Can KC Chiefs keep their win streak going against the equally potent Dallas Cowboys?
Sunday afternoon’s showdown between the Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys is arguably the NFL’s centerpiece game for Week 11.
Both are divisional leaders in their respective conferences, and there will be no shortage of star power at Arrowhead Stadium. The Cowboys (7-2) hold a 7-4 edge in the all-time series, but the Chiefs (6-4) are 3-2 in games played in Kansas City.
The winner of the matchup secures some bragging rights, too: the Preston Road Traveling Trophy, named for the Dallas street where Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones lived.
Jones currently holds the trophy because his Cowboys defeated the Chiefs in 2017. But Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt sure wouldn’t mind getting his hands on it.
“I ran into Jerry about a month ago, and I reminded him that he needed to bring the trophy,” Hunt said. “We’ll see if he follows through, but we plan on getting it back for sure.”
The Chiefs will be looking to extend their three-game winning streak to four, but they’ll require an A-game performance similar to last weekend’s 41-14 dismantling of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Here are four areas to monitor for the Chiefs, who after this game will enjoy a Week 12 bye.
SLOW DOWN COWBOYS’ OFFENSE
Ignore the Chiefs’ defensive ranking (26th in the league) because they’ve been surging in recent weeks. They’ve held their opponents under 20 points in three straight games.
The Raiders totaled just 299 yards of offense a week ago, almost 100 less than their per-game average through Week 9.
The Cowboys boast the NFL’s No. 1-ranked offense (433.9 yards per game). With quarterback Dak Prescott, running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard, wide receivers Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb and tight end Dalton Schultz, the Cowboys present a challenge.
“They’ve got a lot of good players on that side of the ball,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “It’s a great challenge for our defense, so the guys know that. You turn on the tape, you can see it.”
Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo agreed.
“They’ve got a complete repertoire of weapons,” he said. “I know they’ve got a couple of guys back that were injured, but when you can roll two running backs through like that — and I wouldn’t say they always commit to the run, but that run threat is always there — and if you don’t stop that run, they’ll easily just mow you over.
“Then the quarterback comes in, it’s not just a good quarterback, it’s an athletic quarterback. I think he’s a smart quarterback, I’ve gone against him a lot of times. He can make you look bad because he can do all the things that you need to do as a quarterback. I’m trying to find a weakness, to be quite honest with you.”
The Chiefs must pressure Prescott, who has been sacked 11 times in eight games, but remain aware of his scrambling ability when the pocket breaks down. And the Chiefs’ defensive backs can’t let Cooper or Lamb (726 yards receiving) get deep. Finally, KC’s linebackers need to be disciplined in pursuit of Elliott, who has rushed for 663 yards and seven TDs.
Can the Chiefs truly accomplish those major tasks?
“You’ve got to begin there, I think, and then the next step is who on that side do you have to take away,” Spagnuolo said. “We call them the game-wreckers. They have a lot of them over there.”
KEEP EYES ON DIGGS
After throwing an interception in seven straight games in Weeks 2-8, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has now gone consecutive games without a pick. He’ll have to be wary of Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs if he aims to keep that streak alive.
Diggs has a league-high eight interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns. He’s a ball-hawking defender who commands respect.
“When you have that many interceptions, that means you know what’s going on — you have an understanding of what the offense is trying to do,” Mahomes said of Diggs. “So you definitely have to have an eye on him at all times.”
ON THE FLIP SIDE
Diggs is playing at an elite level, but that doesn’t mean the Chiefs will shy away from throwing his way when the opportunity presents itself.
“That kid also has to do a great job of preparing for all the guys that we’re going to put out on his side,” Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy said. “I know he’ll probably end up matching up with Tyreek (Hill), so I know that’s a challenge itself for him ...”
Despite Diggs’ individual efforts, the Cowboys rank 21st against the pass (252.8 yards allowed per game). Now they face a Chiefs offense ranked fourth in the league (405.6 yards per game) and coming off one of its top performances of the season.
Mahomes completed 35 of 50 passes for 406 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions in posting a 127.6 passer rating against a capable Raiders pass defense.
Hill, tight end Travis Kelce, running back Darrel Williams, receiver Byron Pringle ... Diggs can’t cover all the Chiefs’ weapons, so expect the hosts to take their shots on Sunday.
“I’m looking forward to our guys going out there and enjoying the moment, making the very most of it, but also understanding we’re going to respect this kid (Diggs), because obviously he’s done some great things,” Bieniemy said. “We want to make sure we’re doing the right things when put in those situations.”
UTILIZE HOMEFIELD ADVANTAGE
Cowboys fans travel well. Expect a fair amount of blue around Arrowhead on Sunday.
The Chiefs faced a similar scenario two weeks ago against the Green Bay Packers. But Chiefs fans turned out in force and never allowed the Packers faithful to take over.
Reid himself lauded the home crowd after the game.
“I want to thank our fans,” Reid said that day. “They kind of won the game out there.
“There were a lot of Green Bay fans — they travel like our fans travel — and I thought we were able to drown them out, which was a thing of beauty there.”
