Thanksgiving special

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott threw for 320 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Cowboys to a much-needed 31-28 National Football League (NFL) victory over Kansas City on Thursday that further dented the Chiefs’ fading playoff hopes.

The Cowboys, who have now won three straight to revive their own post-season bid, withstood two fourth-down touchdown passes from Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Mahomes threw for four TDs without an interception but couldn’t get Kansas City into the win column.

CeeDee Lamb caught seven passes for 112 yards and the Cowboys’ first touchdown of the night.

Javonte Williams ran for 59 yards and caught a TD pass and Malik Davis ran for a 43-yard touchdown for Dallas, who have beaten the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and last year’s Super Bowl runner-up Kansas City in less than a week.

“We’re a hot team right now,” said Prescott, brandishing a turkey drumstick in honor of the Thanksgiving holiday.

The Chiefs, who have reached the Super Bowl six times in the past seven seasons, got off to a quick start as Jaylen Watson intercepted Prescott on the third play from scrimmage to set the stage for a Kansas City touchdown.

But the Cowboys took a 17-14 lead into half-time and pushed the advantage to 20-14 late in the third before Mahomes found Rashee Rice with a three-yard TD pass early in the fourth quarter to put Kansas City back on top 21-20.

Dallas responded with an eight-play, 68-yard drive capped by Prescott’s three-yard scoring pass to Williams and a two-point conversion for a 28-21 lead.

Brandon Aubrey’s 26-yard field goal pushed Dallas’ lead to 31-21 before Mahomes piloted another scoring drive, escaping two defenders to find Xavier Worthy with a 42-yard pass that set up a 10-yard scoring pass to Hollywood Brown with 3:27 left to play.

But the Chiefs didn’t get another chance. Two pass interference penalties gave the Cowboys first downs, Prescott clinched another first down and Dallas ran out the clock.

The Cowboys improved to 6-5-1, second in the NFC East behind the 8-3 Eagles. The Chiefs fell to 6-6 — third in the AFC West and currently outside the playoff picture.

“We’re not gonna just sit on some high because of (this win),” said Prescott, who was already looking ahead to next week’s clash with the Detroit Lions.

“We know we’ve got a big one coming again next week, and all this really does for us is give us more confidence.”

The Lions’ playoff hopes took a hit with a 31-24 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love threw four touchdown passes including two on fourth down, tying his career-high for TD tosses.

He added in a game-sealing fourth-down pass to Dontayvion Wicks with 1:55 remaining in the bargain.

“We knew what was at stake with this game,” Love said. “It’s a tight race.”

“To be able to go out there on fourth down and execute, make some big-time plays, (that’s) the difference in that game right there,” added Love, who completed 18 of 30 passes for 234 yards without an interception.”

The Packers improved to 8-3-1, second in the NFC North division behind the 8-3 Chicago Bears, who play the Eagles on Friday.