Quarterback Dak Prescott powered the Dallas Cowboys to a narrow 31–28 Thanksgiving victory over the Kansas City Chiefs at AT&T Stadium, extending Dallas’ win streak to three and nudging the team back into the NFC playoff picture at 6-5-1. The Chiefs, now 6-6, slipped back to .500 in another frustrating outing marked by penalties and missed opportunities.
Both teams entered the day sitting 10th in their respective conferences. The win keeps Dallas squarely in the race, while the Chiefs now face a steep climb with tiebreakers working against them. Prescott delivered a sharp, composed performance, throwing for more than 320 yards and two touchdowns while overcoming an early interception. His top targets — CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens — repeatedly exploited a depleted Kansas City secondary. Lamb hauled in seven passes for 112 yards and a score, while Pickens produced several key catches, including a 39-yard catch-and-run and the crucial grab on a late third-down conversion to seal the win.
The Chiefs jumped out quickly with 14 early points, but Dallas settled in as Malik Davis broke free for a 43-yard touchdown run to give the Cowboys their first lead before halftime. Kansas City struggled to regain rhythm until the late stages, with Patrick Mahomes pressured throughout the afternoon — sacked three times and often forced off-platform. Still, he found ways to keep the game close, throwing four touchdown passes, including fourth-down strikes to Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice. Rice finished with eight receptions for 92 yards.
Kansas City surged late, closing a 10-point gap when Mahomes escaped a near sack and located Xavier Worthy deep for 42 yards, setting up a touchdown to Hollywood Brown with 3:27 remaining. But Dallas controlled the ball from there, aided by two Chiefs pass-interference penalties, before Prescott hit Pickens for the decisive first down at the two-minute warning.
Penalties also proved costly for Kansas City — 10 flags for 119 yards, including multiple pass-interference calls that extended Dallas drives. “Bottom line is we’re having too many penalties,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “We’re going to clean it up.” KC also absorbed several injuries along the offensive line — already missing RG Trey Smith, the Chiefs lost RT Jawaan Taylor (elbow) and rookie LT Josh Simmons (wrist). Safety Bryan Cook exited with an ankle injury. Dallas played without CB Caelen Carson and later lost CB DaRon Bland to a foot injury.
Dallas’ ground game contributed just enough, with lead back Javonte Williams adding a short receiving touchdown early in the fourth quarter before Pickens converted the 2-point try to put the Cowboys ahead 28–21.
Next up, the Chiefs will host Houston in a prime time matchup on Dec. 7; while the Cowboys head to Detroit for another Thursday night game.
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