Chiefs News 11/26: Steve Spagnuolo talks Chris Jones’ practice effort

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“I’ve noticed he has been practicing at a high level. It just appeared to be different to me in the last two weeks — and I think it’s showing up on the field.”

— Defensive coordinator

Steve Spagnuolo on defensive tackle Chris Jones

Chiefs vs. Cowboys on Thanksgiving: Prediction, pick, odds, where to watch, live stream, kickoff time | CBS Sports

Chiefs taking over as America’s team: This game is going to bring families together. They might be united in their hatred toward two of the NFL’s most polarizing franchises, but at least they’ll be in it together. You could call this a clash of the NFL’s “evil empires,” two accomplished franchises with giant targets on their backs. A matchup of two of the NFL’s last three dynasties (sandwiching the 2001-19 Patriots in the middle). The Cowboys won three Super Bowls in the 90s (1992, 1993, 1995) and the Chiefs have won three since drafting Mahomes (2019, 2022, 2023). It’s been well documented the Dallas Cowboys are “America’s Team” but that torch has probably been passed to the Chiefs. Kansas City has made seven straight AFC title games, but Dallas hasn’t made an NFC Championship since 1995, the longest active drought in the conference. Mahomes has more Super Bowl MVPs (three) than Prescott has playoff wins (two). A game with more cinema than anyone could imagine will fittingly be played at the NFL’s greatest theater, Jerry World.

Dak Prescott on matchup with Chiefs, CeeDee Lamb bouncing back, more | Cowboys.com

It’s not easy to compress that much information for a quick-turnaround game against any opponent, but much less when it’s the Kansas City Chiefs, who played in Super Bowl LIX against the Eagles, who Dallas played on Sunday.

“We know how talented and good this team is coming in,” Prescott said. “We know how important it is to start fast, and that’s our focus. However, if that doesn’t happen, you’ve got to be resilient, you’ve got to show competitive stamina. At the end of the day, it’s a four-quarter game and that is what the goodness of last week does.”

All of Kansas City’s losses have come in one-possession games. While their 6-5 record may not be indicative of it, the Chiefs’ offense has continued to play well, and it’s led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who Prescott has a lot of respect for.

“Everything in his game,” Prescott said of what he respects about Mahomes. “The way he plays it, at the end of the day obviously talent jumps out, but you watch a guy who plays with pure passion, who’ll do anything it takes to win. On the sideline, he’s not necessarily always running out of bounds, trying to make the extra play, never giving up on a play, has the ability to throw it back across his body. He does it all right. What I respect most is just his will to win, you see it, he’ll do anything and everything it takes.”

2026 NFL mock draft: First-round projections as playoff picture sharpens | CBS Sports

Round 1 – Pick 15

Kayden McDonald DL
Ohio State • Jr • 6’3″ / 326 lbs
McDonald is a strong run stuffer who can clog interior gaps with leverage and explosive lower-body strength. He also shows some upside as a pass rusher.

Around the NFL

Joe Burrow on return to 3-8 Bengals: Not sitting if healthy | ESPN

After a turf toe injury sidelined him for the past nine games, and with the Bengals having, per ESPN Analytics, a 1% chance of making the playoffs, it would make sense for Cincinnati’s star quarterback to remain out and not risk further injury.

But Burrow doesn’t see it that way.

“I’m not ever going to go to somebody and say, ‘Yeah, I’m healthy, but I don’t think I should go out there and play,'” Burrow said Tuesday, ahead of his anticipated return against the Baltimore Ravens on Thanksgiving. “That doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. I’m not going to live my life and play this game scared of something happening.”

Bills add help at wide receiver, sign veteran Brandin Cooks | ESPN

The Bills added yet another veteran receiver, signing Brandin Cooks to the active roster Tuesday.

Cooks was waived by the New Orleans Saints on Saturday and cleared waivers Monday. He requested to be released, per Saints coach Kellen Moore, a process that took place over the past week.

The Bills have elevated receiver Gabe Davis from the practice squad for the past two games. Buffalo also signed receiver/returner Mecole Hardman this month, but he was placed on injured reserve with a calf injury after a fumble on his punt return in his first game with the team in Week 11.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride

Chiefs-Cowboys: 5 things to watch on Thanksgiving Day

3. Mahomes returns to the Lone Star State

A Texas native, Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be making his second home-state NFL start. It’s his first in AT&T Stadium, the site of the team he grew up cheering for. Mahomes’ first trip to Texas was against the Houston Texans in 2022; he finished with over 300 passing yards, two touchdowns and an overtime win.

The Cowboys have some new faces on defense after a busy trade deadline — but the defense still ranks 29th in total yards allowed per game in the NFL. Dallas allows 252 passing yards per game, and that rate increases to 289 yards at home.

Throughout his career, Mahomes has had elite performances playing in a dome. Against the Cowboys’ back end — which has struggled — he could be on his way to a prolific performance.