Locked On Cowboys x Locked On Chiefs Crossover: MUST-WIN Thanksgiving Showdown

Main Theme

In this special crossover episode, Marcus Mosher (Locked On Cowboys) and Ryan Tracy (Locked On Chiefs) break down the high-stakes Thanksgiving Day matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and the Kansas City Chiefs. Both teams are clinging to playoff hopes, making this inter-conference battle a true must-win. The hosts dive deep into key storylines, pivotal matchups, and each side’s path to victory—all with their trademark blend of honest analysis and fandom.

1. Setting the Stage: Why This Game Suddenly Matters

[01:45 – 04:45]

• Both the Cowboys and Chiefs saw their seasons teetering last week, but big-turnaround wins have revived the stakes.
• For Dallas, a crowded NFC wild card picture and a tough schedule (Eagles, Chiefs, Lions in succession) make each game crucial.
• For Kansas City, injuries and a “Jekyll and Hyde” offense mean a loss could seriously dampen playoff hopes.
• Quote:
  • "Chiefs have to have this game. It seems like the Cowboys probably do too." —Ryan Tracy [03:43]

2. Big Storylines & Concerns

Cowboys’ Playoff Push in Context

[03:48 – 04:45]

• Cowboys’ playoff odds are slim (“pretty low at 5-5-1,” says Marcus) but beating top-tier teams bolsters hope and respect.

Chiefs’ Fatigue & Physical Toll

[05:19 – 07:21]

• Chiefs are coming off a 90-snap, bruising loss to the Colts.
• Concern: Short week, aging roster, key injuries.
  • Running back depth is precarious; Isaiah Pacheco may return, Rashard Smith adds some burst, but overall the group is banged up.
• Quote:
  • "This Chiefs team, we know, it's old. They've played basically a season worth of playoff games over the last five or six years." —Marcus Mosher [05:40]

Cowboys’ Defensive Evolution

[07:21 – 08:47]

• The addition of Quinn Williams has transformed the Dallas defensive line.
• Dominant Five-man fronts are shaking up opposing O-lines, especially those with injuries.
  • Last week vs. Philadelphia: 8 straight drives, just 103 yards allowed.
• Expect all three top Cowboys DTs on the field together often.

Chiefs O-line Woes

[08:47 – 09:36]

• Backup guards (notably Mike Caliendo, likely for Trey Smith) create a matchup problem against Dallas’s interior pressure.
• Dallas privately believes both Chiefs guards are attackable.

George Pickens’ Star Turn

[09:36 – 11:21]

• Pickens is questionable (knee/calf), but has 4 games of 130+ yards and a TD.
• Fans are debating if he's surpassing CeeDee Lamb as WR1.
• Chiefs’ secondary (Jalen Watson, maybe Trent McDuffie) will try to frustrate him physically.
• Quote:
  • "Frankly right now we haven't seen anybody cover George Pickens. I'm curious to see if that continues to play out on Thursday." —Marcus Mosher [10:48]

3. Key Matchups to Watch

[13:43 – 21:24]

1. Cowboys Backup Tackle vs. Chiefs Edge Rushers

• [14:03 – 15:12]
  • Nate Thomas (standing in for Tyler Guyton, out with high ankle) has played well, but every backup gets tested over time.
  • Chiefs’ George Karlaftis will look to exploit the matchup, with heavy blitzes and five-man rushes designed to get him going.
  • "You have to make them pay—a backup in at the right tackle spot." —Ryan Tracy [14:42]

2. Chris Jones vs. Cowboys’ Rookie Guard Tyler Booker

• [15:12 – 16:42]
  • Dallas spent a first-rounder on Booker to get nastier inside.
  • Now he faces Chris Jones, one of the league’s best DTs.
  • Booker’s hand technique will be severely tested; double-teams and help will likely be required.
  • "One of the reasons, Ryan, the Cowboys drafted Tyler Booker at pick number 12, a guard at 12 is really high... because of games like Dexter Lawrence in their division, Jalen Carter in the division and now you're playing the premier defensive tackle in the league in Chris Jones." —Marcus Mosher [15:38]
  • "He's going to have fast hands all day long. I'm not certain that he's going to be able to get his hands on Jones enough to slow him down." —Ryan Tracy [16:42]

