Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

NFL Facing Punishment Decision After Chiefs Incident

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Jan 4, 2026 10:08 PM ET

The Kansas City Chiefs’ forgettable campaign finally came to an end on Sunday. They headed into the Week 18 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders behind five straight losses, which saw them fall out of the playoff race even before the final game of the season.

As has been the theme for the Chiefs all year, their season finale ended in disappointment as they fell to the Raiders, 14-12. Kansas City dropped to 6-11 after suffering its sixth straight loss. In the process, they allowed the Raiders to secure just their third win of the campaign, snapping their 10-game losing streak.

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid looks on during the third quarter against the Houston Texans Denny Medley-Imagn Images

There was no shortage of action in Sunday’s matchup, though, despite the fact that it was a non-bearing game for both sides. At one point in the first half, the Chiefs were penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct after the Raiders punted.

After a brief discussion among the game officials, it was announced at the 2:14 mark of the second quarter that the behavior of the Chiefs bench warranted an unsportsmanlike penalty violation. It resulted in a 10-yard penalty against Kansas City.

There was no official explanation for the incident during the game. The broadcast showed a frustrated Andy Reid on the sidelines before cutting to a commercial.

However, according to the NFL rulebook, unsportsmanlike conduct is defined as “any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship.” These violations are reviewed by the NFL Officiating Department, which may result in a fine of $14,491 for a first offense and $20,288 for a second.

The Chiefs will now need to wait for the league’s decision on this incident, which will be announced on Saturday via the weekly gameday accountability report.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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