Harrison Butker made a 27-yard field goal in overtime as the Kansas City Chiefs rallied for a 23-20 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.

Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs had to rally from a 20-9 deficit in the fourth quarter to force overtime. Kansas City snapped a two-game losing streak, improving to 6-5 and giving its playoff hopes a boost in the process.

According to The Athletic’s playoff simulator, the Chiefs’ chances of making the playoffs would have dropped to 37 percent with a loss. Instead, it now stands at 65 percent. Kansas City has not missed the postseason since 2014, appearing in five Super Bowls (winning three) during that span.

Indianapolis entered Sunday having won five of its last six games, but dropped to 8-3 with the loss.

A huge relief for Chiefs

Saying the Chiefs needed this win to break a curse of losing one-score contests would be an understatement.

Needing a field goal to tie or a touchdown to win, the Chiefs finally came through on their final possession to at least tie it, with Mahomes leading a 15-play, 87-yard drive that stalled inside the 5. Butker at least knocked in the field goal to send it to overtime, which gave the Chiefs a chance to win it in overtime.

Starting with 4:43 left, that final regulation drive was the exact type of moment that was Mahomes’ biggest regret from his previous loss against the Denver Broncos. K.C. went three-and-out then, but was more clutch in this scenario, with receiver Rashee Rice contributing critical 47- and 19-yard catches.

Per TruMedia, the Chiefs had fared this way on one-score drives that started in the final five minutes before Sunday: 2-for-10 passing with a sack and 28 yards. Including a penalty, K.C. ran 11 plays for a net 13 yards.

That changed Sunday, at the most opportune of moments. K.C., now 6-5, has playoff hopes fully alive, while also getting the benefit of an easier schedule the rest of the way. — Jesse Newell, Chiefs beat writer

Clean game not enough for Colts

Entering Sunday’s game, the Colts’ offense looked a little off-kilter over their last two outings. Daniel Jones was sacked 12 times and coughed up seven turnovers during that span, but against the Chiefs, he and his peers got back on track with zero turnovers or sacks.

It still wasn’t enough.

Jones and Co. jumped out to a 14-3 lead after Jones connected with wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and tight end Drew Ogletree on 6- and 4-yard touchdown passes in the first and second quarters, respectively. However, Indianapolis managed to score just six points in the second half, which ultimately left the door open for a Kansas City comeback.

The Chiefs didn’t waste their opportunity, scoring the game’s final 14 points — punctuated by Harrison Butker’s game-winning field goal in overtime — to avoid the first three-game losing streak of the Patrick Mahomes era. Meanwhile, the Colts went three-and-out on their final four possessions and failed to record a first down after the third quarter. Jones finished 19 of 31 passing for 181 yards, failing to throw for at least 200 yards for the first time this season. — James Boyd, Colts beat writer

Defensive takeover

With the Chiefs trailing 20-9 in the fourth quarter, the defense put together its best play of the season.

The Colts went three-and-out on their next four possessions (including overtime), with Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones playing his most inspired football of the 2025 campaign.

This wasn’t some podunk offense either. The Colts entered Sunday scoring on 58 percent of their offensive possessions, according to TruMedia, which, if sustained, would be the highest mark for any NFL team since at least 2000.

Colts quarterback Daniel Jones, in the fourth quarter and overtime combined, was 3-for-9 passing for 17 yards. Running back Jonathan Taylor, meanwhile, had three carries for 1 yard. — Newell

Jonathan Taylor held in check

Taylor entered Week 12 as the league’s leading rusher, but for the second time in three games, the Colts’ star running back was held below 60 rushing yards. He broke off a 27-yard run in the third quarter, though his success on the ground was few and far between as he finished with 58 yards on 16 carries. After scoring three touchdowns in three of his last four games, Taylor was also kept out of the end zone for just the fourth time this season. — Boyd

Laiatu Latu makes plays

It didn’t take long for Indianapolis’ Laiatu Latu to introduce himself to Mahomes. In the defensive end’s first game against the future Hall of Fame QB, Latu intercepted Mahomes’ first pass of the day and nearly returned it for a touchdown. Latu was tackled at Kansas City’s 3-yard line, but two plays later, the Colts got on the board thanks to a 6-yard touchdown pass from Jones to Pittman Jr.

Latu now leads the Colts with three interceptions this season, in addition to his team-high 5 1/2 sacks. He added another half sack in the second quarter, but Indy’s defense was unable to maintain its early momentum. The Colts gave up a 15-play, 87-yard game-tying drive late in the fourth quarter that was capped by a 25-yard field goal from Butker to force overtime. — Boyd

Early woes haunt Kansas City again

Mahomes put the Chiefs in a first-quarter hole, throwing a tipped interception to Latu deep in K.C.’s own territory on the team’s second offensive play.

That set the momentum for the majority of the game. The Chiefs, who fell behind 7-0, had to play catch-up, and that swing also allowed the Colts to maintain a positive game script while staying balanced with runs and passes.

Ultimately, the Chiefs still overcame the miscue in getting their first one-score win of the season. — Newell