The Cowboys’ struggles against AFC West teams this season continued on Sunday, November 21 against the Kansas City Chiefs, losing 19-9 at Arrowhead Stadium.
Dallas has now lost two of the four matches against AFC West teams this season. Their final test will come on Thanksgiving against the Las Vegas Raiders. Both the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs have dealt the Cowboys humiliating defeats, with Dallas’ only win against an AFC West team coming against the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Cowboys’ problems were evident early in the game. Filling in for wide receiver Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup could not catch up to a deep pass from quarterback Dak Prescott on the first series. Then, five-year vet, Noah Brown let a pinpoint pass go through his hands to stall the drive.
The ensuing Chiefs drive was capped by a four-yard run by tight end Travis Kelce, who took a direct snap and forced his way into the endzone for the game’s first points. The Chiefs’ place-kicker Harrison Butker missed his first extra point of the season to give the Chiefs only a six-point advantage.
The next Cowboys drive ended in disaster when running back Tony Pollard let defensive end Frank Clark go unabated to record his second strip-sack of the season. The Chiefs recovered the fumble, setting up a short field that resulted in a successful Chiefs field goal from only 37 yards out.
Cowboys kicker Greg Zuerlein, fresh off the Covid-19 list, hit a 33-yard field goal to close to within six points.
The Chiefs added another touchdown to go up 16-3. The Cowboys had an excellent drive going just before the halftime break, but an underthrown pass from Prescott to wide receiver CeeDee Lamb resulted in an interception in the endzone. Adding to the missed opportunity for points, Lamb suffered a head injury on the play and did not return to the game.
In the first half, five of the Cowboys’ seven possessions went for five or fewer plays, with two drives accounting for negative ten yards. The Cowboys managed only 116 total yards in the first half to Kansas City’s 211 yards.
Momentum changed briefly in Dallas’ favor at the start of the third quarter when safety Jayron Kearse took a Patrick Mahomes to pass out of the hands of Kelce and returned the ball 34 yards to set up a short field for the Cowboys. Prescott could not connect with his backup receivers in the red zone, and the Cowboys were forced to settle for a second field goal of the game.
Both teams added third-quarter field goals to set the final score at 19-9. The Chiefs missed a fourth-quarter field goal attempt that gave the Cowboys some hope, but Prescott’s attempted pass to receiver Malik Turner was tipped at the line and intercepted, giving the Chiefs the ability to end the game.
The Cowboys will play against the visiting Las Vegas Raiders on Thanksgiving Day. It will be the 54th Thanksgiving Day game for Dallas since 1966. The Cowboys are 28-15-1 in Thanksgiving games.