On Jan. 4, 2026 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Daniel Carlson — a pending free agent — drilled a career-long 60-yard field goal with eight seconds remaining to lift the Raiders to a 14-12 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. The kick ended Las Vegas’ 10-game losing streak and gave the Raiders a 3-14 finish while the Chiefs fell to 6-11. Both Carlson and Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker converted four field goals; Butker’s 41-yarder with 1:01 left briefly put Kansas City ahead. The victory also snapped the Raiders’ 11-game losing run against AFC West opponents and was their first win over Kansas City at Allegiant Stadium.
Key Takeaways
- Final score: Raiders 14, Chiefs 12 at Allegiant Stadium on Jan. 4, 2026.
- Daniel Carlson made a career-long 60-yard field goal with eight seconds left; his previous long was 57 yards.
- Both kickers went 4-for-4 on field goals: Carlson (Raiders) and Harrison Butker (Chiefs).
- Las Vegas ended a 10-game losing streak and an 11-game AFC West skid; Raiders finished 3-14, Chiefs 6-11.
- Rookie Ashton Jeanty rushed for 87 yards, finishing the season with 975 rushing yards and 1,321 yards from scrimmage, breaking the Raiders rookie club mark.
- Tyree Wilson recorded two sacks and forced two fumbles; one sack resulted in a fourth-quarter safety.
- Mahomes and Gardner Minshew did not play for Kansas City; Chris Oladokun and Shane Buechele combined at QB.
- Geno Smith did not play for Las Vegas; Kenny Pickett started and Aidan O’Connell relieved in the second quarter.
Background
The Raiders hired Pete Carroll roughly a year earlier with hopes his championship resume would accelerate a rebuild in Las Vegas. The 2025 season, however, proved difficult on the scoreboard as injuries and personnel turnover limited continuity. A loss streak that stretched to double digits reflected recurring problems on both sides of the ball despite flashes from young contributors.
Kansas City arrived at the finale amid an unexpected downturn. Injuries to key personnel, including Patrick Mahomes and other starters, were a major factor in a 6-11 finish and a six-game losing streak to close the season. The Chiefs’ stretch marked one of their rare struggles after a multi-year run of deep postseason and Super Bowl appearances.
Main Event
The scoring was dominated by field goals and defense. Butker supplied a 41-yard field goal with 1:01 remaining to give Kansas City a 12-11 edge, but Las Vegas answered on the final drive. Aidan O’Connell connected with tight end Michael Mayer for 21 yards to set up Carlson’s dramatic attempt, which cleared the uprights from 60 yards as time expired.
O’Connell, making his first appearance of the season after recovering from a broken wrist, finished 10 of 22 for 102 yards. Kenny Pickett started for the Raiders, completing 1 of 4 passes for 3 yards with an interception before leaving the game. For the Chiefs, Chris Oladokun started and was 11 of 17 for 58 yards before Shane Buechele played the second half.
Defensive impact plays shaped the scoreboard. Tyree Wilson had two sacks and forced two fumbles, including a safety in the fourth quarter that gave Las Vegas an 11-6 lead. Chris Jones added two sacks for Kansas City, moving to 86.5 career sacks — third-most in Chiefs history.
Analysis & Implications
Carlson’s kick does more than decide one game: for a veteran kicker entering free agency, a 60-yard, game-winning field goal on national view is a marketable performance. Teams in need of a reliable leg will weigh the result alongside his season-long accuracy and distance range. For the Raiders the win is a morale booster but does not erase structural roster issues highlighted by the 3-14 record.
Las Vegas’ rookie production, notably Ashton Jeanty’s 1,321 yards from scrimmage, offers a building block. Jeanty’s numbers are the best for a Raiders rookie since Josh Jacobs’ 2019 output, and they give management tangible youth assets as they evaluate the offseason direction and the coaching staff’s composition.
For Kansas City, the absence of Patrick Mahomes and other starters underscored depth vulnerabilities. The team will prioritize medical evaluations and offseason planning to return to contention; the club’s recent history of Super Bowl appearances raises the expectation that corrective steps will be taken. Economically, missed playoffs and roster turnover can affect salary-cap planning and personnel decisions in free agency.
Comparison & Data
| Stat | Raiders | Chiefs |
|---|---|---|
| Final record | 3-14 | 6-11 |
| Scoring plays | 4 FGs (Carlson), 1 safety | 4 FGs (Butker) |
| Leading rusher (game / season) | Ashton Jeanty 87 yd / 975 yd | — |
| Top passers (comp/att/yd) | O’Connell 10/22/102 | Oladokun 11/17/58 |
| Team sacks (game) | 8 (season-high) | — |
The table summarizes key box-score elements: Las Vegas relied on a productive ground game from Jeanty and defensive pressure (eight sacks), while Kansas City leaned on field goals in the absence of its usual passing attack. The numbers illustrate how situational kicking and defensive plays determined a low-scoring finale.
Reactions & Quotes
Players and coaches framed the win as both relief and a platform for offseason work. Carlson highlighted the emotional lift for teammates after a difficult campaign.
It was really cool to send everyone to the offseason on a good note.
Daniel Carlson, Raiders kicker
Pete Carroll praised his rookie back and acknowledged uncertainty about his own tenure while reflecting on the season’s positives.
I thought he had a great year. He maximized the opportunities he had and showed toughness and endurance.
Pete Carroll, Raiders head coach
Chiefs coach Andy Reid put the season in perspective and emphasized the learning curve for an injury-marred year.
Nobody wants a season like this. They’re obstacles you have to work through and learn from so you don’t repeat it.
Andy Reid, Chiefs head coach
Unconfirmed
- Whether Pete Carroll will return as Raiders head coach remains unresolved; the team did not schedule the typical postgame, day-after news conference.
- Reports that this could be Travis Kelce’s final game are not confirmed; the veteran tight end has not publicly declared his retirement plans.
- Speculation that Carlson’s kick will immediately produce a lucrative free-agent offer is plausible but not confirmed; contract interest has not been publicly announced.
Bottom Line
Daniel Carlson’s 60-yard, game-winning field goal capped a rare bright moment in a difficult Raiders season, providing a morale boost, a notable highlight for a free-agent kicker, and tangible evidence of progress from certain young players like Ashton Jeanty. The win snaps several losing streaks but does little to alter the franchise’s need for offseason evaluation at many positions.
Kansas City closes a season of uncharacteristic struggles and injury setbacks that will push the organization to prioritize health, depth, and roster decisions this offseason if it aims to rejoin the league’s elite. Both teams enter the offseason with clear tasks: the Raiders must decide on coaching and roster direction, and the Chiefs must restore the continuity that defined their recent success.
Sources
- ESPN game recap — (media)
- AP News NFL hub — (media)