2. The Cowboys’ performance on third down was the story of the game.
Defensively, the clear difference on Thursday was the Cowboys’ performance on third down which, excluding a kneel-down at the end of the game, saw Dallas convert on nine of 15 opportunities.
Specifically, Dallas converted numerous long third-down chances, moving the chains five times on 3rd-and-7 or longer. The Cowboys achieved that feat three times on their opening series, which ended in a touchdown, converting a 3rd-and-7, a 3rd-and-9 and a 3rd-and-10.
Dallas then moved the chains again, this time despite a 3rd-and-8, early in the fourth quarter when Dak Prescott found wide receiver George Pickens for a 39-yard gain. The play, which set up a go-ahead touchdown just four snaps later, represented a clear swing moment in the game. Kansas City had the lead at that point, meaning a punt would have provided the Chiefs’ offense with an opportunity to extend the lead, and at worst, drain some clock. Instead, Kansas City was once again playing from behind.
Overall, if any of those long third downs went the other way, there’s a good chance the Chiefs would have found a way to win the game. It just goes to show how thin the margin for error is when you let a good team hang around, and it needs to be an area in which Kansas City improves down the stretch.
3. A major positive from Thursday’s game was the Chiefs’ efficiency in the red zone.
It certainly wasn’t all bad on Thursday despite the result, and if there’s one major positive takeaway from the game, it was the Chiefs’ red zone touchdown efficiency.
Kansas City was 3-for-3 in terms of scoring touchdowns in the red zone, which marked a major improvement after the Chiefs were just 2-for-9 in that area over the course of their prior two games.
If Kansas City is to turn things around and make a run over the next several weeks, that improvement in the red zone will need to continue.