By MATT PIKE
The Kansas City Chiefs looked much like they have all season for the first three quarters against the Indianapolis Colts. Their offense was stuck in a rut, penalties were piling up, and the reigning AFC champions' postseason hopes were growing ever dimmer.
But, In the fourth quarter and overtime, Patrick Mahomes and company finally resembled their old selves. The two-time MVP threw for a season-high 352 yards while rallying the Chiefs from an 11-point deficit, their defense forced Indianapolis to go three-and-out on its final four possessions, and Harrison Butker banged through his fifth field goal of the game from 27 yards to give Kansas City a 23-20 victory that just might have kept its playoff hopes alive.
Now, the Chiefs have some life heading into a short week. They visit Dallas on Thanksgiving Day. Meanwhile, the Colts limped home having blown a 20-9 fourth-quarter lead thanks in part to questionable play-calling and even worse execution. They went almost entirely away from running back Jonathan Taylor down the stretch, putting the game instead in the hands of Daniel Jones, and his inability to pick up even one first down in the fourth quarter and overtime proved costly.
Jones wound up with a season-low 181 yards passing and two touchdowns. He was 8 of 18 for 83 yards in the second half. Taylor, meanwhile, only carried 16 times for 58 yards in his first game since a record-setting performance against the Falcons, when the Colts star ran for 244 yards, piled up 286 from scrimmage and reached the end zone three times in an overtime win.
The Chiefs have struggled all season with turnovers at inopportune times, and another set the tone for the first half. Mahomes had a pass from his four yard line batted by Laiatu Latu, who brought it in himself for the defensive end's third pick of the season. Two players later, Jones hit Michael Pittman to give Indianapolis a 7-0 lead.
The Chiefs answered with the first of two grinding, eight-plus minute first-half drives, but each netted just a field goal, the first coming off the leg of Butker from 28 yards away. And when the Colts moved briskly downfield again, and Jones found Drew Ogletree in the back of the end zone to extend the lead. Butker hit field goals from 48 and 22 yards to put Kansas City down 14-9 at the halftime break.
The Colts were still clinging to a 20-9 lead after Michael Badgley hit field goals from 32 yards and 23 yards, as the game headed to the fourth quarter, where the tone would shift to the Chiefs advantage.
As he's done so many times Mahomes led another comeback. He marched the Chiefs 56 yards to set up Kareem Hunt's touchdown dive from two yards out, then Mahomes found Rashee Rice for a two point conversion to close within a field goal with 8:37 left to go in the game. The Chiefs defense proceeded to step up, forcing a series of three-and-outs by the prolific Indianapolis offense.
Kansas City took over after the second one with 4:43 left at its six yard line. Mahomes hit Rice for 47 yards, then he found him again on 4th-and-3 near midfield for a 19-yard gain. Hunt's dive on 3rd-and-1 to give the Chiefs first down at the Colts two yard line with a minute to go, but he was stuffed on the next play, Mahomes threw incomplete on the next, and he was sacked on third down. Butker knocked through his fourth field goal, a 25-yard chip-shot as time expired, to send the game to overtime.
After the Colts were again forced three and out to start the overtime period, Kansas City drove down the field, and the Chiefs would give Butker another chance, this time to win the game on a 22 yard field goal, improving the Chiefs record in one score games this season to 1-5.
Nearly everybody had a hand in it, too. Hunt ran 30 times for 104 yards and a score. Rice caught eight passes for 141 yards. And their defense held the league's #1 offense to just 255 yards, easily the Colts' worst output all season.
Up next, the Chiefs (6-5) visit the Cowboys on Thursday. Kickoff will be at 3:30pm with pregame airing at 2 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM) and Q Country (92.7FM).
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.