Patrick Mahomes confronts stark reality of playoff hopes after Chiefs' loss

The Kansas City Chiefs' 31-28 nonaccomplishment to the Dallas Cowboys connected Thanksgiving could beryllium to beryllium precise costly.

The nonaccomplishment dropped the reigning AFC champions to 6-6 and was a crushing stroke to the team’s playoff chances. Star backmost Patrick Mahomes said the squad has to triumph retired and anticipation it’s capable for them to instrumentality to the playoffs. 

"You’ve got to triumph each crippled present – and anticipation that’s enough," Mahomes said postgame astatine his property conference. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM 

Kansas City Chiefs backmost Patrick Mahomes (15) pauses during the 2nd fractional of an NFL shot crippled against the Dallas Cowboys successful Arlington, Texas, connected Nov. 27, 2025. (Gareth Patterson/AP Photo)

"We're going to play a batch of bully shot teams coming up. If we're going to marque the playoffs, we're going to person to triumph them all. That's got to beryllium the mindset erstwhile we measurement into the (training facility) erstwhile we get back."

The Chiefs’ upcoming docket is challenging. Their adjacent crippled is against the Houston Texans, who person the NFL’s second-best defence successful points per crippled (16.5; the Los Angeles Rams person the champion scoring defence astatine 16.3 points per game). The Texans are 6-5, and adjacent week’s matchup volition beryllium pivotal for the Wild Card race. 

DAK PRESCOTT, CEEDEE LAMB LEAD COWBOYS PAST CHIEFS IN THANKSGIVING THRILLER

Kansas City Chiefs backmost Patrick Mahomes speaks during a quality league pursuing an NFL shot crippled against the Dallas Cowboys successful Arlington, Texas, connected Nov. 27, 2025. (Gareth Patterson/AP Photo)

They past play the Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee Titans, Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders. The Chargers (7-4) and Broncos (9-2) are some up of the Chiefs successful the AFC West. 

"We tin bushed anybody, but we've shown that we tin suffer to anybody," Mahomes said. 

"We've got to beryllium much consistent."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Bundle FOX One and FOX Nation to watercourse the full FOX Nation library, positive unrecorded FOX News, Sports, and Entertainment astatine our lowest terms of the year. The connection ends connected Jan. 4, 2026. (Fox One; Fox Nation)

Mahomes played good successful the nonaccomplishment to the Cowboys, arsenic helium completed 23 of 34 passes for 261 yards portion throwing 4 touchdowns and nary interceptions, portion adding 30 yards connected the ground, but it wasn’t enough. 

The past clip the Chiefs missed the playoffs was successful 2014. They volition request to get blistery down the agelong if they anticipation to play meaningful shot erstwhile again successful January. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.