Bright rays come into play again for Cowboys against Chiefs

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Here comes the sun again at the home of the Dallas Cowboys.

George Pickens was open but the Cowboys receiver never saw the pass thrown his way by Dak Prescott early in the second quarter of their 31-28 win over Kansas City on Thanksgiving Day.

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Light streams through a window and onto the field inside AT&T Stadium during the first half of an NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Dallas Cowboys Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) reacts after being brought down by Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Charles Omenihu (90) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is sacked by Dallas Cowboys defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, right, as Chiefs center Creed Humphrey (52) watches during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

The ball landed a few feet in front of Pickens inside the 20-yard line, and the receiver threw out his hands indicating he never saw it, then shaded his eyes when looking back to the west end of the stadium — and directly into the sun.

“He already knew it. Welcome to Dallas, bro,” said fellow receiver CeeDee Lamb, who had a similar play just more than a year ago.

“It definitely did. Some of the guys told me, too. That was my first time having that,” Pickens said. “Just coming on the crossing route, the sun was beating in my eyes, so I couldn’t see. But made up for it.”

Pickens caught six passes for 88 yards and Lamb, just four days after being hampered by some drops in a comeback win over Philadelphia, had seven catches for 112 yards and a touchdown.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes later in the second quarter was looking downfield into the bright rays after scrambling to his right from the shade to a wide sliver of shining sun. Rashee Rice appeared open in the middle of the field before the quarterback was sacked from behind by Jadeveon Clowney for a 7-yard loss, though Mahomes downplayed any issue with the sun.

“It’s just when you play some games. … I played baseball growing up, the sun’s part of it,” Mahomes said. “Just got to find those guys whenever you’re scrambling, and make those throws.”

Still, this was not the first time play has been impacted by the sun shining through the huge glass doors at the west end of AT&T Stadium.

The stadium has an unusual east-west alignment from end zone to end zone, as opposed to most venues being north-south. So on clear days, such as Thursday, the sun shines through the west-end windows during portions of games that kick off later in the afternoon.

In a 34-6 loss to Philadelphia last November, Pro Bowl receiver Lamb lost a ball in the sun on an incompletion that helped keep Dallas from scoring a go-ahead touchdown in the first half. Lamb was open on a crossing route in the end zone when a throw from Cooper Rush went behind him and he never adjusted to the ball.

In a 23-17 playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers in January 2022, a pass whizzed by the head of open Dallas receiver Cedrick Wilson, who apparently never saw the ball looking back into the sun.

Cowboys billionaire owner Jerry Jones has flatly rejected numerous suggestions that the team should put up curtains at that end of the $1.2 billion stadium during games, even though they are used for some concerts and other events.

When asked after last year’s loss to the Eagles if curtains should be put up, Lamb responded, “Yes. One thousand percent.”

Pickens agreed Thursday.

“Yeah, I mean, definitely. But that’s up to Jerry. But definitely curtains would help,” Pickens said. “I really couldn’t see the ball. It was the sun. Like I said, I always bounce back. Kind of like CeeDee bounced back from last week to this week. All you can do is just one foot forward, keep getting better.”

Prescott’s pass on first down intended for Pickens, right after a 10-yard pass to convert fourth-and-4, was potentially a four-point swing. Instead of moving closer to maybe a touchdown, the Cowboys settled for Brandon Aubrey’s 49-yard field goal to get within 14-10.

Kansas City won the opening coin toss, and when Dallas elected to receive, the Chiefs opted to defend the west end zone — the one going into the sun.

There were no issues after halftime because the sun was setting by then.

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ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys still face long odds in trying to rally for a spot in the playoffs.

They won’t be short on confidence with a win over last season’s Super Bowl runner-up just four days after beating the defending champs.

Prescott threw for two touchdowns, Malik Davis sprinted 43 yards for a score and the Cowboys overcame two fourth down TD throws from Patrick Mahomes in a 31-28 Thanksgiving Day victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday.

CeeDee Lamb scored the first Dallas touchdown and finished with 112 yards on seven catches after drops plagued the star receiver in a 24-21 victory over reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia.

The Cowboys (6-5-1) have won three straight and dropped the defending AFC champion Chiefs (6-6) back to .500 in a matchup of playoff-chasing teams.

Dallas is 3-0 since 24-year-old defensive end Marshawn Kneeland was found dead of an apparent suicide during the club’s open week. The Cowboys came back from the emotion-filled break with a 33-16 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.

“On top of where we put ourselves right before these games and just the place that we’re in, having to get these wins against two elite teams,” Prescott said. “I mean, two teams that played in the Super Bowl last year. Last year’s last year, but you’re talking about two organizations that obviously know how to win and we just beat them both in two great games.

“On top of everything that we’ve been through.”

Mahomes had four touchdown passes in his first professional game at the home of the Cowboys, where he played three times for Texas Tech not far from his East Texas roots.

“They’re the same desperation that we are and they play better over four quarters than we did,” said Mahomes, who threw for 261 yards and was sacked three times, twice by Jadeveon Clowney. “So even though we have good plays here and there, we have be more consistent at the end of the day.”

Travis Kelce caught Mahomes’ first fourth-down TD toss on a 2-yarder, and Rashee Rice’s second scoring catch came on fourth-and-3 early in the fourth quarter.

Kansas City was down 10 when Mahomes was almost tripped in the backfield by Quinnen Williams but kept his feet and found Xavier Worthy wide-open down the field for 42 yards, setting up a 10-yard scoring toss to Hollywood Brown with 3:27 remaining.

Prescott and company didn’t give Mahomes another chance.

After two pass interference penalties gave Dallas first downs, Prescott hit George Pickens for 13 yards and a clinching first down at the two-minute warning. Prescott knelt three times after that.

The Chiefs had five pass interference penalties, one that was declined, and another defensive holding that gave Dallas a first down. Kansas City finished with 10 penalties for 119 yards.

“Bottom line is we’re having too many penalties, and we have to make sure to take care of that,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “No excuses with it. We’re going to clean it up.”

Rice had eight catches for 92 yards, his first score coming on a 27-yard catch-and-run on the sideline two plays after Prescott was intercepted by Jaylen Watson on the first Dallas possession.

Davis had just three carries, but his long run gave Dallas its first lead at 17-14 late in the second quarter. Lead running back Javonte Williams scored on a 3-yard catch early in the fourth quarter, and Pickens’ catch on a 2-point conversion put Dallas back in front 28-21.

The Cowboys were 10th in the NFC entering the game, same as the Chiefs in the AFC coming off nine consecutive AFC West titles. The schedule doesn’t get much easier, although two of the next four opponents — all playoff teams from a year ago — aren’t in the postseason picture at the moment.

“We’ve got to continue with the same mentality,” Lamb said. “Obviously it’s been a short week. Now we get a little time to rest, a regular week so to speak. We get our bodies back, relax, build, grow, get better and on to next week.”

Chiefs: The Chiefs lost two offensive linemen to injuries after beginning the game without RG Trey Smith, who was inactive because of an ankle injury. RT Jawaan Taylor injured an elbow, and rookie LT Josh Simmons went out with a wrist injury. … S Bryan Cook injured an ankle in the first half.

Cowboys: CB Caelen Carson, who had started the previous two games, was inactive after being listed as questionable. He was added to the injury report during the week. … CB DaRon Bland injured a foot in the second half.

Chiefs: Play host to Houston in prime time on Dec. 7.

Cowboys: Visit Detroit next Thursday night.

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Bright rays come into play again for Cowboys against Chiefs

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