Las Vegas Raiders vs. Kansas City Chiefs: 2023 Week 16 Recap

Game story

In Week 16 of the 2023 NFL season on 2023-12-25, the Las Vegas Raiders took care of business against the Kansas City Chiefs, pulling away with a 20–14 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

P. Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) paced the passing game, with -3.39 total EPA, and -1.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, R. James (Kansas City Chiefs) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.33 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-22.8% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Kansas City Chiefs changed the game: (5:00) (Shotgun) Direct snap to 10-I.Pacheco. 10-I.Pacheco FUMBLES (Aborted) at KC 8, RECOVERED by LV-91-B.Nichols at KC 8. 91-B.Nichols for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 R. James · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +4.33 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.44 EPA/play
2. 2 Z. White · Las Vegas Raiders · Rushing · +3.19 total EPA · 22 snaps · +0.15 EPA/play
3. 3 C. Edwards-Helaire · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +3.11 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.04 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Townsend · Kansas City Chiefs · Passing · +2.44 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.44 EPA/play
5. 5 B. Bolden · Las Vegas Raiders · Rushing · +1.05 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.05 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Abdullah · Las Vegas Raiders · Rushing · +0.65 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.32 EPA/play
7. 7 T. Kelce · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +0.50 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.07 EPA/play
8. 8 A. Hooper · Las Vegas Raiders · Receiving · +0.35 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.12 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Kansas City Chiefs — I. Pacheco (Q2 37:40)
• Las Vegas Raiders — B. Nichols (Q2 35:00)
• Las Vegas Raiders — J. Jones (Q2 34:55)
• Kansas City Chiefs — P. Mahomes (Q4 2:48)

Field goals

• Las Vegas Raiders — D. Carlson (Q1 46:21)
• Las Vegas Raiders — D. Carlson (Q3 15:27)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Las Vegas Raiders won the period 3–0. Las Vegas Raiders connected on a field goal from the KC 6 (Q1 46:21) — (1:21) 2-D.Carlson 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-50-J.Bobenmoyer, Holder-6-A.Cole..

The second quarter: Las Vegas Raiders won the period 14–7. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the LV 12 (Q2 37:40) — (7:40) (Shotgun) Direct snap to 10-I.Pacheco. 10-I.Pacheco left end for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the LV 15 (Q2 37:34) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.; Las Vegas Raiders found the end zone from the LV 87 (Q2 35:00); Las Vegas Raiders found the end zone from the LV 75 (Q2 34:55); Las Vegas Raiders registered a safety from the KC 2 (Q2 34:48) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 34-B.Bolden rushes up the middle. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS..

The third quarter: Las Vegas Raiders won the period 3–0. Las Vegas Raiders connected on a field goal from the KC 17 (Q3 15:27) — (:27) 2-D.Carlson 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-50-J.Bobenmoyer, Holder-6-A.Cole..

The fourth quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 7–0. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the LV 7 (Q4 2:48) — (2:48) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short middle to 84-Ju.Watson for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the LV 15 (Q4 2:42) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 35:00) — (5:00) (Shotgun) Direct snap to 10-I.Pacheco. 10-I.Pacheco FUMBLES (Aborted) at KC 8, RECOVERED by LV-91-B.Nichols at KC 8. 91-B.Nichols for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -22.8% · EPA -6.96]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 34:55) — (4:55) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short right intended for 84-Ju.Watson INTERCEPTED by 18-J.Jones at KC 33. 18-J.Jones for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -22.3% · EPA -7.62]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 39:53) — (9:53) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short right to 87-T.Kelce to LV 23 for 24 yards (25-T.Moehrig). [WPA +7.3% · EPA +1.66]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 42:21) — (12:21) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short right to 4-R.Rice to KC 41 for 15 yards (39-N.Hobbs). [WPA +7.1% · EPA +2.26]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 2:48) — (2:48) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short middle to 84-Ju.Watson for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +6.5% · EPA +3.12]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 34:55) — (4:55) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short right intended for 84-Ju.Watson INTERCEPTED by 18-J.Jones at KC 33. 18-J.Jones for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -22.3% · EPA -7.62]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 35:00) — (5:00) (Shotgun) Direct snap to 10-I.Pacheco. 10-I.Pacheco FUMBLES (Aborted) at KC 8, RECOVERED by LV-91-B.Nichols at KC 8. 91-B.Nichols for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -22.8% · EPA -6.96]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 4:16) — (4:16) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass deep right to 17-R.James to LV 9 for 45 yards (39-N.Hobbs; 1-M.Epps). [WPA +2.8% · EPA +3.33]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 2:48) — (2:48) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short middle to 84-Ju.Watson for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +6.5% · EPA +3.12]

Quarterback report card

P.Mahomes led all passers in efficiency for Kansas City Chiefs, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• P.Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) · 59 dropbacks · 45.8% completion · -1.3% CPOE · -0.06 EPA/play · -3.39 total EPA
• A.O'Connell (Las Vegas Raiders) · 24 dropbacks · 37.5% completion · -16.4% CPOE · -0.45 EPA/play · -10.83 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Las Vegas Raiders -0.15, Kansas City Chiefs -0.20) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Kansas City Chiefs: 11 drives, -18.09 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Las Vegas Raiders: 12 drives, -9.96 total EPA, 2 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Las Vegas Raiders leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• R. James (Kansas City Chiefs) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• A. O'Connell (LV) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Las Vegas Raiders FG (+3) — Q1 46:21 · KC 6 · Score 3-0
   (1:21) 2-D.Carlson 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-50-J.Bobenmoyer, Holder-6-A.Cole.
2. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q2 37:40 · LV 12 · Score 3-6
   (7:40) (Shotgun) Direct snap to 10-I.Pacheco. 10-I.Pacheco left end for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q2 37:34 · LV 15 · Score 3-7
   7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
4. Las Vegas Raiders TD (+6) — Q2 35:00 · LV 87 · Score 9-7
   (5:00) (Shotgun) Direct snap to 10-I.Pacheco. 10-I.Pacheco FUMBLES (Aborted) at KC 8, RECOVERED by LV-91-B.Nichols at KC 8. 91-B.Nichols for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Las Vegas Raiders TD (+6) — Q2 34:55 · LV 75 · Score 15-7
   (4:55) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short right intended for 84-Ju.Watson INTERCEPTED by 18-J.Jones at KC 33. 18-J.Jones for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Las Vegas Raiders Safety (+2) — Q2 34:48 · KC 2 · Score 17-7
   TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 34-B.Bolden rushes up the middle. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
7. Las Vegas Raiders FG (+3) — Q3 15:27 · KC 17 · Score 20-7
   (:27) 2-D.Carlson 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-50-J.Bobenmoyer, Holder-6-A.Cole.
8. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q4 2:48 · LV 7 · Score 20-13
   (2:48) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short middle to 84-Ju.Watson for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q4 2:42 · LV 15 · Score 20-14
   7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.