3. Chiefs RBs in the Flats vs. Cowboys’ Defense

• [17:56 – 18:48]
  • Dallas struggled with RBs leaking into the flat last week (e.g., Saquon Barkley).
  • Rashard Smith (former WR, now RB) could be a problem on passing downs.
  • Kareem Hunt may not be 100% after a heavy workload.
  • "That's where Rashard Smith, if you watch any of these games with the Chiefs, that's where he does most of his action." —Marcus Mosher [18:17]

4. Rashee Rice vs. Dallas Secondary

• [19:26 – 20:55]
  • Dallas plays a lot of zone—Mahomes has feasted on it.
  • If Dallas can’t take away Rice, it’ll be hard to stop KC’s offense.
  • Chiefs hope Rice, Travis Kelce attract coverage and open up deep shots for speedsters like Xavier Worthy and Tyquan Thornton.
  • "Mahomes is the number one quarterback in the league on zones in terms of EPA." —Marcus Mosher [19:26]

4. Keys to Victory: Game Plans for Each Side

[21:40 – 28:19]

Chiefs (To Win)

• Offense must be more consistent—sustain the recent spark, balance run-pass.
• Eliminate mistakes, especially penalties and turnovers.
  • "The penalties have been ferocious lately in, in just degrading their ability to be efficient with the ball. And you cannot turn over the ball." —Ryan Tracy [24:03]
• Plan for physicality up front on both sides.

Cowboys (To Win)

• Avoid early mistakes—last week’s first 20 minutes were plagued (drops, penalties, turnovers).
  • "Fourth down drop... Roughing the punter... Two false starts... Red zone interception..." —Marcus Mosher [24:08]
• Game script: Start fast, play with a lead to avoid letting the Chiefs’ D pin their ears back.
• Must score touchdowns, not field goals, especially due to KC's methodical, clock-chewing style.
  • "You're not going to win this game by kicking field goals. You might only get into the red zone three times all game. You've got to score touchdowns on all three of them." —Marcus Mosher [26:33]

For Both

• Adaptability will be tested: Can coordinators break tendencies on a short week?
• Communication issues have plagued both teams—must be sharp in a must-win, high-stress environment.

5. Notable Quotes & Moments

• "It just feels like this is coming down now... it's going to be a knockdown, dragout, and it's going to be back and forth..." —Ryan Tracy [04:45]
• "There's only so much that you can do to block guys like Quinn Williams, Kenny Clark, and Osa Odighizuwa." —Marcus Mosher [08:32]
• "This is pretty close to a real 'must-win' ... If you go 5–6–1, you're not winning the division, you're not making the wildcard. Essentially your season is over unless you go on a fantastic run." —Marcus Mosher [28:19]
• "I expect the first 15 [plays] from Andy Reid to be very exploratory, to see where he thinks he has that edge. And once he gets there, the question becomes, will Andy actually lean on it or will he just get distracted with something shiny and doing something super cool and new?" —Ryan Tracy [25:27]

6. Closing Thoughts: Big Stakes, Big Stage

[28:19 – 29:39]

• Both hosts agree: Lose, and your season likely ends.
• The national spotlight of Thanksgiving magnifies everything—pressure and opportunity.
• "You're eating that pumpkin pie or that apple pie after a Thanksgiving win. Nothing tastes better." —Marcus Mosher [29:15]

Segment Timestamps

• [01:45] — Stakes and storylines
• [05:19] — Chiefs’ injury/fatigue concerns
• [07:21] — Dallas D-line’s rise
• [09:36] — George Pickens’ emergence
• [13:43] — Matchup deep dives
• [21:40] — Keys to victory
• [28:19] — Must-win implications and final thoughts

Summary in One Sentence

A high-stakes, high-drama Thanksgiving showdown between two desperate teams, where trench play, red-zone execution, and minimizing mental mistakes will decide whose playoff hopes survive.

For more Cowboys/Chiefs breakdowns and daily updates, follow @Marcus_Mosher, @McCoolBCB (Cowboys), and @RyanTracyNFL (Chiefs) on X/Twitter.