Those Dallas Cowboys players are eyeing up the roast turkey.
Thanksgiving football delivered two dramatic NFL Week 13 results that could reshape the playoff picture. The Green Bay Packers dominated the Detroit Lions, while the Dallas Cowboys edged out the Kansas City Chiefs in a thriller that left Patrick Mahomes facing the toughest postseason outlook of his career.
Packers vs Lions: Green Bay Makes a Statement
The Packers vs Lions showdown in Detroit turned into a powerful statement from Green Bay. Their victory sent a clear message to the NFC North: the Packers are emerging as the strongest challengers to the division-leading Chicago Bears.
Detroit now faces a difficult reset. Their next opponent is Dallas, the hottest team in the conference over the last two weeks. The Lions must regroup quickly if they want to regain momentum in the NFC playoff race.
Cowboys vs Chiefs: A Thanksgiving Classic
The Cowboys vs Chiefs matchup lived up to the hype. Dallas walked away with a massive 31–28 win. It was a result that electrified Cowboys fans and tightened the AFC playoff picture for Kansas City.
Patrick Mahomes delivered four touchdown passes, showing his trademark brilliance. Yet Dak Prescott outdueled him on the stat sheet with 320 passing yards and several clutch throws. Both quarterbacks produced under pressure, but Dallas executed more cleanly when the game mattered most.
Prescott’s performance may become a turning point. Outplaying Mahomes in prime time could fuel his confidence as Dallas pushes for a postseason return.
Mahomes Faces First Playoff Miss of His Career
The Chiefs’ loss created a stunning scenario. For the first time in the Mahomes era, Kansas City is at real risk of missing the playoffs. Mahomes has reached at least the AFC Championship Game in every season of his career, advancing to five Super Bowls. But now, sitting at 6–6, the path is narrow.
Kansas City likely must win all five remaining games to survive the tiebreak chaos. The Chargers, Jaguars, and Bills all hold advantages over them due to earlier victories.
And the schedule gets brutal:
- Texans
- Chargers
- Titans
- Broncos
- Raiders
Three of those matchups involve playoff hopefuls or division rivals eager to knock Kansas City out of contention.
If anyone can pull off this comeback, it's Mahomes. But this road is steeper than anything he has faced before.
Cowboys Rising Fast in NFC Playoff Race
The Cowboys moved to 6-5-1, climbing to ninth in the NFC playoff standings. Their next test is Detroit, a matchup that could define both teams’ postseason fate.
Beating the Lions would open doors. Dallas then faces three opponents with losing records in its final four games. Only the Chargers present a tough matchup.
Dallas may need to win out to earn a wildcard spot. But after victories over both of last year’s Super Bowl teams in just four days, belief inside the Cowboys’ locker room is sky-high.
Dak Prescott: “We Can Do Anything in Front of Us”
Prescott earned the Thanksgiving MVP award and shared his excitement afterward. “We were able to show our resilience,” he said. “With the confidence we have, we can do anything in front of us.”
His receivers backed him up all night. CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens repeatedly torched the Chiefs’ secondary with explosive plays. Their chemistry proved too much for Kansas City, whose defense struggled with penalties and missed assignments.
A Dramatic Ending Seals the Cowboys’ Win
Late-game fireworks kept fans on edge. Mahomes delivered magic, including a spectacular falling pass to Xavier Worthy and a stunning touchdown to Hollywood Brown. But Dallas controlled the final minutes with smart clock management and crucial first downs.
A late defensive pass interference call against Kansas City helped seal the result. And Brandon Aubrey’s short field goal extended Dallas’ lead beyond reach.
In the end, the Cowboys’ comeback win boosted their playoff hopes, while the Chiefs’ loss added enormous pressure to a once-dominant dynasty.
