MUST-WIN: Cowboys Take On Chiefs In HUGE Thanksgiving Showdown | Biggest Matchups To Watch!

Summary

---

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.

Transcript

[T-Mobile Ad Voice]

It's the Locked on podcast network. Your team every day.

[Ryan Tracy]

Oh, hey. Welcome to gift wrapping.

[Marcus Moer]

Whoa.

[T-Mobile Ad Voice 2]

So we saldana.

[T-Mobile Ad Voice 3]

Hey, can you wrap these please?

[Marcus Moer]

Wow.

[Ryan Tracy]

IPhone 17s.

[T-Mobile Ad Voice 3]

You splurged at T Mobile. You can get four iPhone 17s on them. The new center stage front camera is amazing for group selfies. It's the perfect gift for everyone.

[T-Mobile Ad Voice]

I'm the worst.

[Ryan Tracy]

I only got my mom a robe.

[T-Mobile Ad Voice 3]

Well, it's better than socks.

[Ryan Tracy]

Socks. So I have to trade in my old phone, right?

[T-Mobile Ad Voice 3]

No AT T Mobile. There's no trade ins needed when you switch. Keep your old phone or give it as a gift.

[Ryan Tracy]

Incredible.

[T-Mobile Ad Voice 3]

In fact, wrap up my old phone too for my aunt Rosa.

[Marcus Moer]

Forget that.

[T-Mobile Ad Voice 3]

Aunt Liz will be jealous.

[Ryan Tracy]

Sounds like my family drama.

[T-Mobile Ad Voice 3]

Oh, I got it. I'll give it to my abuela. I'll take reindeer paper with. Hey, where are you going?

[T-Mobile Ad Voice 2]

To T Mobile. The holidays are better. AT T Mobile get four iPhone 17s on us. No trade in needed when you switch plus four lines for just 25 bucks a line. And now T Mobile is available in US cellular stores with 24 monthly bill credits and four eligible board inside essentials for well qualified customers. Photo Pay + taxes, fees and $35 device connection charge credits and imbalance due if you pay off earlier. Cancel Contact US Finance Agreement 256 gigabytes. $830 required. Visit t mobile.com.

[T-Mobile Ad Voice]

Traditions are a funny thing. They're why we tailgate in the pouring rain, wear full body paint and refuse to wash that lucky jersey. And just like in football, tradition is what inspires us at Tostitos. Make our masa the traditional way, starting with whole corn kernels. No artificial flavors, colors or preservatives crafted for that perfect crunch. Tostitos tradition matters. Official chip and dip sponsor of the NFL.

[Marcus Moer]

Matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Dallas Cowboys just got a whole lot more interesting. We'll dive into it next. Foreign. You are locked on NFL crossover, part of the Locked On Podcast network. Your team every day. Welcome back to this crossover edition of the Lockdown Chiefs and Lockdown Cowboys podcast, part of the Lockdown podcast network. Your team every day. We are now the number one sports podcast network and today's episode is presented by Prize Picks. Download the Prize Picks app today. Use promo code lock on NFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. Welcome back. I am your host, Marcus Moer from Lock On Cowboys. That is Ryan Tracy from Lock On Chiefs. And we are going to break down this Thanksgiving Day matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Dallas Cowboys in the mid afternoon. And let's start with some of the biggest storylines because there was a point, Ryan, last week when the the Chiefs were down 20 to nine and the Cowboys were facing this big game against the Eagles where I honestly wondered like, was this game going to matter for either the Cowboys or the Chiefs? Not the case. Huge game for both of these teams.

[Ryan Tracy]

I was absolutely with you. I, I shaking my head, pulling my hair out. There's not much left, but that's all right. And now we get to flip all the scripts and I think that's kind of in the tail. The, the tape for this whole season is, is starting. One direction for both of these teams starting to turn it around. Getting to the point where epic win for your team last week. I mean a must win for my team at this point. And now they're all like, oh wait a minute, maybe we can make a run. Maybe we can rise above what we've been putting out on the field to this point. I'm pretty excited about it, but it feels like it's just more of the same to me. Chiefs have to have this game. It seems like the Cowboys probably do too. Yeah.

