Chiefs All-Time Best Thanksgiving Game Featured A Memorable Rushing Record

It may seem strange that the Kansas City Chiefs don’t have a lot of marquee moments in Thanksgiving games, especially given how many big games quarterback Patrick Mahomes has led the Chiefs into in recent years.

In ESPN’s recent power rank rankings, though, writer Nate Taylor chose an intriguing game in a piece that also listed each team’s Thanksgiving best.

It happened back in 1996, as the Chiefs played the Detroit Lions in the early holiday window. The star of that one was Marcus Allen, who finished out his Hall of Fame career in Kansas City, and it featured Allen breaking the all-time rushing record of legendary fellow running back Walter Payton.

The touchdown mattered, too. Allen had 73 yards rushing in that game to go with two touchdowns, with the record breaker coming in the first quarter on a one-yard dive. It was the 111th touchdown of Allen’s career, and it helped Kansas City beat the Lions 28-24. The win helped erase the sting of the Chiefs’ Thanksgiving the year before, when they lost to the Dallas Cowboys.

The stats and boxscore from that game definitely have some other interesting games. The Lions were led by Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders, who rushed for 77 yards on 20 carries along with a touchdown. Detroit’s quarterback back then was the much-maligned Scott Mitchell, a left-hander who was basically a turnover waiting to happen.

The Chiefs quarterback that day wasn’t, however. Kansas City was led by none other than Rich Gannon, who went 15-for-18 for 120 yards and two scores. Allen was crucial on the ground, with fellow running back Greg Hill also leading the way with 103 yards on 17 carries.

It’s safe to say the Kansas City offense will be a lot more wide open with Mahomes taking snaps, and the Chiefs know they’ll have to score to keep up with the Cowboys offense, which will be led by quarterback Dak Prescott. The Cowboys also beefed up their pass rush at the trade deadline, so Mahomes will have to be at his usual best against pressure for the Chiefs to win this one.

Both teams come into this one beat up, however. Receiver Rashee Rice turned up on the injury list with the quick turnaround after last week’s win over the Indianapolis Colts, and so did Mahomes. Running back Isiah Pacheco will make his much anticipated return from a knee injury in a game that both teams desperately need.