Things got underway at Arrowhead Stadium and immediately saw the Kansas City Chiefs landing blows in all three phases of the game — quickly stopping Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys on their first offensive possession of the day before marching down the field to draw first blood with a touchdown. The TD also wasn’t lacking for pizzazz, with All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce taking a direct snap into the end zone from 4 yards out. Things haven’t gotten much better for the Cowboys from there, either.

Prescott saw a couple of overthrows mix in with receiver drops, penalties and missed blocks for a pot luck of poor play headlined by a sack fumble by Frank Clark that was recovered by Chris Jones — leading to a Chiefs field goal. Avoiding any early talk of a possible shutout, however, were the Cowboys with a field goal on a drive that stalled due to a false start by starting right tackle La’el Collins, in a game that’s seen Dallas play shaky throughout the first quarter.

The second session started much like the one before it, with Mahomes driving his offense down the field to enjoy another TD created by a trick play, but this time it was running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire taking the snap and faking the toss to Mahomes before running it in himself. With the ball back in their grasp, the Cowboys again found ways to shoot themselves in the foot, and with many of the same aforementioned bullets — i.e., drops, penalties.

The Chiefs are in full control at this point, but considering the Cowboys have seen it all before in 2021, they can ill-afford to do anything short of pushing the accelerator through the floor. If they peel back even a little, and Prescott and/or the Cowboys defense catch fire, the tide will turn quickly in the second half. The sack-fumble by Micah Parsons on Mahomes late in the second quarter serves as a warning, even if Prescott did throw an interception to Charvarius Ward not long after to end the half.

Don’t touch that dial folks, because the second half will be one to watch.