LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — In a season finale defined more by defensive struggle than offensive fireworks, the Las Vegas Raiders edged the Kansas City Chiefs 14-12 on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium, a result that belied the pregame projections and the recent history between the AFC West rivals.

A crowd of 61,780 witnessed a contest where neither team found the end zone, with all scoring provided by kickers and a pivotal fourth-quarter safety. The victory improved the Raiders’ record to 3-14, while the Chiefs fell to 6-11, capping disappointing campaigns for both franchises.

The game’s most critical sequence unfolded in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, transforming a narrow Kansas City lead into a dramatic Las Vegas victory. Leading 9-6 with under five minutes to play, the Chiefs were backed up at their own 7-yard line. On third down, Raiders defensive linemen Tyree Wilson and Tonka Hemingway converged on Kansas City quarterback Shane Buechele in the end zone for a safety, cutting the lead to 9-8 and giving Las Vegas both a critical point and possession of the ball.

The ensuing free kick set up the Raiders near midfield, but their drive stalled. However, the field position battle proved decisive. Following a Las Vegas punt, Buechele connected with receiver Hollywood Brown on a 51-yard pass to the Raiders’ 23-yard line, setting up a 41-yard Harrison Butker field goal that extended Kansas City’s lead to 12-8 with just 1:01 remaining.

The Raiders’ final drive began at their own 32-yard line with 55 seconds left. Quarterback Aidan O’Connell, who finished 10 of 22 for 102 yards, immediately found tight end Michael Mayer for a 21-yard gain to the Kansas City 47. After an incomplete pass, O’Connell hit receiver Tyler Lockett for a 5-yard gain to the Chiefs’ 42, stopping the clock with 17 seconds remaining. Following another incompletion, kicker Daniel Carlson trotted onto the field for a 60-yard attempt to win the game. Carlson, who was perfect on four field goal attempts, drilled the kick with eight seconds left, delivering the Raiders a 14-12 lead and ultimately the victory.

The game was a stark contrast to the teams’ meeting earlier in the season, a 31-0 Chiefs win, and defied statistical expectations. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 29-24 Raiders win, while its ELO system gave Kansas City an 84.4% probability to win. Las Vegas closed as a 3.5-point favorite, and the total score of 26 points went well under the over/under line of 36.5.

Offensive execution was scarce throughout. The Chiefs cycled through three quarterbacks. Chris Oladokun started, completing 11 of 17 passes for 58 yards. Shane Buechele relieved him, going 7 of 14 for 88 yards and leading the team in rushing with a 4-yard scramble. The Chiefs’ ground game was led by Brashard Smith, who carried 13 times for 66 yards. Brown was the primary receiving threat, catching three passes for 64 yards.

For Las Vegas, the offense ran primarily through rookie running back Ashton Jeanty, who carried 26 times for 87 yards and caught three passes for 7 yards. Zamir White provided a spark in the return game, tallying 145 yards on five kickoff returns. Mayer led receivers with three catches for 47 yards.

Defensively, the Raiders’ front dominated, recording eight sacks. Wilson had two sacks among his six tackles, while Charles Snowden also notched two sacks. Devin White registered 1.5 sacks among his six tackles. For Kansas City, linebacker Nick Bolton led all defenders with nine tackles. The Chiefs’ lone takeaway was a first-quarter interception by safety Chamarri Conner.

Scoring was limited to kicks for the first three quarters. Butker gave Kansas City a 3-0 lead with a 36-yard field goal late in the first quarter. Carlson answered with second-quarter kicks from 32 and 23 yards to give Las Vegas a 6-3 halftime lead. Butker tied the game at 6-6 with a 40-yard field goal in the third quarter, and Carlson put the Raiders back ahead 9-6 with a 55-yarder early in the fourth.

The game concluded a forgettable season for both sides. The Chiefs, who began the year with Super Bowl aspirations, lost eight of their final nine games. The Raiders’ victory snapped a five-game losing streak but did little to brighten a year with only three wins. The result ensured both teams would miss the postseason, a rare circumstance for Kansas City in recent years and a continuation of struggle for Las Vegas.