After rough outing against the Cowboys, Chiefs will need to find the big play
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Defense ranks fourth in scoring defense but lacks timely turnovers.
- Missed third-down stops and penalties enabled Dallas’ 31-point output.
- Chiefs sit 6-6 and must win five straight while managing key injuries.
With six and a half minutes remaining in their eventual Thanksgiving Day loss, the Kansas City Chiefs’ defense had already allowed 28 points.
The visiting team trailed by a touchdown. Time was running out.
Quarterback Dak Prescott had his Dallas Cowboys in Kansas City territory on the back of a 51-yard catch by CeeDee Lamb — part of Lamb’s 112-yard performance. On second-and-8 from the Chiefs’ 12-yard line, Prescott faked a handoff, rolled right and fired on the move.
Chiefs safety Mike Edwards zoomed down and broke under receiver George Pickens’ route, but the ball slipped through Edwards’ hands and fell to the turf. One snap later, Prescott went back to Pickens, and KC cornerback Trent McDuffie poked it out — creating a clear live fumble and a golden opportunity for Kansas City to swing the game.
Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill dove for the recovery, but it was just inches of his reach. Out of nowhere, Cowboys receiver Kavontae Turpin sliced through three Chiefs defenders to fall on the ball.
Dallas exhaled, and the automatic Brandon Aubrey kicked the ball through the uprights to make it a two-possession game — a game the Chiefs would lose 31-28 to fall to 6-6.
In the eyes of Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton, that moment changed everything.
“Dak forces the ball over the middle, we almost get an interception (but) the ball hits the ground,” Bolton said in an otherwise muted locker room. “Then we force a fumble on third down.
“Would’ve been huge to give up zero points right there and give the ball back to the offense. When they went down and scored, it would have been a tie game. Maybe things looks different, but we’ve got to make more plays.”
From a statistical standpoint, Kansas City’s defense has been excellent in 2025.
Entering Thursday’s matchup, coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s unit ranked fourth in scoring defense and sixth in yards allowed. Yet all too often in 2025, it has been in these moments that the Chiefs just cannot make the game-changing play. Their nine turnovers entering Week 13 ranked fourth-worst in the NFL.
Make no mistake: the Chiefs were outgunned by Dallas on Thursday, surrendering 31 points and 457 yards, with no answer for Lamb and Pickens. But what will resonate most is that two-play sequence, as well as the Cowboys’ nine third-down conversions, including five on third-and-long.
“Rush and coverage got to work together,” Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis said of the third-down failures. “We’ve got to figure out a way to get them off the field on third down. That’s on the defense — and I’m sure we will.”
The penalties didn’t help the Chiefs, either, whether they were right or wrong. It’s worth mentioning that the officials called five defensive pass-interference penalties on Thursday — and all five went against Kansas City, including two on Dallas’ game-ending drive.
Defensive lineman Chris Jones, Bolton and Karlaftis were all asked about the officiating, with none taking the bait. Coach Andy Reid hinted at some displeasure but ultimately pointed back to overall execution.
“I’m not always going to agree with the call, but the calls were made,” Reid said. “I will say that they’ve got some physical receivers — big, strong, physical guys — and that’s the way they were playing.
“In return, my guys were fighting to maintain leverage. It’s not the way I saw it, but it’s the way the officials saw it, so they made the calls. You’ve got to stay aggressive against those guys — no other way to do it.”
At 6-6, the Chiefs can no longer afford to lose another game, meaning they will have to finish the season with five straight wins to carve out a potential postseason path. And with injuries to left tackle Josh Simmons (wrist), right guard Trey Smith (ankle) and right tackle Jawaan Taylor (tricep), KC will need its defense more than ever.
Thirty-one points against won’t cut it — not with Houston’s pass-rushers against whatever the Chiefs plan to do along their offensive line in 10 days time.
Jones still has faith.
“We’ll respond,” he said simply.
Do you believe him?
This story was originally published November 28, 2025 at 5:30 AM.
