Las Vegas Raiders vs Kansas City Chiefs Match Player Stats: Who Played Best in the 14-12 Game
The Las Vegas Raiders vs Kansas City Chiefs match player stats from January 4, 2026, tell the story of a hard, low-scoring game that was decided in the last few seconds. The Raiders won 14-12 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas in Week 18, the final week of the 2025 NFL regular season. Nobody scored a touchdown. Every point came from field goals and one safety. Still, many players did great things on the field. In this article, we look at the numbers, the key moments, and the players who made the biggest difference, in simple words that anyone can follow.
What Was the Final Score of the Game?
The final score was Raiders 14, Chiefs 12. The winning points came from Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson, who made a 60-yard field goal with only eight seconds left on the clock.
For the Raiders, this win meant a lot. The Chiefs had controlled this rivalry for many years, so beating them at home felt special for Las Vegas fans. The Raiders finished the season with a 3-14 record, and the Chiefs finished at 6-11. Neither team made the playoffs, but in a rivalry this old, every game matters. The two teams have now played each other 134 times, including three playoff games. Kansas City leads the all-time series with 76 wins, while Las Vegas has 56 wins, and there have been 2 ties.
How Did the Game Go, Quarter by Quarter?
The game was a slow battle between two strong defenses, and the lead changed hands several times. Here is a simple look at how the points came in:
| Score | What Happened |
|---|---|
| Chiefs 3, Raiders 0 | Harrison Butker kicks a 36-yard field goal in the first quarter |
| Raiders 6, Chiefs 3 | Daniel Carlson makes two field goals in the second quarter |
| Raiders 6, Chiefs 6 | Butker ties the game with a 40-yard field goal |
| Raiders 9, Chiefs 6 | Carlson makes a 55-yard field goal |
| Raiders 11, Chiefs 6 | Tyree Wilson sacks the quarterback in the end zone for a safety |
| Raiders 11, Chiefs 9 | Butker makes a 47-yard field goal |
| Chiefs 12, Raiders 11 | Butker makes another 47-yard field goal with about one minute left |
| Raiders 14, Chiefs 12 | Carlson makes a 60-yard field goal with 8 seconds left |
The first half was very quiet. The score was tied 3-3 late in the second quarter. Then Raiders cornerback Darien Porter jumped on a fumble by Chiefs quarterback Chris Oladokun at the Kansas City 18-yard line. The Raiders turned that mistake into a field goal and went into halftime with a 6-3 lead.
After the break, the Raiders drove to the Chiefs’ 27-yard line. On 4th-and-1, they gave the ball to Ashton Jeanty, but Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton stopped him behind the line. Kansas City then went on a long 12-play drive and tied the game. The rest of the game was a back-and-forth fight until the very last kick.
Who Were the Best Players for the Las Vegas Raiders?
The best Raiders players were Ashton Jeanty, Tyree Wilson, and Daniel Carlson. Each one helped in a different way.
Ashton Jeanty (Running Back)
Jeanty was the heart of the Raiders offense in this game. He carried the ball 26 times for 87 yards. This was a new career high for him in rushing attempts. His average was not very high, about 3.3 yards per carry, but his hard running helped the Raiders keep the ball and use up time on the clock. He also caught 3 passes for 7 yards. In a game with very few big plays, a running back who can keep the offense moving is very valuable.
Tyree Wilson (Defensive End)
If you want one name from the Raiders defense, it is Tyree Wilson. He made the biggest defensive play of the day when he sacked Chiefs quarterback Shane Buechele in the end zone. That play is called a safety, and it gave the Raiders 2 points. In the end, the Raiders won by exactly 2 points, so you could say his safety was the difference in the game. Wilson also forced 2 fumbles, which was a new career high for him.
Daniel Carlson (Kicker)
Carlson made four field goals, and two of them were from very long distances: 55 yards and 60 yards. The 60-yard kick is one that many NFL kickers would miss. He made it with the whole game on the line and only a few seconds left. For many fans, he was the true hero of the day.
Other Raiders Who Helped
Tonka Hemingway had 2 sacks, which was also a career high for him. As a team, the Raiders defense sacked Chiefs quarterbacks 8 times for 62 lost yards. That is a huge number for one game. On the final drive, quarterback Aidan O’Connell found tight end Michael Mayer for a 21-yard catch on the first play. That catch moved the ball close enough for Carlson to try the winning kick.
Who Were the Best Players for the Kansas City Chiefs?
The top Chiefs players were Harrison Butker, Nohl Williams, Brashard Smith, and Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. The Chiefs lost, but some of their players still had strong games.
Harrison Butker (Kicker)
Butker made all four of his field goals from 36, 40, 47, and 47 yards. He scored every single point for Kansas City. His second 47-yard kick gave the Chiefs a 12-11 lead with about one minute left. Sadly for him, the Raiders answered right away, so his perfect day was not enough to win.
Nohl Williams (Cornerback)
Williams was one of the best young players on the field. He broke up 2 passes and also got a sack. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was happy with how his young players stepped up, and Williams was a good example of that.
Brashard Smith (Running Back)
This was the first start of Smith’s NFL career. He ran 12 times for 56 yards, which made him the Chiefs’ top runner in the game. That is a good average of more than 4.5 yards per carry. The Chiefs only ran for 84 yards as a team, so most of their running success came from him.
