Chiefs-Raiders betting line & prediction: The final game of the 2025 season
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Chiefs conclude 2025 at 6-10, Mahomes injured; Oladokun starts again.
- Raiders sit on 10 straight losses, key veterans Crosby and Bowers sidelined.
- Game serves as audition for Oladokun and evaluation of injured Chiefs depth.
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.
Kansas City enters Week 18 at 6-10, having lost five straight games, including last week’s 20-13 defeat to Denver. Las Vegas has dropped 10 consecutive games and is coming off a 34-10 blowout loss to the New York Giants.
How to watch Chiefs at Raiders
Kickoff: 3:25 p.m. Central Time
Where: Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada
TV: CBS (Channel 5 in Kansas City)
Radio: KFNZ (96.5 FM in Kansas City, KNSS 98.7 FM in Wichita)
Betting line: Chiefs -5.5.
Behind the KC-LV matchup
A misery-filled, throwaway campaign defined by eight one-score losses and a season-ending knee injury to Patrick Mahomes will come to a close Sunday in Las Vegas.
Third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun is set to make his second career start in place of Mahomes, and he’s not buying into any idea that this game lacks meaning.
“At the end of the day, it’s an AFC West opponent,” Oladokun said. “It’s a rivalry game (against) the Raiders. Both teams are going to come out swinging. Obviously, the narrative is that the Raiders are going to lay down because they want the No. 1 pick. That’s not going to happen.
“The Raiders are going to come out there — they play really hard. The defense is really good. I think they have a really good (defensive coordinator) in Patrick Graham. None of us expect them to lay down and we’re both going to be playing to win.” While Oladokun is right that players on the field will be competing to win, the Raiders’ recent personnel decisions tell a different story. Las Vegas recently placed its best player, Maxx Crosby, on injured reserve despite his objections, and tight end Brock Bowers was shut down earlier in the year.
Starting quarterback Geno Smith also suffered a high-ankle sprain last week, meaning journeyman Kenny Pickett is likely to start.
While the Chiefs have eight of their own starters on injured reserve, it’s still a grand opportunity for Oladokun, given the fact that KC will need a quarterback to run its offseason programs as Mahomes continues to work his way back from injury.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has acknowledged that the final game will serve as a meaningful evaluation point for Oladokun.
“This game will be another audition for that,” Reid said. “I think that’s good. He did a nice job last week (against the Broncos) and the time he had to execute and jump in there the week before (against the Titans). We’ll just see (how) he continues to grow.”
Though right guard Trey Smith (ankle) has not officially been shut down, Reid has suggested he’s unlikely to play. Right tackle Jaylon Moore (knee) could be back, and it remains to be seen whether Mike Caliendo or Hunter Nourzad would replace Smith.
It all presents a rather strangely subdued backdrop for what could be the final game of tight end Travis Kelce’s illustrious career, though he has declined to confirm that one way or the other.
After the Chiefs’ loss to the Broncos, the future Pro Football Hall of Famer made a cheeky joke about Powerball before hinting at his timeline.
“Honestly, I’ve been just focused on trying to win football games,” Kelce said. “I’ll let that be a decision that I make with my family, friends (and) the Chiefs’ organization when the time comes.”
Chiefs-Raiders game prediction
With it possibly being Kelce’s final game, I expect the Chiefs will do everything in their power to send him off with a victory. The Raiders appear to be a team already looking toward April. I’ll take KC in an ugly one, which means Las Vegas is on the clock.
Winner: Chiefs 19, Raiders 9 Pick to cover: Chiefs.