[Marcus Moer]

And the Cowboys chances that make the playoffs are. It's a lot harder in the nfc. You look at the wild card teams, all those teams have eight wins. The, the Philadelphia Eagles already have eight wins. So it's going to take like an epic collapse from other teams for the Cowboys to get in. But when you look at this Cowboy schedule, you were seeing the Eagles, the Eagles, the Chiefs, the Lions, three games in a row. But if you win this game and you beat Philadelphia last week, who was the super bowl champion, you beat Kansas City this week, who made it to the super bowl last year, suddenly you look at your schedule and there's not a team on there that you can't beat. And while the Cowboys playoff odds are pretty low at 5, 5 and 1, us Cowboy fans just want to see them playing better football and being able to play some of these top teams in the conference. And again, if you beat the Chiefs on Thanksgiving Day, you're trending in the right direction. I think for Cowboy fans, with how bad this season has gone, doing that is pretty impressive.

[Ryan Tracy]

Yeah. And it's going to be that much more terror filled for me given the situation. Having Quinn Williams in town for the Cowboys, having Trey Smith not on the field for the Chiefs is a combination that I am not looking forward to on my turkey Day. Thank you very much. I wanted a Nice calm, no overtime, no complication type day. And I just feel like this is coming down now, especially when these portions of the team are on the field against each other, that this is going to be a knockdown drag out and it's going to be back and forth for this Chiefs offense to even try to get going.

[Marcus Moer]

We're going to talk about some matchups to watch and I can guarantee you that matchup between the Chiefs interior offensive line and the Cowboys defensive line will be one of them. But I, I had a couple questions for you about this Chiefs team. So they're just coming off a very physical game against the Indianapolis Colts where the offense played, if I'm not mistaken, 90 something snaps, it was a ridiculous amount. Now you're having to go on the road on a short week to play in Dallas. Whereas the Cowboys, they're the one of the youngest teams in the NFL, they're a little bit beat up as well, but they're very young. This Chiefs team, we know it's old. They've played basically what a season worth of playoff games over the last five or six years. Yeah. Is there any concern about what the Chiefs might look like on a short week?

[Ryan Tracy]

There's always some of that, particularly when it last week was so out of character where Andy Reid handed a single back 30 carries. We don't see that in Kansas City. We haven't seen that in the entire regime that Andy's been in town. So it was, it was quite a departure and I do think was it.

[Marcus Moer]

Like Larry Johnson the last time that we've seen a running back get that many carries?

[Ryan Tracy]

Absolutely. He was pre priest if I remember correctly. So that is a long time out. But you also have that concern that that is part of one game plan and this team has become more Jekyll and Hyde over the last couple of years. The consistency there between game plan to game plan is very much shifting. They're starting to find how this 53 has to play and that run game is part of it. Now you have Kareem with it with I, I, I think right now he's still in the cold tub. So he's going to be there for quite a long time. Probably get Isaiah Pacheco back, which is going to be a good short term answer. You never know if Isaiah Pacheco with the injury list there, Rashard Smith, a guy that's got a little bit more juice coming out of the backfield, but they've been reluctant to give him carries inside. So it's going to be a committee of committees at this point to try to avoid that letdown on, on what is a tight week and what is I think a bigger obstacle in Dallas than we thought they were a few weeks ago.

[Marcus Moer]

Well the reason why is because they literally have a bigger obstacle in the middle of their defense in Quinn and Williams and in it's just been night and day having a. A superstar like this. And the Chiefs, they know exactly what this is like having Chris Jones in the middle of your defense. You can build everything around that type of player. You can stop the run, you can get into these obvious passing situations where you can be more aggressive blitzing. That's what Quin and Williams has brought to the Cowboys where Philadelphia their final eight drives of the game they had 103 yards. They averaged like 13 yards per drive. They never crossed the Cowboys 40 yard line in of their eight drives. And it's because the defensive line was so dominant. And the Cowboys have stumbled into something where their best three defensive players are all defensive tackles. So what they've been doing is just figuring out ways to get all three of them on the field at the same time. They used a lot of five defensive lineman looks help stop the run on early downs. And some of these teams that have offensive line injuries like Philadelphia, they just didn't know how to counter it and how to block it up because you end up getting one on one matchups. I think for the Cowboys they eventually teams are going to figure it out to a degree but there's only so much that you can do to block guys like Quinn and Williams and Kenny Clark and Oso Digizua. We'll see how long it lasts. But the Cowboys are very excited about the direction of their defense and I.

