When Patrick Mahomes looked into the camera after the Thanksgiving Day game AT&T Stadium on November 28, 2025, he didn’t offer excuses. He didn’t blame the officiating. He didn’t talk about missed tackles or bad luck. He just said it: “You’ve got to win every game now — and hope that’s enough.” The Kansas City Chiefs had just lost 31-28 to the Dallas Cowboys in a game that felt like a season-defining moment. And for the first time in years, the word “playoff” didn’t feel guaranteed.
The Game That Changed Everything
The final play of the game — a dropped touchdown pass by Xavier Worthy with nine seconds left — wasn’t just a mistake. It was a symbol. The Chiefs had clawed back from a 17-point deficit, thanks to four touchdown passes from Mahomes, tying the game at 28 with just over two minutes to go. But the Cowboys’ defense, led by Micah Parsons and a relentless secondary, held firm. No points. No mercy. The clock ran out. The scoreboard read 31-28. The crowd roared. And inside the media room at AT&T Stadium, Mahomes sat quietly, his jersey still damp with sweat and sweat of a different kind.
This was Mahomes’ first game in Texas since Super Bowl LV in 2021 — a game he won. Now, he lost in the same state where he played college ball at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. The irony wasn’t lost on anyone. KMBC 9 called it his “return to Texas.” But this time, the home crowd wasn’t cheering for him.
What the Record Says
Before the game, the Chiefs were 7-5. After? 7-6. That’s not a disaster. But in the AFC? It’s a death sentence unless you win everything left. With five games remaining — against the Las Vegas Raiders (Dec. 1), New England Patriots (Dec. 8), Buffalo Bills (Dec. 15), Cincinnati Bengals (Dec. 22), and Denver Broncos (Dec. 29) — the math is brutal. They need a perfect 5-0 finish just to have a shot. And even then, they’re betting on others to lose.
As of November 29, the Los Angeles Chargers sat at 9-4. The Chiefs are two games back. In the past 15 NFL seasons, 12 teams that made the playoffs as a wild card finished with at least 10 wins. The Chiefs need three more wins just to reach that threshold. That means they can’t afford to lose even one more game — not to the Raiders, not to the Patriots, not even to the Broncos at home.
Why This Matters More Than a Regular Loss
It’s not just the record. It’s the tone. Arrowhead Pride noted Mahomes’ demeanor was noticeably more urgent than after their loss to the Bills on November 17. Back then, he spoke about “fixing things.” This time? He spoke like a man who knows the clock is ticking. And he’s right.
Thanksgiving Day games have been a Cowboys tradition since 1966. This was their 15th home game on the holiday at AT&T Stadium. The Chiefs hadn’t lost on Thanksgiving since 2015. Now, they’ve lost at the worst possible time — when the stakes are highest, and the margin for error has vanished.
The game drew 32.7 million viewers — the biggest NFL audience of the week. That’s not just because it’s Thanksgiving. It’s because everyone knew what was on the line. This wasn’t just another game. It was a playoff elimination game in all but name.
What Comes Next
The Chiefs’ next game is in Las Vegas on December 1. The Raiders are 6-6. They’re playing for their own playoff lives. If Kansas City loses there? It’s over. No comeback. No miracle. No hope. Win? They’re still alive — barely.
And then? The Patriots. A team that’s been playing better than their record suggests. The Bills — the same team that beat them two weeks ago. The Bengals — a rising power. The Broncos — a team that’s beaten them twice in the last three years.
Every snap matters now. Every third down. Every red zone trip. Every turnover. Mahomes knows it. His coaches know it. The fans know it. Even the announcers on ESPN were whispering the same thing: “This might be the most pressure-packed stretch of Mahomes’ career.”
The Bigger Picture
The Chiefs have been the standard-bearer of the AFC for nearly a decade. Five Super Bowl appearances since 2017. Three titles. A dynasty built on Mahomes’ genius and a culture of excellence. But dynasties don’t last forever. And right now, the cracks are showing. The offensive line is inconsistent. The secondary is vulnerable. The defense, once a strength, is now a liability in the fourth quarter.
But here’s the thing — Mahomes still has magic. He still makes impossible throws. He still finds ways to win. The question isn’t whether he can do it. It’s whether the team around him can hold up.
Because if they don’t? This could be the end of an era. Not because Mahomes is done. But because the window is closing — and the clock is ticking louder than ever.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Mahomes mean by ‘hope that’s enough’?
Mahomes is acknowledging that even a perfect 5-0 finish might not be enough to make the playoffs. The Chiefs need help from other teams — specifically, losses by the Chargers, Titans, and Ravens — to climb into a wild card spot. With only five games left, they control their fate only if they win all of them, and even then, they’re relying on tiebreakers and other results.
How rare is it for the Chiefs to be in this position?
Since Mahomes became starter in 2018, the Chiefs have never had a season where they were 7-6 with five games left. Their worst record at this point was 8-5 in 2021 — and they still won the Super Bowl. This is uncharted territory for the current era of the franchise, making the pressure unprecedented.
Could the Chiefs still make the playoffs with a 9-8 record?
It’s possible, but unlikely. In 12 of the last 15 seasons, the lowest playoff-winning record in the AFC was 10 wins. Only once (2020) did a 9-7 team make it as a wild card. For the Chiefs to reach 9-8, they’d need to lose one more game — meaning they’d have to rely on multiple teams ahead of them losing, and hope for tiebreaker advantages they don’t currently hold.
Why is this loss more damaging than their loss to Buffalo?
The Buffalo loss dropped them to 7-5, still within striking distance. The Thanksgiving loss to Dallas — a division rival and playoff contender — came on a high-profile stage, with national eyes watching. More importantly, it was a game they were expected to win, especially with Mahomes playing at his peak. Losing that one made the margin for error disappear overnight.
Who controls the Chiefs’ playoff destiny now?
The Chiefs control their own wins, but not the outcomes of other teams. Their fate depends on the Chargers losing at least two of their remaining games, the Titans dropping a couple to the Jaguars and Texans, and the Ravens stumbling against the Bengals and Steelers. Without those results, even a 10-7 record might not be enough.
What’s the biggest obstacle in the remaining schedule?
The toughest stretch is the final three games: Buffalo (Dec. 15), Cincinnati (Dec. 22), and Denver (Dec. 29). All three teams are playoff contenders or have strong home-field advantages. Buffalo and Cincinnati have elite defenses that can slow Mahomes. Denver has beaten Kansas City twice in the last three years. Winning all three would be one of the hardest feats in recent NFL history.
