The NFL is turning up the heat for the 2025 season, and its Thanksgiving Day lineup is at the heart of the buzz.
While the holiday always promises gridiron tradition, this year’s game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Kansas City Chiefs is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated Thanksgiving matchups in years.
As is custom, the Cowboys will take the field on Thanksgiving Day-something they’ve done nearly every year since 1966. But this time, they won’t be facing a division rival or a middling contender. Instead, they’ll squareoff against the reigning powerhouse of the league: Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Set to kick off in the late afternoon slot on CBS, this Week 13 matchup lands at a crucial point in the regular season. With playoff races intensifying, the outcome of this game could significantly impact postseason seeding in both conferences.
Playoff pressure, pop culture, and prime time spotlight
The timing of this matchup couldn’t be more compelling. Falling deep into the schedule, both the Cowboys and Chiefs will likely be jockeying for playoff position, with division titles and Wild Card berths on the line. Add in the national spotlight of Thanksgiving, and this game becomes more than just tradition-it becomes a high-stakes showdown.
The Chiefs, who have become the NFL’s most electric brand in recent years, are no strangers to high-pressure games. Patrick Mahomes continues to dominate headlines and highlights, while Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott leads a roster desperate to shake off years of playoff frustration.
Even before the first whistle, the hype machine is already rolling. In a light-hearted social media jab, the Chiefs posted a photo of Grammy-nominated artist and diehard Cowboys fan Post Malone wearing a Kansas City jersey.
The moment was a nod to a previous occasion when Brittany Mahomes convinced the rapper to temporarily swap his Cowboys gear for a Chiefs jacket during a post-Super Bowl party. The message is clear: even Cowboys fans can be tempted by Kansas City’s charm-if only briefly.
Beyond Thanksgiving, both teams are set for even more holiday action. Dallas is slated to face the Washington Commanders on Christmas Day, while Kansas City will host their AFC West rival, the Denver Broncos. The NFL is clearly doubling down on marquee matchups during the holiday stretch, hoping to capture record-setting audiences across multiple dates.
But Thanksgiving remains the crown jewel of the regular season calendar, and this year’s game promises to be unforgettable. With two massive fan bases, MVP-caliber quarterbacks, and major playoff implications, Chiefs vs. Cowboys is everything the NFL could hope for-and everything fans will feast on.
Get ready for fireworks on the field, drama in the standings, and just maybe, a little more trolling from team social media accounts. This Thanksgiving, the spotlight is bigger, and the stakes are higher than ever.
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