The Chiefs have scored on both of their first two possessions.
Their latest touchdown, which came with one second left in the first quarter, has given Kansas City a 14-7 lead over the Cowboys.
Travis Kelce caught a 2-yard pass from Patrick Mahomes for the go-ahead score.
The Chiefs went 72 yards in 12 plays for their second score after needing only two plays and 37 yards after Jaylen Watson’s interception of Dak Prescott.
Mahomes scrambled for 16 yards on third-and-14 from the Dallas 25.
Mahomes is 4-of-5 for 43 yards and two touchdowns, with Rashee Rice catching two for 31 yards and a touchdown.
Dak Prescott rebounded from throwing an interception on the first drive with a near-perfect second drive.
The Cowboys quarterback went 7-of-8 for 76 yards on the drive.
He threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to CeeDee Lamb that has tied the game 7-7.
Jaylen Watson’s interception of Prescott on the first drive led to the Chiefs’ two-play drive that ended with Rashee Rice’s 27-yard touchdown reception.
Chiefs safety Bryan Cook appeared to injure his right ankle on the drive.
Dak Prescott threw his eighth interception of the season, and the Chiefs made him pay.
The Cowboys faced a third-and-4 on the third play of their opening drive. Jaden Hicks got to Prescott on a blitz, and Prescott’s pass was short of George Pickens and intercepted by cornerback Jaylen Watson.
Watson returned it 14 yards to the Dallas 37.
Patrick Mahomes completed a 10-yard pass to Hollywood Brown and a 27-yard touchdown pass to Rashee Rice.
With only 1:56 gone, the Chiefs lead 7-0.
Cowboys cornerback Caelen Carson (hamstring) will not play in Thursday’s game against the Chiefs.
He is among the team’s inactives.
Carson popped up on the injury report on Tuesday and was limited again on Wednesday.
The Cowboys’ other inactives are wide receiver Jonathan Mingo, defensive tackle Jay Toia, defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey, left tackle Tyler Guyton (ankle) and running back Jaydon Blue.
Jalen Tolbert, who was a healthy scratch last Sunday in favor of Mingo, is active. Mingo played only three snaps last week.
Nate Thomas will start at left tackle in place of Guyton.
The Chiefs’ inactives are cornerback Kristian Fulton, wide receiver Jalen Royals, running back Elijah Mitchell, cornerback Chris Roland-Wallace (back), right guard Trey Smith (ankle), tight end Noah Gray (concussion) and offensive lineman Esa Pole.
Roland-Wallce, Smith and Gray were already ruled out.
Mike Caliendo, a three-year veteran, is expected to replace Smith in the starting lineup.
The Chiefs haven’t really been the Chiefs this season. At 6-5, the chances of a tenth straight division title are fading. They may not even make the playoffs.
One reason for their struggles is that, away from home, they’re not playing well.
The Chiefs are 1-4 on the road this season, with the only win coming in Week 3 on a Sunday night against the Giants. The Chiefs will try to get their second road win of the year on Thursday afternoon, against the suddenly surging Cowboys, who are 5-5-1.
For both teams, a loss could end up being the de facto death blow to their playoff hopes. And the Chiefs in recent years have thrived in do-or-die games, going 17-3 in the postseason since Mahomes became the starter in 2018.
Of course, the Chiefs in recent years have thrived in the regular season, too. Which has resulted in few if any do-or-die games before the postseason commences.
They survived on Sunday against the Colts, wiping out a 20-9 deficit against the Colts to win in overtime. The stakes on Thursday, for both teams, combined with the captive-audience platform will help propel the audience toward shattering the all-time viewership record for any regular-season game.
