Will Raiders game be farewell for Chiefs’ Travis Kelce? What to watch for in Vegas
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Travis Kelce holds NFL playoff reception lead and most Super Bowl catches.
- Kelce will finish season as Chiefs' winningest player, surpassing Shields.
- Ashton Jeanty seeks Raiders rookie scrimmage record while Araiza improved punts.
If Sunday marks the final game for Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, he’ll exit the NFL stage with a load of league records, especially in postseason play.
Perhaps the most significant: His 178 playoff receptions are 27 more than second-place Jerry Rice. Kelce’s 35 Super Bowl catches also rank No. 1 all-time.
Over the years, however, Kelce largely has dismissed such historical marks. So much so, that two years ago he needed 16 receiving yards in the Chiefs’ regular-season finale to record his eighth consecutive 1,000-yard receiving season. Only six other players in NFL history had such a streak.
But with the Chiefs’ playoff position confirmed, Kelce sat with other starters to get extra rest ahead of the playoffs. That quest ended with the Chiefs’ third Super Bowl triumph in five years.
There is one record that Kelce might find most meaningful: No matter what happens in Sunday’s final at the Las Vegas Raiders, he’ll conclude this season as the winningest player in Chiefs history.
Kelce’s games-played record stands at 136-55. He started his career in 2013, appearing for one special teams play that season in a game the Chiefs won. His contributions became more substantial as the years unfolded.
Second on the list is of winningest Chiefs is Hall of Fame guard Will Shields, who in his 14 seasons (1993-2006) went 131-93. Third in victories is long-snapper James Winchester at 129, and fourth is former punter Dustin Colquitt at 125.
Two factors favor the current Chiefs on this list. The NFL has played a 17-game schedule since 2021, and the Chiefs, with the help of Kelce’s 11 Pro Bowl seasons, are the most successful franchise since head coach Andy Reid and Kelce arrived in 2013.
When it comes to postseason, the numbers are just as impressive. The Chiefs’ playoff record for games in which Kelce (and Winchester) have played is 18-7. Only four players in NFL history — Tom Brady, Adam Vinatieri, Stephen Gostkowski and Bill Romanowski — have appeared in more playoff victories.
The Chiefs’ rough 2025 season aside, Kelce playing often coincided with wins for the franchise.
Here’s what else to watch when the Chiefs visit the Raiders on Sunday at 3:25 p.m. Central Time:
Chiefs player to watch: CB Nohl Williams
Williams had been a rotation piece until the final month of the year, when he’s gotten a majority of the defensive snaps — including two games in which he didn’t come off the field.
The third-round draft pick is coming off his best game as a pro in the Chiefs’ loss to the Broncos, when he came up with three tackles for loss among his season-high eight stops.
Look for Williams to play the majority, if not all, of KC’s defensive snaps against the Raiders.
Raiders player to watch: RB Ashton Jeanty
Jeanty is bidding to become the most productive rookie running back in Raiders history. He needs 90 scrimmage yards to smash the team record held by Josh Jacobs.
In the Raiders’ Week 7 loss to the Chiefs in Kansas City, Jeanty was held to 21 yards in six attempts. A month ago against the Chicago Bears, he had his best game with 138 yards, including a season-long 64-yarder.
Special teams: Chiefs punter Matt Araiza
Although he’s averaging about a net yard shorter this season, Araiza is having a better year overall than he did in 2024.
He has had just three touchbacks, compared to nine last season, and his percentage of kicks inside the 20 has improved.
“Matt’s having a really good year,” Chiefs special teams coordinator and assistant head coach Dave Toub said. “I think he’s having his best year.”
This story was originally published January 1, 2026 at 5:00 AM.