[Ryan Tracy]

Would be too, especially given the season culmination here. Going from what is an outside rush pass heavy to the interior having to to stir the drink. At this point I, I personally would like to see the the Chiefs use a lot of jumbo, try to get some double bodies on there run do all over them and tire them out. But the problem is Trey Smith and his back and his ankle and a couple of other things are not ready to go at this point. So there will be a backup in there. It is most likely Mike Caliendo. That's not confirmed at this point but, but that is a 90th percentile chance and that's problematic if you want to try to run that direction. You could probably get by with some quick pass game. You can probably do a couple of other things but this is going to Be A find where Q is and attack him with as much of the offensive line as you can and hope you survive the rest.

[Marcus Moer]

We should mention Kingsley Sua Matia playing left guard. That's the guy that the Cowboys really liked pre draft as a tackle. Now he's moved into guard. He's had a nice season. But kind of privately the Cowboys think that they can attack both guards in this matchup. Should be a lot of fun. One more storyline I just wanted to throw at you from the Cowboy side of things and that's the development of George Pickens. Now he's going to be questionable going into this game with knee and calf injuries. I think he's going to play. They absolutely need him. But he's been a superstar. He already has four games this season, Ryan at least 130 receiving yards and a touchdown. I think he's done that like two other times in his NFL career. I mean he has been dominant. So much so that Cowboy fans have been like arguing with themselves who's the best receiver on this team. And CD Lamb was like widely viewed as a top five receiver in the NFL. Right. So it's just can Pickens take over this matchup? Trent McDuffie doesn't have the size to match up with him on the outside. Do we see like Jaylen Watson playing up against them? I don't know. But frankly right now we haven't seen anybody cover George Pickens. I'm curious to see if that continues to play out on Thursday.

[Ryan Tracy]

And you know, I am really interested to see how it works as well because I think you're going to see waves. It will start with Jalen Watson. Absolutely, because I think the physicality has to be there. I think George, from what we know of him, I don't know how he's feeling in Dallas, but previously he's a guy you can get under his skin, you can take him out of his game. And I think that is exactly what Jalen Watson does very well. The going to run no Williams down. They might even give him a couple looks of Christian Fulton, although I'm going to hold my breath while they do. But it will be a committee on that side of the corner as well and I do think you're going to see Trent McDuffie move around the formation a little bit. The question will be what do they do out of the slot and how do they choose to attack.

[Marcus Moer]

That should be a really fun matchup. Let's talk about some other matchups that we are excited to see on Thursday afternoon, including Tyler Booker versus Chris Jones. We'll get to that next foreign.

[Ryan Tracy]

This.

[Marcus Moer]

Episode is brought to you by FanDuel. The NBA is back and there's not a better place to get in on the action than FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Even if you missed the start of the game, or if you just want to ride the hot hand, FanDuel has live bets on everything from who's going to score the next bucket to fourth quarter comebacks. Plus, you can even combine your live bets into a same game parlay for for a shot at a bigger payout. It keeps every game exciting, especially when your team's making that late game push. The basketball has been fantastic to start the year. I mean, I've just been hooked partially because my Lakers are looking really good right now. But every single night just delivers awesome, awesome matchups and games. So right now, go over to FanDuel. They've got an incredible offer. They're giving away $300 in bonus bets to new customers. When you bet $5, all your bet has to do is win and you'll get $300 in bonus bets. So head over to FanDuel.com to sign up and play your game with FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA.

[Ryan Tracy]

Oh hey. Welcome to gift wrapping.

[Marcus Moer]

Whoa.

[T-Mobile Ad Voice 2]

So Saldana.

[T-Mobile Ad Voice 3]

Hey, can you wrap these please?

[Marcus Moer]

Wow.

[Ryan Tracy]

IPhone 17s.

[T-Mobile Ad Voice 3]

You splurged at T Mobile. You can get four iPhone 17s on them. The new center stage run K camera is amazing for group selfies. It's the perfect gift for everyone.

[T-Mobile Ad Voice]

I'm the worst.

