The Kansas City Chiefs fell to the Las Vegas Raiders, 14-12, in a game that came down to the final seconds on Sunday afternoon.
Trailing by two points with just over two minutes remaining in the game, quarterback Shane Buechele found wide receiver Hollywood Brown for a 51-yard gain to the Raiders' 23-yard line. The play set up a go-ahead, 47-yard field goal by kicker Harrison Butker, and with only one minute remaining in regulation, the Chiefs looked to be in position to secure a come-from-behind victory.
Raiders' quarterback Aidan O'Connell found tight end Michael Mayer for a 21-yard completion on Las Vegas' first play of its final series, however, ultimately setting up a game-winning, 60-yard field goal by kicker Daniel Carlson.
It was a disappointing ending to a game that saw several young players step up into major roles, but despite an admirable effort over the course of the final minutes, it just wasn't enough in the very end.
"It was great to get the young guys some playing time," said Head Coach Andy Reid. "If there's a positive to take out of this, that's [it]…Some of our young guys stepped up and made some plays throughout the game."
Indeed, numerous young players made an impression on both sides of the ball throughout the matchup. Cornerback Nohl Williams recorded two pass-breakups and a sack while tailback Brashard Smith, who made the first start of his career on Sunday, tallied 56 rushing yards on 12 carries.
Those performances took place amidst what turned out to be a defensive battle that saw the two teams knotted up at three points apiece late in the second quarter. The Raiders were soon in front though after cornerback Darien Porter fell on a fumble by quarterback Chris Oladokun, setting Las Vegas up at the Chiefs' 18-yard line. The Raiders then quicky turned the takeaway into a go-ahead field goal prior to halftime, securing their first lead of the game.
Las Vegas looked poised to add to its average following halftime, too, when the Raiders drove to the Chiefs' 27-yard line, but facing a 4th-and-1, linebacker Nick Bolton tackled tailback Ashton Jeanty behind the line of scrimmage to turn the ball over on downs.
The Chiefs didn't waste the defensive play, either, as Buechele – now in at quarterback – led a 12-play series that ended in a game-tying, 40-yard field goal. Las Vegas was quick to respond though, as the Raiders were back in front with a 55-yard field goal on their following series.
The Raiders then later pushed their advantage to five points when Buechele was sacked in the end zone for a safety, but on the ensuing kick, defensive end Ethan Downs jarred the ball loose from Raiders' return man Dylan Laube, and linebacker Jack Cochrane fell on it.
Kansas City proceeded to turn the takeaway into a 47-yard field goal four snaps later, and on the Raiders' next drive, defensive tackle Chris Jones sacked O'Connell on third down to force a punt.
Buechele then found Brown for 51 yards on the Chiefs' next offensive snap, but while his efforts briefly led to a Kansas City lead, the Raiders rallied to win it at the very end.
Despite the result, tight end Travis Kelce still managed to make some history on Sunday. In fact, on the same play early in the third quarter, Kelce passed Terrell Owens for the eighth-most catches in NFL history while also becoming the fastest tight end in league history to reach 13,000 career receiving yards. The future Pro Football Hall of Famer secured his 10th straight season with at least 75 receptions as well, matching an NFL record.
Kelce's accolades were a bright spot on an otherwise disappointing day for the Chiefs, but with the book now closed on the 2025 campaign, Coach Reid was already looking toward the future following Sunday's result.
"Nobody wants a season like this. That's not what we strive for or work hard for, but there are obstacles that come into play, and you have to work through those," Reid said. "There's a learning curve here that you can set with some of the experiences that we've had – for all of us – and then never do it again. You make a commitment to that as coaches, starting with me, and the players."
The Chiefs will now turn their attention to the NFL Draft in April, where Kansas City will possess the No. 9 overall pick.
