Cowboys Shine in Thanksgiving Thriller as Dallas Beats Chiefs in Statement Win
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys delivered a Thanksgiving performance worthy of prime-time tradition, defeating Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in a dramatic, high-energy showdown at AT&T Stadium.
The much-anticipated matchup brought Mahomes back to his Texas roots — but he faced a Cowboys defense that looked nothing like the struggling unit from earlier this season. With new additions, key returns, and a revitalized identity, Dallas put together a complete team effort to notch their third straight win and keep their playoff push alive.
Below is a breakdown of the standout Cowboys who powered Thursday’s win.
(Note: List is unranked.)
CeeDee Lamb — A Statement Bounce-Back
After several costly drops last week, Lamb promised, “I need to catch the f–king ball.”
On Thursday, he delivered exactly that.
His first four targets produced three catches, two first downs, and a critical defensive breakup that prevented a potential interception. Lamb later shook star corner Trent McDuffie for a highlight-reel touchdown, proving No. 88 is fully back in elite form.
Malik Davis — Persistence Rewarded
Few players embody perseverance like Malik Davis, who has been waived multiple times by Dallas yet never stopped grinding.
Against Kansas City, his moment arrived: a stunning 43-yard touchdown burst, the longest rushing TD by any Cowboy this season. It gave Dallas their first lead at 17–14 and sent the stadium into a frenzy.
Dak Prescott — Resilient and Unshakable
Prescott opened the game with another early interception — but just like last week, he didn’t blink.
Regaining full command of the offense, Prescott distributed the ball with confidence, elevated the tempo, and executed a sharp, composed second half. His late-game connection with Pickens was arguably the turning point of the night.
George Pickens — Silent… Until He Wasn’t
Pickens was quiet for three quarters. Then he took over.
A 39-yard catch-and-run, a clutch slant to set up a goal-line push, and a spectacular toe-tap two-point conversion with a defender draped on him — Pickens became the spark Kansas City did not anticipate.
He owes KaVontae Turpin dinner for saving him from a fumble near the Chiefs’ 12-yard line.
KaVontae Turpin — Unmatched Hustle
Since his fumble vs. Philadelphia, Turpin has looked sharper than ever.
His explosive gains in space consistently flipped field position, and his recovery of Pickens’ fumble led to a key field goal that stretched Dallas’ lead to 31–21 with five minutes remaining.
A game-changing effort.
Defensive Line — Pressure, Disruption, Heart
Jadeveon Clowney set the tone early by chasing down a potential touchdown. His second-quarter sack on Mahomes forced a 3rd-and-26 and killed a Chiefs drive.
Solomon Thomas and Kenny Clark also generated pressure throughout the night. While the sack total won’t wow anyone, Mahomes was uncomfortable all evening — and that mattered.
Secondary — Battling Mahomes to the End
Even with injuries thinning the depth chart, the Cowboys’ secondary rose to the challenge.
There were coverage pressures, tight windows, and several shutdown moments despite Mahomes pulling off his usual magic. Not perfect — especially on inside slants — but absolutely effective.
Honorable Mentions: Javonte Williams, Hunter Luepke, Jake Ferguson
Williams and Luepke made pivotal plays in pass protection and short-yardage situations. Ferguson continued to be Prescott’s security blanket, moving the chains repeatedly and barely missing what would have been a spectacular touchdown.