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Six updates on the Kansas City Chiefs before Sunday's season finale vs. the Raiders

Stories by Kansas City Star journalists, with AI summarization

The Kansas City Chiefs are in an odd spot entering the season finale against the Raiders. A win could be good for morale ... but not so much for draft positioning.

How will the players approach the finale? And which players will be available in the first place?

Here are six recent updates on the team heading into Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders, including a game prediction from Chiefs insider Pete Sweeney and a big-picture look at the injury report.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Hollywood Brown (5) waves to the fans following a long catch in the second half of the Chiefs game vs. the Houston Texans on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. By Dominick Williams

NO. 1: HOW MARQUISE BROWN WILL APPROACH CHIEFS’ FINALE WITH CONTRACT INCENTIVES IN REACH

There is little national interest in Sunday’s Chiefs-Raiders game, but you’ll hear some intriguing storylines from a KC perspective. | Published January 2, 2026 | Read Full Story by Pete Grathoff

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) shakes hands with Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster (9) after the Chiefs turnover the ball on downs late in the second half of the Chiefs game vs. the Denver Broncos on Thursday, December 25, 2025, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. By Dominick Williams

NO. 2: CHIEFS-RAIDERS BETTING LINE & PREDICTION: THE FINAL GAME OF THE 2025 SEASON

The Kansas City Chiefs will close a disappointing 2025 season on the road against their greatest rival in a late-afternoon Sunday start against the Las Vegas Raiders. | Published January 1, 2026 | Read Full Story by Pete Sweeney

Kansas City cornerback Nohl Williams (20) celebrates after a big tackle in the second half of the Chiefs’ game against the Denver Broncos on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. By Dominick Williams

NO. 3: CHIEFS’ ROOKIE PLAYERS (THOSE WHO AREN’T HURT) GET LAST CHANCE TO MAKE IMPRESSION

As the Chiefs wrap up the 2025 season on Sunday in Las Vegas, members of their 2025 NFL Draft class will be looking to finish on a high note against the Raiders. | Published January 2, 2026 | Read Full Story by Blair Kerkhoff

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid yells at the referee during the second half of the Chiefs game vs. the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. By Dominick Williams

NO. 4: CHIEFS’ GAME SUNDAY WILL HAVE KC’S SMALLEST TV FOOTPRINT SINCE THE 2009 SEASON

When the Chiefs face the Raiders, there usually is a lot of talk about Patrick Mahomes and Maxx Crosby leading up to the game. | Published January 3, 2026 | Read Full Story by Pete Grathoff

Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith (65) and other during warm ups at practice at team's training facility on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. in Kansas City By Tammy Ljungblad

NO. 5: WHO’S LEFT? ANOTHER CHIEFS STANDOUT WON’T FINISH THE SEASON BECAUSE OF INJURY

With one game remaining, add guard Trey Smith to the list of Chiefs players shut down for the season because of injury. | Published January 2, 2026 | Read Full Story by Blair Kerkhoff

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid walks the sideline during the second half of an NFL Week 17 game against the Denver Broncos at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025. By Dominick Williams

NO. 6: WHY THE CHIEFS’ TRIP TO VEGAS IS ONE OF THEIR MOST IMPORTANT GAMES OF THE SEASON

Three years ago, the Chiefs traveled to Las Vegas for a regular-season finale, needing a win to secure the AFC’s No. | Published January 3, 2026 | Read Full Story by Sam McDowell

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.