[Ryan Tracy]

I only got my mom a robe.

[T-Mobile Ad Voice 3]

Well, it's better than socks.

[Ryan Tracy]

So I have to trade in my old phone, right?

[T-Mobile Ad Voice 3]

No AT T Mobile. There's no trade ins needed when you switch. Keep your old phone or give it as a gift.

[Ryan Tracy]

Incredible.

[T-Mobile Ad Voice 3]

In fact, wrap up my old phone too for my Aunt Rosa. Forget that. Aunt Liz will be jealous.

[Ryan Tracy]

Sounds like my family drama.

[T-Mobile Ad Voice 3]

Oh, I got it. I'll give it to my abuela. I'll take reindeer paper with hey where are you going?

[T-Mobile Ad Voice 2]

T Mobile the holidays are better. AT T Mobile get four iPhone 17s on us. No trade in needed when you switch plus four lines for just 25 bucks a line. And now T Mobile is available in US cellular stores with 24 monthly bill credits and four eligible Portinson Essentials for well qualified customers bought on pay plus taxes, fees and $35 device connection chart credits and imbalance due if you pay off earlier. Cancel Contact Us Finance Agreement 256 gigabytes $830 required Visit T mobile.com.

[Marcus Moer]

Welcome back to this crossover edition of the Lock On Chiefs and Lock On Cowboys podcast. We're we'd like to thank you for making us the number one sports podcast network. Ryan let's talk about some matchups because this game is littered with interesting matchups on both sides of the ball. But what's one of the ones that you're going to be paying the most attention to?

[Ryan Tracy]

Well, for me it always starts with the defensive side. What you can do to to kind of get somebody out of their game. And my my take will start with a question of you. Is it Nate Thomas that I need to go watch? Is is who we're going to see at right tackle?

[Marcus Moer]

Yeah. So it's Tyler Guy's going to be out with a high ankle injury. Nate Thomas has started several games for the Cowboys this year. It actually has played pretty well. But that's who's going to be at left tackle.

[Ryan Tracy]

Yes, that's the premier matchup. George Carloftis is a guy that can get with the right matchup on a streak. It's getting that engine started that has been the challenge. At this point a lot of attention goes to Chris Jones as it always should, but it's about making the most of double teams elsewhere. So if Chris is getting that attention, you have to make them pay a backup in at the right tackle spot. Just like on the Chiefs line. You have to expect to attack that. And I don't think it's just with George Girloft is you're going to see some blitzing, you're going to see some five man rushes that aren't necessarily bringing DBs like Spags likes to do. But it is all mostly going to be designed to allow George to get into a rhythm to get him to be that that true second pass rusher that they need. That's job number one on the defensive side for me.

[Marcus Moer]

I can't wait to watch it. Nate Thomas has had a a very good season as a backup. I do wonder if he's one of these players that the more he plays, the more he gets exposed. But last week he came in against Philadelphia and you know, in that second half of the game, the Cowboys were basically in a must pass situation the entire time. He held up incredibly well. Now I don't think he offers quite as much as a run blocker as what Tyler Guyton does, but anytime that you can put a backup in there and they never really chip, you know, have anybody lined up chipping or protecting him. It's certainly one to watch. I'm I'm looking at this Tyler Booker, the Cowboys rookie right guard versus Chris Jones. We can also throw in Cooper Beebe and Tyler Smith because they're all going to be blocking Chris Jones. But one of the reasons Ryan the Cowboys drafted Tyler Booker at pick number 12, a guard at 12 is really high. I mean, just so whatever the positional value is not great, but they thought they needed to be more physical and they needed to add an edge to their offensive line. They have a bunch of really good players, but there is a lack of physicality in that group. Not with Tyler Booker. They went and drafted him because of games of games like Dexter Lawrence in their division, Jalen Carter in the division and now you're playing in my mind, the premier defensive tackle in the league in Chris Jones. He I don't expect Booker to win every matchup, but if he can win his fair share of matchups, I think the Cowboys should be able to control this pass rush.

