In a game that will be remembered as much for its drama as for its lack of offensive fireworks, the Las Vegas Raiders clawed their way to a 14-12 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium on January 4, 2026. For both teams, it was an afternoon of missed opportunities, relentless defense, and a finish that left fans on the edge of their seats. But for the Raiders, the win meant something more: the end of a 10-game losing streak, a long-awaited division triumph, and the assurance of the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
From the opening whistle, the contest felt like a grind. The Raiders, battered by a bruising season and already guaranteed the top draft pick thanks to the New York Giants’ morning victory over the Dallas Cowboys, had little left to lose. Yet, they played with a pride that belied their 3-14 record. The Chiefs, meanwhile, entered the game undefeated at Allegiant Stadium since its opening in 2020—a streak that included their Super Bowl win over the San Francisco 49ers in 2024. That record, too, would fall by the end of the day.
The first quarter set the tone for what would become a defensive slugfest. The Raiders won the coin toss and deferred. Defensive end Charles Snowden quickly made his mark, sacking the Chiefs’ third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun and forcing a three-and-out. It was the 11th time this season the Raiders had forced an opponent into a three-and-out on their opening drive, tying them with the San Francisco 49ers for the NFL lead in that category.
The Chiefs, missing Patrick Mahomes and relying on Oladokun under center, struggled to find a rhythm. Their first real chance came when Las Vegas quarterback Kenny Pickett, starting in place of the injured Geno Smith, threw a bad interception to Kansas City defensive back Chamarri Conner. Conner, a vital piece of the Chiefs’ defense this year, jumped the route and gave his team excellent field position at the Raiders’ 46-yard line. Yet, the Chiefs’ offense couldn’t take advantage, settling for a 36-yard Harrison Butker field goal to open the scoring at 3-0.
That sequence would prove emblematic of the game as a whole: big defensive plays, squandered offensive chances, and a scoreboard that barely budged. The Raiders responded by making a quarterback change, inserting Aidan O’Connell for his season debut. O’Connell, who had been sidelined by a preseason wrist injury, completed 10 of 22 passes for 102 yards and led the Raiders to a tying field goal. Daniel Carlson, whose leg would be the story of the afternoon, hit from 32 yards to knot things at 3-3 with 7:20 left in the first half.
The Raiders’ defense continued its strong showing, with rookie defensive end Tyree Wilson forcing a fumble from Oladokun that rookie J.J. Pegues recovered—his first career fumble recovery. That set up another Carlson field goal, this time from 23 yards, and the Raiders took a 6-3 lead into halftime. The Chiefs managed just 93 yards of offense in the first half, a testament to Las Vegas’s tenacity.
After the break, the game’s defensive theme persisted. The Chiefs tied it at 6-6 with a 40-yard Butker field goal late in the third quarter. The Raiders’ pass rush, missing Maxx Crosby, nonetheless found another gear. Wilson, having the best game of his young career, recorded two sacks, five tackles, two forced fumbles, and a safety. "The sack that Tyree had on the safety was just a perfect friggin’ sack," Raiders coach Pete Carroll said. "And it happens to be for points, too. The heat was there." Wilson’s safety, which came early in the fourth quarter, put the Raiders up 11-6 and seemed to tilt the game their way.
But this was not a contest anyone would call smooth. There were eight field goals, four turnovers, a safety, nine sacks, and 12 punts. Neither team managed a touchdown, and both went 0-for-4 in the red zone. The combined total yardage? A meager 372. The Chiefs briefly regained the lead after a 51-yard pass set up another Butker field goal, making it 12-11 with just over a minute remaining. But the Raiders, and O’Connell in particular, weren’t done.
With their season, and some pride, on the line, O’Connell led a desperate final drive. The Raiders pushed just far enough into Chiefs territory to give Carlson a shot at history. With eight seconds left, Carlson drilled a 60-yard field goal—his fourth of the day and a career long—to put Las Vegas ahead 14-12. The stadium erupted. "It means everything," linebacker Jamal Adams said after the game. "Sometimes you want to go out the right way. Clearly, we’ve had a rough season."
For the Chiefs, it was a bitter end to their perfect record at Allegiant Stadium. Their offense, hampered by injuries and forced to rely on third-stringers, simply couldn’t match the Raiders’ defensive energy. Oladokun and Shane Buechele combined for little production, and the ground game never found its footing. The Chiefs’ only bright spots came from Butker’s reliable kicking and Conner’s early interception.
The Raiders, meanwhile, celebrated more than just a win. The victory snapped their 10-game losing streak and ended an 11-game drought against AFC West opponents. It also marked their first division win since the 2023 season finale against the Broncos. For head coach Pete Carroll, it may have been his final game on the sideline after a 3-14 campaign—his worst in 19 years as an NFL head coach. "We really wanted to get rid of the AFC West thing," Carroll remarked. "It’s somewhat of an accomplishment in that regard."
Rookie running back Ashton Jeanty chipped in 87 tough yards on 26 carries, helping to keep the Chiefs’ defense honest. On the other side of the ball, rookie defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway posted a career-high two sacks and three quarterback hits, while Charles Snowden added two sacks of his own. "It felt good team-wise and personal-wise," Hemingway said. "It wasn’t perfect, but just trying to get better every time."
Injuries did take a toll, with Isaiah Pola-Mao leaving the game with a shoulder injury and defensive end Malcom Koonce spending time in the medical tent. Yet, the mood in the Raiders’ locker room was one of relief and optimism. With the No. 1 pick in hand, the franchise can now look ahead to the draft—potentially targeting Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who is expected to declare after the College Football Playoffs.
As the offseason beckons, both teams face big questions. For the Raiders, the win provides a rare bright spot and a foundation to build on. For the Chiefs, the loss stings, but with key players set to return, they’ll be eager to reclaim their dominance in 2026. For now, though, it’s the Raiders who get to savor a long-awaited victory—and a chance to chart a new course for the future.
