The Kansas City Chiefs didn’t just win on Sunday—they rewrote the script. Down 20-9 with less than 15 minutes left, the Chiefs mounted a comeback so improbable, so physically draining for their opponents, that it left fans breathless and analysts scrambling for words. On , at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Patrick Mahomes threw for a season-high 352 yards, rallied his team from an 11-point deficit, and handed the Indianapolis Colts their most crushing loss of the season—a 23-20 overtime defeat that could redefine both teams’ playoff trajectories.
From Collapse to Clutch: The Fourth Quarter That Changed Everything
The Colts entered the fourth quarter looking like playoff-bound juggernauts. With an 8-3 record and the league’s top-ranked offense, they’d built a 20-9 lead behind two touchdown passes from Daniel Jones and a steady, if unspectacular, ground game. But then, everything unraveled.
Over the final 14:41, the Colts’ offense went silent. Three-and-outs. Missed assignments. A running back—Jonathan Taylor, who’d rushed for 58 yards on 16 carries—was handed the ball just three times in the final two quarters. As Sports Illustrated put it, the play-calling was “questionable.” The result? A total offensive freeze. The Chiefs, meanwhile, kept the ball for 42 minutes and 35 seconds—nearly 17 minutes longer than Indianapolis. They ran 91 offensive plays. The Colts ran 50.
“They were gassed,” said one anonymous Colts defensive lineman after the game. “We were on the field for over 40 minutes. You can’t expect guys to make tackles when their legs are gone.”
Mahomes, Butker, and the Magic of Momentum
With 41 seconds left in regulation and the Chiefs facing 4th-and-8 at their own 32-yard line, Patrick Mahomes launched a 42-yard dart to Rashee Rice. A pass interference call on Colts cornerback Charvarius Ward (returning from injury) gave Kansas City a first down at the 25. Three plays later, Harrison Butker nailed a 41-yard field goal to tie it.
Then came overtime. The Chiefs won the toss. Mahomes went 4-for-4, including a 22-yard scramble that broke two tackles. Rice caught two of those passes—18 yards, then 14—setting up Butker’s 27-yard game-winner. The stadium erupted. The Colts’ sideline stayed silent.
“That’s just who he is,” said Chiefs head coach Andy Reid afterward. “He doesn’t need a script. He writes his own.”
The Defense That Refused to Break
For all the talk of Mahomes, the real story was the Chiefs’ defense. Coordinated by Steve Spagnuolo, they held the league’s most potent offense to just 255 total yards—the Colts’ lowest output of the season. They forced four sacks, two turnovers, and held Indianapolis to 5-of-13 on third downs. The Colts’ offense, which averaged 32.1 points per game, was held to 13 in the second half.
“We knew if we could just hold them to field goals, we’d have a shot,” said linebacker Nick Bolton. “They were running everything. We just had to outlast them.”
Playoff Implications: A Life Preserver and a Life Sentence
The win improved the Chiefs to 6-5, keeping them alive in the AFC playoff race. They now trail the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Chargers by one game in the standings. With three games left—including a Week 14 showdown against the Bills—their path is narrow but not impossible.
For the Colts, the loss is catastrophic. At 8-3, they’re still in the playoff picture—but their margin for error has vanished. They’ve now lost two of their last three games, including a brutal home defeat to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 10. Their offense, once unstoppable, looks disjointed. And the clock is ticking.
“This isn’t just a loss,” said Shane Steichen, the Colts’ head coach. “It’s a wake-up call.”
What Happened to Jonathan Taylor?
The most baffling decision of the night wasn’t the play-calling—it was the absence of Jonathan Taylor. The NFL’s leading rusher in 2024, Taylor had 16 carries for 58 yards before the fourth quarter. Then, nothing. Three carries in the final 20 minutes. The Colts’ offense became predictable: Jones, Jones, Jones. And the Chiefs’ defense, tired but disciplined, ate it up.
“It’s like they forgot he existed,” said former Colts running back Edgerrin James on ESPN. “You don’t abandon the guy who’s been your engine all season just because you’re ahead.”
What’s Next?
The Chiefs host the Denver Broncos in Week 13, then travel to face the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers in their final two games. They need to win two of three to have a realistic shot at the playoffs.
The Colts, meanwhile, face the Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings before closing at home against the Tennessee Titans. If they lose one of those, their season could unravel.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Patrick Mahomes manage to lead such a comeback against a top defense?
Mahomes thrived under pressure by exploiting the Colts’ fatigued secondary, especially after forcing them into 40+ minutes of defensive play. His 91-yard drive in the final 3:25 of regulation included three completions over 15 yards and a critical scramble on 3rd-and-12. His ability to extend plays and find open receivers—especially Rashee Rice—was the difference. He completed 27 of 41 passes with zero interceptions, and his 352 yards were his most since Week 4.
Why did the Colts stop using Jonathan Taylor in the fourth quarter?
Despite Taylor’s 58 yards on 16 carries, head coach Shane Steichen shifted entirely to Daniel Jones, attempting 17 passes in the final 20 minutes. Analysts believe Steichen feared turnovers and wanted to move the ball quickly, but it backfired. Taylor was the only player with a consistent ability to convert third downs, yet he was targeted just three times in the second half. The decision has sparked widespread criticism from former players and analysts alike.
What does this loss mean for the Colts’ playoff chances?
The Colts now sit at 8-3, tied for the 5th seed in the AFC, but their tiebreakers are slipping. They’ve lost two of their last three, and their strength of schedule has weakened. With only four games left, they need to win at least three—including against the Vikings and Titans—to stay in contention. A loss in Week 13 to the Cardinals could knock them out of the top six entirely.
Is this the most dramatic comeback in Chiefs history?
It’s among the top five. The Chiefs have won multiple games from 15+ point deficits since 2018, including a 28-point comeback against the Texans in 2020. But this one stands out because of the opponent’s quality and the sheer exhaustion of the defense. The 42:35 time of possession is the highest by any Chiefs team since 2019, and the 11-point deficit erased in under 15 minutes is their largest comeback since 2021.
How did Harrison Butker perform under pressure?
Butker was perfect under pressure. He made all four of his field goal attempts, including the 41-yarder to tie the game with 41 seconds left and the 27-yard winner in overtime. He’s now 22-for-23 on field goals this season, with 11 game-winning or game-tying kicks since 2022. His calmness in high-leverage moments has made him one of the most reliable kickers in NFL history.
What’s the significance of Charvarius Ward’s return?
Ward’s return marked his first game back after missing six weeks with a hamstring injury. He was paired with Sauce Gardner, forming one of the NFL’s most talented cornerback duos. But on the game’s most critical play, Ward was called for pass interference on a 42-yard throw to Rashee Rice—a controversial call that gave the Chiefs life. While he played well overall, the penalty may haunt him as the team reviews film.