[Ryan Tracy]

It'll be really interesting to see if that's the way that it works out. I have not done a ton of film on him as a professional, but spent a lot of time with that tape when he was coming out in the draft and one of the issues for me was hand placement and hand ability to staunch a pass rush. And that's Chris Jones's bread and butter. 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. So what he's going to have to do is either have help or guide him away from the path of least resistance to allow that run game to take over. Because that's what I'm concerned about is the Javante Williams effect. We've seen it in Denver, we're familiar with the back. But what it does for this offense as I've tried to scout them here, is is set up not only your outside guys that obviously are going to draw attention. You're probably going to have at least a bracket if not a match kind of zone that's going to take both of them way over the top. So it comes down to what's the next matchup and it's running and then the play action of Ferguson. Because the Chiefs have struggled against tight ends, the fact that Warren did not go off on them last week from the Indianapolis Colts was a miracle. I don't think they have two in a row. So my expectation is that tight end matchup against the chief safeties is going to be one that we're going to come back to as this game unfolds.

[Marcus Moer]

Another matchup that I wanted to mention. This is mostly because I love this guy pre draft and I wanted to talk about him. Is Prashad Smith the, the former wide receiver that moved a running back? I was kind of hoping the Cowboys drafted him. Instead they took Jaden Blue, who's been a healthy scratch for like the last two months. But the Cowboys gave up a ton of receptions in the Flats last week to Saquon Barkley.

[Ryan Tracy]

They.

[Marcus Moer]

They could not cover running backs leaking out to the sideline and that's where Prashad Smith, if you watch any of these games with the Chiefs, that's where he does most of his action. And with the Cowboys again using more of these five man defensive lines, they are. They can get exposed with guys leaking out to the backfield. If the Chiefs were wise in this game, I think this would be a heavy Kareem Hunt and Bard Smith game. Use Hunt on short yardage, use Smith on passing downs because that is an area the Cowboys have struggled and that.

[Ryan Tracy]

Makes perfect sense to me that that's what I'd like to be able to see them do. I just don't know after that last game on three days rest, Kareem Hunt's gonna be able to carry that load. They've been a little reluctant to let Smith run in between the tackles, so it's going to be about whether Isaiah Pacheco is able to actually contribute. He was practicing last week, they held him out. So I think that was in preparation for this matchup. But I agree the Flats and honestly the arrow routes at Smith can take and get behind the linebacker to the point where he's got some daylight to run through. That's going to be one of the matchups that I'm trying to either get them the mismatch that I want or create it through motion and moving the rest of that defensive secondary.

[Marcus Moer]

One more matchup at least on my end. And please interrupt me if you want Rashi Rice against the Cowboys defensive backs. The Cowboys have played a ton of zone. Patrick Mahomes is the number one quarterback in the league on zones in terms of epa. They don't have a play player that can match up with Rice one on one. So I, I would assume it's going to be a lot of zones. If you can take away Rice, you can shut down this offense. I just, I'm not sure how Dallas is going to do that outside of just creating a ton of quick pressure.

[Ryan Tracy]

And that's what it's going to have to be. They have to work together because Patrick's been actually as good as I've ever seen him against Zone this particular season. And with Rice, with everything that you just said, that's exactly what they're planning is they want that attention on Rice, try to take him away, try to come down out of those matchup zones, especially if you're playing two or three high, because they have two guys in Xavier, Worthy and Taekwonder. They're going to stretch the hell out of that field and they're going to come after you with it. They've had some success doing that. Taekwond Thornton is not a guy that gets a whole lot of targets. He makes a whole lot of yards, though, and they are shot takers this season more than any other in the last three because they have that stretchability. So they are hoping that Travis Kelsey and Rasheed Rice draw all that coverage down to them. So if the opposite goes and you get an emerald type defense, we're trying to drop eight and get all those deep coverages. It's going to be either back to that run or back to those quick hitters. The horizontal drags will be an option here for this offense.

[Marcus Moer]

Should be a really fun cat mouse game on Thursday afternoon. I can't wait to see it. Bad Eber FL the Cowboys defensive coordinator got a lot of criticism early in the year, disturbedly so, and now this defense is starting to round into shape. We'll see what they do against Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes. Let's talk about some keys to victory. What do the Cowboys and the Chiefs need to get done on Thursday in order to get a win? We'll get to that next.

[Birch Lane Ad Voice]

Hi neighbor. Save up to 70% on classic furniture and decor through December 2nd. It's Black Friday at Birch Lane, a Wayfair specialty brand. Find classic style for joyful living and get free shipping on everything. Shop [e-mail] and now a next level.

