TL;DR
- Kansas City Chiefs lost 31-28 to Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving at AT&T Stadium.
- The Chiefs struggled with penalties, particularly on defense, hindering their performance.
- With a 6-6 record, the Chiefs' playoff hopes are diminishing significantly.
- Head coach Andy Reid cited too many penalties as the primary reason for the loss.
The Kansas City Chiefs' playoff hopes took a huge hit at AT&T Stadium with a 31-28 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving.
Following an interception of Dak Prescott on the initial offensive possession and a subsequent touchdown by Rashee Rice, the Chiefs gained momentum. However, this advantage was short-lived, as the Cowboys' defense compelled four consecutive punts from The Chiefs between the second and third quarters.
Despite their efforts, the Chiefs struggled, with penalties once more hindering the team, particularly on defense, as CeeDee Lamb presented Trent McDuffie with significant challenges throughout the game.
And for head coach Andy Reid, he knows where it all went wrong.
"Bottom line is we were having too many penalties," Reid said. "We got to make sure we take care of that, both sides of the ball. To get off the field on third downs, stay on the field offensively, not backing yourself up. No excuses, we will work on cleaning it up."
More: Chiefs record on Thanksgiving: Full list of wins, losses for Kansas City on NFL holiday
Chiefs' postseason chances are precariously balanced
With a 6-6 record, Kansas City's chances of making the playoffs aren't entirely extinguished, but they're diminishing. Depending on the outcomes for other teams in the playoff contention (Texans, Jaguars, and Bills), the Chiefs might slip even further back.
Beyond that, the Chiefs will likely attribute their defeat against Dallas to the ten penalties they incurred, which may have ultimately cost them a playoff berth.
This team has consistently struggled with a particular issue lately, and it resurfaced once more during a high-stakes game.
Reid's remarks indicated that, without any excuses, the Chiefs now confront an exceedingly difficult challenge to reach the playoffs, unless something extraordinary occurs.
More Chiefs news:
- Taylor Swift's presence at the Chiefs vs. Cowboys game on Thanksgiving is being investigated, with updates on whether the star was observing Travis Kelce.
- Josh Simmons injury update signals potential long-term issue for Chiefs left tackle
- Dak Prescott and star receivers had a strong showing on Thanksgiving, diminishing Kansas City's playoff aspirations, as seen in the Chiefs vs. Cowboys final score and results.
- Chiefs playoff picture: Updated chances for Kansas City to make 2025 NFL postseason in Week 13