Mahomes, Butker, and Arrowhead Magic: Chiefs Steal Overtime Thriller from Colts to Stay in Playoff Hunt

On a crisp Sunday that felt more like January than November, Patrick Mahomes reminded everyone why the Chiefs are never truly dead until the clock hits triple zeros. Trailing 20-17 with 1:58 remaining, Mahomes marched 75 yards in eight plays to force overtime, then watched Harrison Butker drill a 45-yard walk-off field goal as the Colts collapsed in a heartbreaking 23-20 defeat.

The win lifts Kansas City to 7-4 and keeps the two-time defending champs breathing in a chaotic AFC West race. For Indianapolis (6-5), it was a soul-crushing missed opportunity in a season that keeps teetering between hope and heartbreak.

Mahomes in Full Clutch Mode

Mahomes finished with 352 passing yards and three touchdowns on 25-of-37 attempts (67.6%), posting a 112.4 rating while taking four sacks and—crucially—throwing zero picks. The 352 yards were his most since Week 3, and the three scores gave him 24 on the season, moving him back into the AFC lead.

Kareem Hunt, starting in place of the injured Isiah Pacheco, gouged the Colts for 104 rushing yards on 22 carries (4.7 avg.) and added the game-tying 12-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Travis Kelce (6-72) and rookie Xavier Worthy (5-68, 1 TD) did the heavy lifting through the air, while Rashee Rice chipped in four grabs for 61 yards in his return.

Butker Becomes the Hero—Again

Harrison Butker was perfect: 5-for-5 on field goals, with a long of 51 yards in regulation before the 45-yard overtime dagger—his longest game-winner since 2019. The five field goals tied a career high, and the walk-off kick marked the third time this season the Chiefs have won on a Butker boot in the final seconds or overtime.

How the Fourth Quarter Exploded

• Colts take 20-17 lead on Jonathan Taylor’s second TD (1-yard plunge) with 1:58 left
• Mahomes answers in 66 seconds: 11 plays, 75 yards, highlighted by an 18-yard strike to Kelce and a 15-yard dart to Rice on third-and-long
• Butker ties it 20-20 to force OT
• Colts win toss, go three-and-out, muff punt return
• Chiefs take over at the Indy 48 → four plays → Butker game-winner

Colts’ Ground Dominance, Fatal Mistakes

Indianapolis controlled the clock 34:12 to 25:48, rushed for 142 yards (5.1 avg.), and converted 8-of-15 third downs. Jonathan Taylor continued his monster year with 112 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries—giving him an NFL-best 15 rushing scores through 11 games.

But three turnovers killed them: two Anthony Richardson interceptions (both to Trent McDuffie in the red zone) and a muffed punt return in overtime. Richardson finished 18-of-28 for 198 yards, one TD, and the two picks.

What It Means Moving Forward

The victory snaps a two-game skid for Kansas City and gives them their league-leading third overtime win of 2025. They remain two games behind the 9-2 Chargers but hold the head-to-head tiebreaker and now carry momentum into a Thanksgiving night showdown with the Raiders.

For Indianapolis, the loss drops them into a five-team logjam for the final wild-card spots. Richardson’s turnover issues (seven INTs in his last five starts) will fuel another week of quarterback controversy, while Taylor’s brilliance feels increasingly wasted.

In the end, it was vintage Chiefs chaos: bend, wobble, then strike when it matters most. Arrowhead has seen this movie before—and as long as No. 15 is under center, the ending rarely changes.