The Kansas City Chiefs’ 2025 season took another troubling turn on Thanksgiving as the Dallas Cowboys outlasted them 31-28 at AT&T Stadium. The loss drops Kansas City to 6-6 and threatens to derail what has been a disappointing campaign by the franchise’s recent standards.
In a game that came down to critical late-game moments, the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott proved to be the difference-maker. The Dallas quarterback completed 27-of-39 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns, with a crucial 51-yard completion to CeeDee Lamb in the final moments setting up the game-winning field goal. Lamb finished with seven receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown, while George Pickens had six catches for 88 yards. The Cowboys, who have now won three consecutive games, improved to 6-5-1 and kept their playoff hopes alive.
Patrick Mahomes had a stellar statistical day for the Chiefs, throwing four touchdown passes without an interception, completing 23-of-34 attempts for 261 yards. Despite the impressive individual performance, Mahomes’ efforts weren’t enough to secure victory. Rashee Rice was instrumental in the Chiefs’ comeback attempts, catching eight passes for 92 yards and two scores. Travis Kelce added five receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown as the offense moved the ball effectively in spurts.
The game was defined by momentum swings and critical penalties. Kansas City’s defense was flagged 10 times for 119 yards, with defensive pass interference calls late in the game proving particularly costly. One DPI flag with three minutes remaining gave Dallas a first down that ultimately led to the game-clinching field goal. These penalties compounded issues for a Chiefs team already dealing with injuries to key players, including offensive lineman Trey Smith and tight end Noah Gray.
The first half saw the Chiefs jump out to a quick 14-7 lead before disappearing offensively. The Cowboys scored on three consecutive possessions to take a 17-14 halftime lead. Kansas City showed resilience in the fourth quarter, with Mahomes engineering a touchdown drive to briefly take the lead 21-20, but Dallas had an answer with a touchdown and two-point conversion to go up 28-21.
This loss puts the Chiefs in a precarious position heading into the final weeks of the regular season. At 6-6, Kansas City remains on the outside looking in at the AFC playoff picture, currently holding the No. 10 seed. The team is three games behind the division-leading Denver Broncos and needs significant help from the rest of the league just to make the postseason. The nine-year run of AFC West dominance that defined the Patrick Mahomes era is genuinely in jeopardy.
The road ahead doesn’t get easier for Kansas City, with matchups against Houston, Los Angeles, Tennessee, Denver, and Las Vegas still to play. The Chiefs must win games they’re supposed to win and get help from other teams to extend their streak of playoff appearances. Thanksgiving may have served as a harsh reality check for a team that expected to compete for another Super Bowl.