Patrick Mahomes reacts to new and improved Dallas Cowboys defense ahead of Thanksgiving game

Patrick Mahomes believes the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense will have a hard time scoring against the Dallas Cowboys’ defense in the Thanksgiving game. While speaking to reporters this week, Mahomes shared his thoughts on Dallas’ new and improved defense.

“Obviously, they’ve been in the scheme a little bit longer, and then they’ve added players, they’ve also gotten players healthy,” Patrick Mahomes said, per Jon Machota of The Athletic. “You see that they’re playing at a higher level than they were playing at the beginning of the year. That comes with being more comfortable with the scheme that you’re in.

“They’re coached really well by Coach [Matt] Eberflus. They fly around to the football, and they’re kind of in the same situation as us; it’s kind of all on the line. You have to go out there every single week and play your best football. And they’ve responded these last few weeks and played really good football, so it will be a great challenge for us.”

The Cowboys’ defense has looked strong over the last two games. In Week 11 against the Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas produced five sacks and allowed just 16 points in the 33-16 Monday Night Football win. This past Sunday, Dallas shut out the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense in the second half after allowing 21 points in the first two quarters. That led to a Cowboys 24-21 victory over the Eagles.

Patrick Mahomes reacts to playing in his first Thanksgiving game

But how is Dallas’ defense new and improved? During the NFL trade deadline, the Cowboys acquired All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets. Additionally, linebacker DeMarvion Overshown returned to the lineup in Week 11 after missing the last part of the 2024 season and most of the 2025 season with a torn ACL, MCL, and PCL.

Other defensive players who have gotten healthy recently are rookie cornerback Shavon Revel and safeties Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson. The Cowboys’ new and improved defense will need to continue to play at a high level if the team wants to clinch a playoff spot.

While Mahomes knows he will have his hands full against the Cowboys, he is excited about playing on Thanksgiving for the first time in his career. “You grow up watching Thanksgiving games no matter who you’re a fan of,” Mahomes said, per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. “If it’s the Lions, Cowboys, or whoever is playing at night, you grow up watching those games. I think that kid in me wants to be able to go out there and play on Thanksgiving and find a way to win.”