The Kansas City Chiefs walked out of their Thanksgiving showdown with the Dallas Cowboys not just with a 31–28 defeat, but with a brutal truth staring them in the face: the team that beat them wasn’t only Dallas — it was themselves.

The loss drops Kansas City to a shaky 6–6, and once again the same script played out — self-inflicted wounds, drive-killing penalties, and a lack of discipline in the moments that should have defined the game.

Andy Reid Doesn’t Sugarcoat It: “We Made It Hard on Ourselves”

Head coach Andy Reid didn’t hide from the problem during his postgame press conference.
He didn’t blame the officiating, the crowd, or the schedule.
He pointed directly at Kansas City’s most persistent flaw.

“We had too many penalties,” Reid said. “You can’t play a good football team and shoot yourself in the foot like that.”

The Chiefs committed 10 penalties for 119 yards, essentially spotting the Cowboys a full field of free yardage. Every time Kansas City built momentum, the yellow flag came out and crushed it. Every time the defense made a stand, another penalty extended the drive.

And as has happened far too often this season, those mistakes turned what could have been a winnable game into another frustrating, avoidable loss.

Penalties Become the Season’s Defining Weakness

False starts. Holds. Pass interferences.
If there’s a category for penalties, the Chiefs checked it.

But nothing was more damaging than the two back-breaking defensive pass interference calls late in the fourth quarter. Kansas City had tightened up, forced the Cowboys into a stressful situation, and looked ready to get the ball back to Patrick Mahomes with a chance to tie or win.

Instead, two PI flags moved the chains and allowed Dallas to bleed the clock — closing the door on any comeback.

Reid acknowledged the physical matchup but didn’t excuse the execution:

“They’ve got strong, physical receivers… but we have to stay aggressive without giving officials a reason to throw the flag.”

The Chiefs didn’t manage that balance, and it cost them the game.

Mahomes Throws Four Touchdowns — and Still Can’t Outrun the Chiefs’ Inconsistency

Patrick Mahomes delivered what normally would be a winning performance:
four touchdown passes, several highlight-level throws, and moments of brilliance late in the game.

But even Mahomes couldn’t ignore the problem that’s haunted Kansas City all year: the offense simply disappears for long stretches.

The Chiefs produced zero points in both the second and third quarters, including two wasted drives beginning at midfield.

Mahomes put it bluntly:

“We can beat anybody, but we’ve shown we can lose to anybody.”

It wasn’t frustration — it was honesty.

This Chiefs team is capable of explosive highs, but the lack of consistency has created equally devastating lows.
You can’t contend for the AFC with that kind of roller coaster performance.

The Playoff Picture Is Slipping Away

At 6–6, the Chiefs are no longer the juggernaut the AFC fears — they’re a team fighting for its postseason life. With the conference packed tightly, even one more mistake-filled game could end their playoff hopes entirely.

The margin for error?
Gone. Completely.

Kansas City no longer has room for “next week we’ll fix it.”
They are now in a must-win situation for the remainder of the season — a reality Mahomes acknowledged clearly:

“From here on out, we have to win every game.”

The Chiefs aren’t used to desperation football in November. But this year, it’s their only path forward.

Are the Chiefs About to Wake Up — or Is This the Collapse No One Expected?

Kansas City’s dynasty always lived on execution, detail, and situational dominance.
This 2025 version is the opposite:
penalties, breakdowns in coverage, forced throws, and untimely offensive stagnation.

If the Chiefs don’t flip the switch soon, this season could be remembered not for what they accomplished — but for what they wasted.

Mahomes, more than anyone, knows it:

“I know we’re good enough to beat anyone — but I also have to face the truth that we can beat ourselves. And if we don’t change, this season will slip away before we can save it.”

The Chiefs still have the talent, the quarterback, and the championship DNA.
But belief alone won’t rescue them.

The question now is simple:
Will Kansas City respond like a wounded dynasty…
or fade like a team that ran out of time?