The Chiefs had a number of opportunities to beat the Cowboys, but somehow all of those opportunities went the Cowboys’ way in a 31-28 loss for Kansas City on Sunday.

The Chiefs jumped out to a 14-3 lead thanks to two touchdown runs from Larry Johnson in the first and second quarter. His first score came on an 11-yard run with 9:32 to go in the first quarter. He struck again with a one-yard dive with 5:19 to go in the half.

Despite the early dominance, the Cowboys weren’t ready to give up. Dallas quarterback Drew Bledsoe connected with Terry Glenn on a 71-yard flea-flicker and cut the Chiefs’ lead to 14-10 with the extra point.

Kansas City’s first dose of misfortune came on the next drive and they were courtesy of two former Chiefs.. The Chiefs drove the ball from their own 14-yard line to the Dallas nine, when Trent Green was hit by Scott Fujita. The hit forced a fumble, which, Marcus Spears retrieved and ran 59 yards to the Kansas City 26 yard line. Three plays later the Cowboys scored on a 26-yard pass from Drew Bledsoe and Dallas took a 17-14 lead at half time.

The late lapses didn’t affect the Chiefs to start the second quarter, as the defense held the Cowboys to a three-and-out and the offense responded with a nine-play, 88-yard touchdown drive that culminated in Larry Johnson’s 21-yard touchdown run. That capped his first three-touchdown game of his career. Johnson finished with 143 yards rushing on the day. That gave Kansas City a 21-17 lead.

Dallas later took the lead in the fourth quarter with an 88-yard drive that came close to being a touchdown for the Chiefs when Patrick Surtain dropped a tipped pass at the Kansas City 10. The ball came right to him and had Surtain held on to it, he would have had a clear path to the end zone. Two plays later, Bledsoe hit Glenn for a six-yard touchdown pass. The Cowboys regained the lead at 24-21.

Later in the fourth, the Chiefs grabbed their final lead of the game with a an 80-yard drive that was capped by Trent Greene’s 47-yard touchdown pass to Eddie Kennison. With 3:55 to go in the game, Kansas City led 28-24.

Dallas took over on the Kansas City 32 yard line and methodically marched down the field. The Cowboys were faced with third and goal from the six yard line, when Greg Wesley was called for holding Keyshawn Johnson on an incomplete pass attempt. The, officials got the call right, but charge the wrong player. Derrick Johnson was actually the guilty party. Regardless, it gave the Cowboys a new set of downs and they scored two plays later on a pass from Bledsoe to Dan Campbell with 22 seconds to go.

But the Chiefs weren’t done yet. Trent Green completed a 14 yard pass to Samie Parker and a 34 yard pass to Dante Hall to get the Chiefs to the Cowboys 24 yard-line. Lawrence Tynes line up for a 41-yard field goal with 41 seconds to go, but missed right as time expired.

Trent Green finished 20-of-32 for 340 yards passing and a touchdown with no interceptions. Drew Bledsoe was 22-of-34 for 332 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

With the loss, the Chiefs are now in a pack of three teams fighting for the third wild card spot. Kansas City, San Diego and Pittsburgh are all 8-5.