The safety wasn’t enough to put away the Chiefs quite yet.
On the ensuing kickoff return, the ball was stripped out of Dylan Laube‘s hands, giving the Chiefs the ball back for Butler to make a 47-yard field goal and bring the score within two points. The Raiders would punt the ball back to Kansas City after a three-and-out, with the drive ending on a second Chris Jones quarterback sack.
Buechele threw up a haymaker to Marquise Brown for 51 yards, and Butker made his fourth and final field goal from 41 yards to take a one-point lead.
Time and time before throughout the 2025 season, the Raiders have faltered in these situations with their backs against the wall. But this time, they competed to the end.
Zamir White had a clutch 30-yard kickoff return, followed up by O’Connell hitting up Michael Mayer and Tyler Lockett for completions totaling 26 yards. For a last time this game, and this season, Carlson jogged on the field.
“There’s a certain awareness of the situation obviously but for me, I try and treat every kick the same,” he said postgame. “Go through my pre-kick routine and stuff. Obviously, it was a longer one. Knew the situation.”
If Carlson was anxious at all lining up for the 60-yarder, you couldn’t tell. He booted it in the middle of the uprights, providing a small silver lining to close a tumultuous season.
“All the work that you put in throughout a season starting in OTAs going through camp, going through the highs and the lows of the season,” he said, “it’s just so fun to get to celebrate with your teammates and guys that’s kind of been in the bunkers with you for the last however many months.
“It’s just a blessing to get to end on a high note like that. Doesn’t always end like that necessarily, but I’m very grateful that we got to have some fun at the end.”