Chiefs playoff chances near slim after 31-28 loss to Cowboys on Thanksgiving

By MATT PIKE

Four touchdown passes was not enough to help the Kansas City Chiefs overcome a slew of defensive penalties, and the potent offense of the Dallas Cowboys, falling 31-28 in a Thanksgiving matchup at AT&T Stadium.  

The Chiefs got things started off on the right foot, after just three plays on the Cowboys first offensive drive of the game Jaylen Watson picked off Dak Prescott and off the turnover Kansas City needed two plays, a 10 yard pass to Hollywood Brown starting the drive before Patrick Mahomes found Rashee Rice, the receiver running down the sideline off a bubble screen, for a 27 yard touchdown pass to open the scoring.  

Dallas answered the score with a long 12 play drive, efficiently moving their way down the field and exploiting the Kansas City secondary, particularly with the matchup between CeeDee Lamb and Trent McDuffie, before Prescott connected with Lamb for a 15 yard touchdown pass, with McDuffie falling down as Lamb turned around making the grab in the endzone.  

With the game tied, the Chiefs answered with a 12 play drive of their own, eventually scoring with just one second remaining in the first quarter.  A series of runs from Kareem Hunt and Mahomes helped moved Kansas City down into scoring position, where Travis Kelce caught a two yard touchdown strike from Mahomes to retake the lead for the Chiefs heading into the second quarter.

The second quarter was all Cowboys, Dallas first narrowing the Kansas City lead to four on a 49 yard field goal from Brandon Aubrey.  After the Chiefs went three and out on the ensuing drive, the Cowboys ended an eight play drive taking their first lead of the game as Malik Davis broke a 43 yard rushing play for a touchdown, running through the middle and past two in the Kansas City secondary for the score. 

An eight play drive for the Chiefs was halted after Mahomes was sacked by Dante Fowler on 3rd and 16, and Matt Araiza punted with 18 seconds remaining in the half.  An eight yard run from Javonte Williams ran down the remaining time, and the Cowboys took a 17-14 lead into the halftime break. 

Out of halftime, three consecutive punts opened the third quarter, before Dallas scored on the fourth drive, ending a seven play drive with a 36 yard field goal by Aubrey to extend the lead.  An 11 play drive that carried into the fourth quarter answered the field goal for Kansas City, giving the Chiefs the lead back for the first time since the second quarter, Mahomes finding Rice again, this time on a three yard touchdown pass.  

Again though, the Cowboys benefitted from poor pass defense, and defensive penalties on way to a score to take the lead back.  McDuffie’s struggles against Lamb continued, as he was again called for defensive pass interference, and George Pickens began to pick the secondary apart, Pickens helping set up the eventual two yard touchdown pass from Prescott to Williams.  Dallas would go for two, to take the touchdown lead, and converted on a completion from Prescott to Pickens.

A Chiefs three and out gave the Cowboys the ball back again, and Aubrey extended the lead to two scores, knocking through a 26 yard field goal.  Kansas City gave themselves a chance on their next drive, moving down the field on a seven play drive, where Mahomes found Brown in the back of the endzone, Brown making a tiptoe grab to score and bring the Chiefs within three points. 

Needing to force a punt to have a chance, the Chiefs defense was unable to slow the Cowboys offense, getting Dallas to a 3rd and 2 where Prescott converted a 13 yard pass to Pickens for the first down, sealing the victory and allowing the Cowboys to kneel out the clock after the two minute warning. 

Mahomes was 23 of 34 through the air for 261 yards with four touchdowns.  Hunt rushed 14 times for 48 yards, while Mahomes added three carries for 30 yards.  Rice had eight catches for 92 yards with two touchdowns.  Xavier Worthy had four catches for 61 yards, while Kelce added five catches for 45 yards and a score.  Kansas City is now 1-6 in one score games this season. 

Kansas City was hit with a slew of injuries in the matchup as well.  The Chiefs lost two offensive linemen to injuries after beginning the game without right guard Trey Smith, who was inactive because of an ankle injury. Right tackle Jawaan Taylor injured an elbow, and rookie left tackle Josh Simmons went out with a wrist injury.  Safety Bryan Cook injured an ankle in the first half.

Kansas City (6-6) now returns home, with a very slim margin of error as they hope to make the playoffs, hosting the Houston Texans on December 7th for Sunday Night Football.  Kickoff will be at 7:20pm with pregame at 6 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM) and Q Country (92.7 FM).

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.