The Kansas City Chiefs’ playoff hopes hang by a thread after losing 31-28 to the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day.
The Cowboys have traditionally hosted games on the American holiday since 1966 and ‘America’s Team’ put on a magnificent performance to beat the Chiefs despite Patrick Mahomes throwing four touchdown passes on his return to his native Texas.
Mahomes has led the Chiefs to five of the last six Super Bowls, winning three, but they now have a 6-6 record and are in danger of missing the play-offs for the first time since the 2014 season.
The Cowboys came from behind to take a 17-14 lead at halftime, but a tense finish began when the Chiefs took a 21-20 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Dak Prescott then held his nerve as Dallas scored 11 points on its next two possessions to keep them clean, despite a late response from the Chiefs.
The Cowboys have now notched back-to-back wins over both of last season’s Super Bowl teams in just five days after beating the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
After a thrilling 21-point comeback against the Eagles, who denied the Chiefs a third title in February, the win over Kansas City is the third in a row for Dallas to improve to 6-5-1 and keep its own playoff hopes alive.
With five games remaining, Dallas is second behind the Eagles (8-3) in the NFC East, while the Chiefs are behind the Denver Broncos (9-2) and Los Angeles Chargers (7-4) in the AFC West.
