | Targets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Michael Mayer | 3 | 47 | 15.7 | 23 | 5 |
Tre Tucker | 2 | 30 | 15.0 | 16 | 6 |
Ashton Jeanty | 3 | 7 | 2.3 | 6 | 5 |
Defensive Dominance in Week 18 Finale
Nick Bolton recorded nine tackles for Kansas City. Chris Jones posted two sacks, pushing his season total higher despite the lost year. Tyree Wilson and Charles Snowden combined for 4.5 sacks for Las Vegas.
Chamarri Conner’s second-quarter interception of Kenny Pickett provided the game’s only takeaway through the air.
Game Statistics
Category | Kansas City | Las Vegas |
|---|---|---|
Total Yards | 168 | 204 |
First Downs | 10 | 12 |
Passing | 84 | 86 |
Rushing | 84 | 118 |
Penalties | 7-45 | 2-10 |
Possession | 29:16 | 30:44 |
Third Down | 3/17 | 4/16 |
Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
Carroll Out, Mendoza In
Las Vegas fired Pete Carroll on January 5, less than 24 hours after the game. The 74-year-old lasted one season after signing a three-year, $45 million contract in January 2025.
The Raiders now hold the first pick since selecting JaMarcus Russell in 2007. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner and national champion, declared for the draft last week and remains the consensus top prospect.
“That type of pick can change an organization,” Jeanty said after learning about the selection.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid faces a different rebuild. Mahomes underwent ACL and LCL surgery and targets Week 1 of 2026 for his return, though recovery typically requires 10-12 months.
“Nobody wants a season like this,” Reid said. “But they’re obstacles. They come into play, and you’ve got to work through those.”
Looking Forward
The Raiders vs Chiefs matchup showcased two franchises headed in opposite directions. Kansas City’s 6-11 finish marked its first losing record in 13 years, ending a run of five Super Bowl appearances and three championships. Las Vegas, meanwhile, secures its chance to draft a franchise quarterback after years of veteran retreads.
Both teams cleared out Allegiant Stadium knowing their 2026 fortunes depend on decisions made this offseason. For the Raiders, that starts April 23 in Pittsburgh when they’re on the clock.