Marquise “Hollywood” Brown (Wide Receiver)
Brown caught 3 passes for 64 yards. His biggest play was a 51-yard catch late in the fourth quarter. It moved the Chiefs to the Raiders’ 23-yard line and set up Butker’s go-ahead field goal. It was the most exciting offensive play of the game for Kansas City.
Chris Jones and Nick Bolton (Defense)
Defensive tackle Chris Jones sacked O’Connell on a third down in the fourth quarter and forced the Raiders to punt. Linebacker Nick Bolton made the big 4th-down stop on Jeanty in the third quarter. Both plays kept the Chiefs in the game.
How Did the Quarterbacks Play?
No quarterback had a great day, and no one threw a touchdown pass in this game. Both defenses were in control most of the time.
For Kansas City, the starters like Patrick Mahomes did not play. Shane Buechele completed 7 of 14 passes for 88 yards. Chris Oladokun completed 11 of 17 passes for 58 yards, but he also lost a fumble that led to Raiders points. The Chiefs quarterbacks were sacked 8 times, which made it very hard for them to find a rhythm.
For Las Vegas, Aidan O’Connell threw for 102 yards and led the game-winning drive. Kenny Pickett also played and threw an interception. The Raiders did not pass the ball much and chose to run with Jeanty most of the time.
Here is a simple summary of the passing numbers:
| Quarterback | Team | Completions / Attempts | Yards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aidan O’Connell | Raiders | Not fully reported | 102 |
| Shane Buechele | Chiefs | 7 / 14 | 88 |
| Chris Oladokun | Chiefs | 11 / 17 | 58 |
What Big Record Did Travis Kelce Set in This Game?
Even in a loss, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce made NFL history. Early in the third quarter, one catch did two things at once. First, he passed Terrell Owens for the eighth-most catches in NFL history. Second, he became the fastest tight end ever to reach 13,000 career receiving yards.
Kelce also finished his 10th season in a row with at least 75 catches. That ties an NFL record. For Chiefs fans, this was the happiest part of a hard day.
What Special Teams Plays Changed the Game?
Special teams were very important in this game, maybe more than offense. Both kickers scored all of the field goal points, and one big play on a kickoff almost changed the result.
Right after the Raiders’ safety, the Raiders had to kick the ball back to the Chiefs. On that play, the Chiefs’ Ethan Downs hit Raiders returner Dylan Laube and knocked the ball loose. Chiefs linebacker Jack Cochrane fell on it. Just four plays later, Butker kicked a field goal. That turnover helped the Chiefs take the lead late in the game. In the end, though, Carlson’s long kick gave the last word to the Raiders.
What Do These Stats Tell Us About Both Teams?
The stats show a game where defense and kicking were much stronger than offense. Here are the main lessons:
- Pressure wins games. The Raiders got 8 sacks. That kind of pressure stopped the Chiefs from building long drives.
- Running the ball still matters. The Raiders ran the ball 9 more times than the Chiefs. Jeanty’s steady running helped Las Vegas control the game.
- Young players got a chance. The Chiefs gave playing time to many young players like Brashard Smith and Nohl Williams. Coach Reid said this was one good thing that came out of the game.
- Small mistakes cost a lot. Oladokun’s fumble gave the Raiders easy points, and the safety gave them 2 more. In a 2-point game, those moments decided the winner.
When Do the Raiders and Chiefs Play Again?
The two teams are set to meet again on October 4, 2026. After the Raiders’ surprise win in January, this next game should be exciting. The Chiefs will want revenge, and the Raiders will want to prove their win was not luck. Fans of this long rivalry will be watching closely.
Conclusion
The Las Vegas Raiders vs Kansas City Chiefs match player stats show that you do not need touchdowns to have a thrilling game. Ashton Jeanty ran hard, Tyree Wilson made the game-changing safety, and Daniel Carlson kicked a 60-yard winner with seconds left. On the Chiefs side, Harrison Butker was perfect, Nohl Williams and Brashard Smith showed a bright future, and Travis Kelce made history. If we have to pick one player who played best, Tyree Wilson is a strong choice, because his 2-point safety was exactly the winning margin. But the final hero will always be Carlson and his amazing kick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the last Raiders vs Chiefs game?
The Las Vegas Raiders won the last game 14-12 on January 4, 2026, at Allegiant Stadium. Kicker Daniel Carlson made a 60-yard field goal with 8 seconds left to win it. There were no touchdowns in the game, only field goals and one safety, which made it a very close defensive battle.
Who was the top rusher in the Raiders vs Chiefs game?
Ashton Jeanty of the Raiders was the top rusher. He ran the ball 26 times for 87 yards, which was a career high for carries. For the Chiefs, rookie Brashard Smith led the team with 56 rushing yards on 12 carries in the first start of his NFL career.
Did Patrick Mahomes play in the Week 18 game against the Raiders?
No, Patrick Mahomes did not play in this game. The Chiefs used Shane Buechele and Chris Oladokun at quarterback. Buechele threw for 88 yards and Oladokun threw for 58 yards. Neither quarterback threw a touchdown, and the Raiders defense sacked them 8 times during the game.
