What Are the Chiefs' Playoff Chances After Loss to Cowboys?

Story by

Paolo Songco

Fri, Nov 28, 2025 ·

2 min read

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs battled hard on Thursday against the Dallas Cowboys . Unfortunately for them, Dak Prescott and Co. refused to concede defeat at home in the high-profile Thanksgiving showdown.

Mahomes completed 23-of-34 passes for 261 yards and four touchdowns, adding three carries for 30 yards. It still wasn’t enough, though, as the Cowboys won 31-28 victory at AT&T Stadium to mark their third consecutive victory.

The Chiefs entered this game with a 6-5 record and a 52% chance of making the playoffs. Those odds have now taken a significant blow after Thursday’s disappointing loss.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes had four touchdown passes against the Cowboys on Thanksgiving.Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
(Mark Konezny-Imagn Images)

It was Prescott who led the charge for the Cowboys in this one. The three-time Pro Bowl quarterback completed 27-of-39 passes for 320 yards and two interceptions. Prescott was picked off on the first drive of the game, but that was his only blemish.

What Are the Chiefs' Playoff Chances After Loss to Cowboys?

As for the Chiefs, Thursday’s loss represents a considerable setback following Sunday’s win over the Indianapolis Colts . Mahomes and Co. are now 6-6 and could be in big trouble in the playoff race.

According to Ali Bhanpuri of NFL.com , the Chiefs were considered a playoff bubble team in the AFC before Thursday’s game. They were given a 52% chance of securing a postseason berth. A win against the Cowboys would have increased their odds to 61%. However, Thursday’s defeat saw their chances fall dangerously to 35%.

It is important to note that this season, the Chiefs have suffered defeats against the Los Angeles Chargers , Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills . Currently, those three teams hold the AFC wild-card spots, meaning Kansas City would lose a potential tiebreaker against each of them.

At this point, the Chiefs may have to win all five of their remaining games to guarantee a playoff spot. There is still a chance that they make the postseason if they finish with a 10-7 record.

The Chiefs will head back home to Arrowhead Stadium for their Week 14 game against the Houston Texans . Kickoff is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET.

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Nov 28, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.