Here are four things that stood out in Chiefs' loss to the Raiders
Chiefs finish with a 6-11 record, including a disastrous 1-7 mark on the road
The Chiefs’ 2025 regular season is officially in the books.
And the final chapter closed on a sour note in a 14-12 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
The matchup between the two teams proved far from pretty, as the contest produced a heavy feel of preseason without star power at the quarterback positions.
Chris Oladokun started the contest before giving way to Shane Buechele in the second half, while the Raiders rolled with Kenny Pickett in the first half before sending out Aidan O’Connell in the second half.
With the carousel of quarterbacks on both sides, it’s no wonder the game developed into a snoozefest.
The Chiefs managed a paltry 168 yards of total offense and converted 3-of-17 opportunities (18%) on third down.
Kansas City ran a total of 62 plays, averaging 2.7 yards per play, and the team drew 7 penalty flags while turning over the ball twice on Oladokun’s fumbles.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this is how the 2025 campaign ended.
The Chiefs finish with a 6-11 record, which is the first losing record for Andy Reid in Kansas City since he became the head coach in 2013.
Kansas City also lost eight of the final nine games, which includes six straight losses, and posted a woeful 1-7 overall record on the road, which ties the 2012 road record.
There is a bright spot for the disastrous season for anyone looking ahead: The Chiefs at least have a high draft pick to add talent to the 2026 roster.
Here are four things that stood out:
BACKFIELD SHUFFLE
Rookie running back Brashard Smith added energy to the run game.
Smith, who has been buried on the depth chart behind Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco this season, finally got a chance to show what he could do with meaningful playing time.
And with Pacheco inactive against the Raiders, Smith didn’t disappoint after drawing the start.
Smith ran hard and showed explosive speed on his runs, which included a 14-yard gain. He finished the game with 12 carries for 56 yards, averaging a respectable 4.7 yards per attempt. Smith added two catches for 2 yards.
“I thought he did a nice job for us,” coach Andy Reid told reporters on Smith after the game. “I like the way he caught the ball for the most part and ran the ball.
“It was good to get him in the backfield running from different spots, offsetting and from under center, dodging runs. So, it was positive things.”
While the production offers a small sample size, at least the Chiefs got a good look at their rookie before the offseason months.
A good thing, too, when considering Hunt and Pacheco are eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2026.
Smith finishes the 2025 season with 151 yards rushing on 44 carrie, adding 172 yards receiving and a touchdown on 25 catches. He also totaled 18 kickoff returns for 481 yards.
As for Dameon Pierce, let’s just say he didn’t do much with his opportunities.
The Chiefs signed Pierce to the practice squad in late November after the Houston Texans cut ties with their former 2022 draft pick. Pierce was then elevated to the active roster in Week 16, but he inactive for two straight games.
Pierce saw his first action in a Chiefs uniform against the Raiders and managed 10 yards on four carries, averaging 2.5 yards per attempt.
In other words, he did nothing.
What the Chiefs do in the backfield during the offseason remains to be seen.
But one thing is for sure – the Chiefs must actively look at either free agency or the draft to add an explosive and versatile playmaker to the backfield.
The status quo won’t do.
SECOND TIME AROUND
Cornerback Kristian Fulton turned heads in Week 17 when he recorded three tackles and three passes defensed.
He did it again against the Raiders when he totaled three more passes defensed, likely prompting some to question where he has been all season.
Keep in mind that the Chiefs signed Fulton to a two-year deal during the 2025 offseason and they expected him to contribute.
Fulton, though, fell behind the power curve after starting training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list because of an offseason knee surgery. He then dealt with an ankle injury early in the season.
But his two-game stretch showed why the Chiefs liked him.
Fulton’s performances could help set the plate for what the team does at the cornerback position in the coming months, especially with Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams scheduled to become unrestricted free agents in March 2026.
QB NEED
The biggest takeaway since Patrick Mahomes went down with a torn ACL and LCL in Week 15 is that the Chiefs offense is complete mess without him.
How the Chiefs go forward with a backup quarterback during the offseason months takes on importance because of Mahomes’ recovery time from his knee surgery.
Gardner Minshew was the favorite to hold down the fort, but his audition to fill the role came to an end before it began when he also suffered a knee injury in Week 16.
Meanwhile, Chris Oladokun and Shane Buechele are not the answer.
Oladokun started Week 17 and completed 13-of-22 passes for 66 yards and a touchdown. He followed up against the Raiders by completing 11-of-17 passes for 58 yards, while losing two fumbles.
Add it together and Oladokun completed 24-of-39 passes for 124 yards in two games, averaging just 5.2 yards per pass completion.
Buechele finished Sunday’s game completing 7-of-14 passes for 88 yards.
It’s never a good thing when an NFL team is down to its third and fourth quarterbacks at the end of a season.
KELCE MILESTONE
Nobody but Travis Kelce and those closest to him probably really know if he’s coming back in 2026.
But if Sunday was truly Kelce’s final lap, he capped it off with another accomplishment for Pro Football Hall of Fame consideration.
Kelce finished the game hauling in three catches for 12 yards, giving him 13,002 career yards receiving.
The career totals put him in elite company, as he joins Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez (15,127) and Jason Witten (13,046) as the only tight ends in NFL history to reach 13,000 yards receiving.