The 2025 season has been rough for the Kansas City Chiefs, and that continued in a massive Thanksgiving game against the Dallas Cowboys. With both teams entering the Week 13 game with five losses, the matchup was billed as a must-win for both squads. Unfortunately for Kansas City, Dallas was the team that emerged victorious, winning the exciting battle 31-28.
The loss drops the Chiefs to 6-6, and with five weeks remaining in the regular season, it will take a special run for them to continue their playoff streak. At 6-6, Kansas City is still in the playoff race, but actually punching its ticket to the postseason will be an uphill battle following Thursday’s loss. Here’s where the Chiefs currently sit in the AFC playoff picture.
Updated AFC playoff standings after Chiefs' Thanksgiving loss to Cowboys
1. New England Patriots (10-2)
2. Denver Broncos (9-2)
3. Indianapolis Colts (8-3)
4. Baltimore Ravens (6-5)
5. Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)
6. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-4)
7. Buffalo Bills (7-4)
8. Houston Texans (6-5)
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5)
10. Kansas City Chiefs (6-6)
11. Miami Dolphins (4-7)
12. Cincinnati Bengals (3-8)
13. Cleveland Browns (3-8)
14. Las Vegas Raiders (2-9)
15. New York Jets (2-9)
16. Tennessee Titans (1-10)
The Chiefs currently sit in the No. 10 spot, which is three spots outside playoff seeding. Just ahead of Kansas City is the 6-5 Steelers, 6-5 Texans, and 7-4 Bills. With the Chiefs already completing their Week 13 game, they could get a lot of help on Sunday. Pittsburgh will play the Buffalo Bills, and Houston will play the Indianapolis Colts. Both the Steelers and Texans are underdogs, and if both lose, they will be 6-6 right with Kansas City.
Regardless of what happens with other teams, the Chiefs have to control what they can control, which is their own games. If Kansas City is going to make the playoffs this year, it likely can’t afford to lose another game. The Chiefs will finish the regular season with a bunch of familiar opponents, hosting the Texans, and the Los Angeles Chargers, before playing the Tennessee Titans on the road. They will then return home to play the Denver Broncos, and end the regular season on the road against the Las Vegas Raiders.
If Kansas City can go 5-0 in that span, it will finish the regular season with an 11-6 record. That would probably get the team in the playoffs, but the Chiefs need to play much better to win their remaining games.