Thursday’s Thanksgiving showdown between the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs is a must-win for both clubs. Played on the holiday in front of a huge national audience, the game carries playoff implications and plenty of pressure, especially in a short week of preparation.
The matchup comes after Dallas’ emotional comeback win over Philadelphia and Kansas City’s overtime victory, setting the stage for a high-stakes, widely watched tilt Thursday afternoon.
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Both teams will lean on their quarterbacks. Patrick Mahomes said the kid in him loves Thanksgiving games and stressed the need to “fight through” injuries in a short week, while Dak Prescott urged his squad to reset after the Eagles win and praised Mahomes’ competitive will. Prescott called Mahomes’ talent and will to win obvious, and the Cowboys know they must start fast against a veteran opponent.
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At the center for Dallas is CeeDee Lamb. Prescott made his feelings plain: “A huge game. Just go back and look at the career. Any game that maybe he’s not (played) to his standard or had a drop here or it’s been a frustrating game, the way he’s responded has been unquestionable… I don’t expect this to be any different.” Coach Brian Schottenheimer added that Lamb “has that look in his eye” and promised “plenty of balls going to 88 Thursday afternoon.”
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Cowboys QB Dak Prescott on his expectations for CeeDee Lamb on Thursday: “A huge game. Just go back and look at the career. Any game that maybe he’s not (played) to his standard or had a drop here or it’s been a frustrating game, the way he’s responded has been unquestionable. I… pic.twitter.com/dDDhaKScaR
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) November 25, 2025
The game narrative is that momentum matters. Dallas rallied from 21-0 to beat the Eagles, but the Cowboys sit at 5-5-1 and need wins to keep playoff hopes alive. Kansas City 6-5 also needs victories to stay in the AFC picture. Injuries and a condensed prep window make execution crucial, and both sides are grinding to get ready.
Lamb is coming off a game with three drops, has eight drops this season, and missed time earlier due to injury, which has contributed to a quieter year compared to teammates. Still, Prescott’s vote of confidence makes it clear: Cowboys expects Lamb to respond and big when it matters most.
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