[Marcus Moer]

Moment from AT and T Business. Say you've sent out a gigantic shipment of pillows and they need to be there in time for International Sleep day. You've got AT and T5G so you're fully confident, but the vendor isn't responding and International Sleep Day is tomorrow. Luckily, AT&T 5G lets you deal with any issues with ease, so the pillows will get delivered and everyone can sleep soundly, especially you. ATT 5G requires a compatible plan and device coverage not available everywhere. Learn [e-mail] 5G Network Foreign. Welcome back to this crossover edition of the Locked On Chiefs and Lock On Cowboys podcast. We'd like to thank you for making us your first listen of the day. For your second listen, check out the Lock On NFL podcast. Two shows every single day. One in the morning with Tyler Roland, one in the afternoon with Tony Wiggins. Available wherever you get your podcast. All right, Ryan, let's talk about some keys to victory. What do the Chiefs need to do in order to win this game? Because if, if Kansas City does win this game and you get to they would be seven and five at that point or eight and five.

[Ryan Tracy]

It would be seven seven. I'm sorry to say.

[Marcus Moer]

Seven and five though at least puts you back into the AFC wild card pitcher. You hope Jacksonville slips up. Maybe Buffalo loses to the the the Steelers this week. It gets you back into the hunt. What do they need to do that?

[Ryan Tracy]

It's, it's multiple things, but the emphasis really has to be on the offense. They found a spark of what they used to be able to do. It's going to look a little bit different, but they have to sustain that. The defense has been able to rise to the occasion. While this is one of the biggest obstacles in their way, you have to feel like they're going to at least keep you in the ball game. The offense has not always done that this season. So what they have to have is balance and this offense has to be able to put up points to try to keep up with all of the offensive weapons that we just talked about on the Cowboys side of the ball. That's the hard part. For me. It comes down to two things. You have to eliminate your mistakes. 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. Patrick Mahomes in particular has been a little bit sloppy with some things that he's been doing. He's been over scouted and playing into turns that he now has to break. If he can do that, I think they have a chance.

[Marcus Moer]

And on the same side, I mean Dallas last week, you want to talk about penalties, turnovers in the first 20 minutes of the game. I got a list. I'll read you, I'll read you some of the list here. Let's listen. This is the first 20 minutes of the game. They had a fourth down drop. They had a three and out. They had a roughing the punter. They had an offsides on a third down which they got off the field, they had a CD Lamb drop. They had a CD Lamb fumble. They had Cavante Turpin fumble. They had a third and 12 where they lined off offsides. They had a false start. They had a tripping call. They had another false start and they had a deck red zone interception. First 20 minutes of the game. That's how you get down 210 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Now, they were able to come back in that game because they made some ridiculous plays in the second half. But the Eagles are so much better coached or sorry, the Chiefs are so much better coached than the Eagles are. Like they're if they get a big lead on you, they're not going to let you come back. They're suffocating. The defense is really, really good. For the Cowboys, it's all about game script. If you can start this game off with a lead, whether it's 10 to 3, 13 to 7, something where you can't just let the the Chiefs tee off on Dak Prescott and you extend this game out, that is how you win as a home underdog against the, you know, super bowl contending Kansas City Chiefs. Again, that is much easier said than done for a Cowboys team that loves to make mental mistakes, but that's what you have to do.

[Ryan Tracy]

Well, I hope that that trend continues. No offense, maybe. We'll see. At least your guys can line up actually at the line of scrimmage. We're not sure all the tackles on this team can do that well, so sometimes we get ourselves a little bit behind. But I will say this. The fact that comeback was significant, the fact that the Chiefs had to come back as well, I do feel like both of these teams are kind of on the rise. And so it's about limiting those mistakes and being able to hone in on what is a short week, on what that weakness actually is. I expect the the first 15 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 lead on it or will he just get distracted with something shiny and doing something super cool and new? That will be the question. This feels to me like it has to be a very workman like game and you have to have a plan about what you do once you get punched in the face. This team has been beaten multiple times this year because they were not able to respond to a physical blow early in the first quarter. And I expect that's what the Cowboys want to come out and do right off the bat.

[Marcus Moer]

Yeah, and for Dallas, it's all about scoring touchdowns and not kicking field goals. Last week they were atrocious in the red zone. I mean, they were awful. CD Lamb had a drop in the end zone. Dak had a interception in the end zone. Two different times. The Cowboys were within 5 yards and did not score a single point. I know Steve Spagna's defense is really good. They're fundamentally sound. They're technically sound. You still have to punch it in when you get down there. Because one of the thing things if, if you haven't watched a lot of Chiefs games this year, there's just so many limited possessions in these games. They play this like, really slow brand of football where you might only get three possessions a half. You've got to maximize those possessions. 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.

[Ryan Tracy]

That makes a whole lot of sense. And I would echo that right back at you as well, because there have been too many times where penalty takes them out of field goal range or a penalty takes them out of the red zone, where the offense becomes more challenged. I would say the other key to this victory is displaying what we saw last week in a little bit of an ability to play outside of your norm. And that goes for both sides of the ball. Both coordinators and Andy Reed and Steve Spidenell, they've shown a little bit of, of reluctance to really get into some of the advanced game scripts. I expect the Cowboys to do things that get them rattled, and the question will be, how do they respond? This is not as much this season an execution issue in my mind as it is a planning and coordination issue. And that, that is not to let the players off the hook, but it's also to understand that the communication between the coaches and the players is not what it has been in past season. They have to be able to roll with the punches and act as a unit. I think that's also a key for them to be on the right page this.

[Marcus Moer]

I mean, there's not really a must win game in, you know, middle of November, but this is pretty close. Like for the Cowboys, if you go 5, 6 and 1, you're not winning the division, you're not making the wild card. Essentially your season is over unless you go on a fantastic run and a bunch of teams lose games. And the same is true for Kansas City. Like if with Kansas City not having tiebreakers against Buffalo and Jacksonville in the Chargers right now. I you can't really afford to be 6 and 6 with their upcoming schedule. You kind of have to win and that's going to make this game really exciting, really tense. It's got a big game atmosphere and it just so happens to be on Thanksgiving where everybody's going to be watching.

[Ryan Tracy]

Well, the Cowboys have the advantage there. I don't think. I don't think Patrick Mahomes has ever played a Thanksgiving game and he kind of stirs the drink for this. So I hope that everybody in Dallas has a good holiday as you do as well. Just not not the most holiday.

[Marcus Moer]

Nate, I will say that you you're eating that pumpkin pie or that apple pie after a Thanksgiving win. Nothing tastes better. So I'm hoping that Cowboy fans get to have that. I'm sure you're you are as well with the Chiefs. Tell the people where they can find all of your great work.

[Ryan Tracy]

There is a ton of it. It all starts on exit. Ryan Tracy, NFL. You can find me at NFL3.com where we run down the league and the draft as well as rogue analytics. Appreciate that time. Marcus, good talk to you.

[Marcus Moer]

Of course. Make sure you guys go follow his co host Chris Clark at Chris Clark, NFL. You can follow Elena McCool at McCool BCB who is my co host on the Lottan Cowboys podcast. I'm at Marcus Underscore Moser. Enjoy this awesome Thanksgiving slate of games and we'll see you guys all right back here on Friday.

[Birch Lane Ad Voice]

Hi neighbor. Save up to 70% on classic furniture and decor through December 2nd. It's Black Friday at Birch Lane, a Wayfair specialty brand. Find classic style for joyful living and get free shipping on everything. Shop [e-mail] A dream is a wish your heart made.

[T-Mobile Ad Voice]

Step aboard a Disney cruise and discover where memories meet adventure.

[T-Mobile Ad Voice 2]

Where escape meets imagination.

[T-Mobile Ad Voice]

Where magic meets the sea.

[Pacific Life Ad Voice]

Disney Cruise line what can 160 years of experience teach you about the future? When it comes to protecting what matters, Pacific Life provides life insurance, retirement income and employee benefits for people and businesses building a more confident tomorrow. Strategies rooted in strength and backed by experience. Ask a financial professional how Pacific Life can help you today. Pacific Life Insurance Co. Omaha, Nebraska and in New York, Pacific Life & Annuity, Phoenix, Arizona.