Chiefs' Late Game Comeback In Week 12 May Have Just Saved Their Season

The Kansas City Chiefs improved to 6-5 after their late game comeback 23-20 win in overtime over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12.

Down 11 in the fourth quarter, Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt punched the ball in on a two-yard rush followed by a Rashee Rice two-point conversion to make it a 20-17 Colts lead halfway through the fourth. Kicker Harrison Butker nailed a 25-yard chip shot field-goal to send the game into overtime as time expired.

After Kansas City’s defense stopped the Colts’ attempt to score, they chewed clock until Butker drilled another short field-goal for the win.

This was a must win game for the Chiefs who entered the week as the ninth seed in the American Football Conference playoff picture, behind the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans. Even after the win, however, the Chiefs fell to the 10th seed, now also chasing the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Kansas City can’t worry about seeding right now, they have to control what they can control. The Chiefs must win out for their best chance to sneak into the postseason. Still, this win over a great Colts team may have saved the season (for now).

“Finally, in their sixth attempt this season, the Chiefs won a one-score game. Prior to Sunday, the Chiefs' biggest comeback was from a seven-point deficit in the first quarter against the Ravens in Week 4,” ESPN’s Nate Taylor wrote Sunday. “In the final two quarters Sunday, the Chiefs looked like the version of the team they believed they could be. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was excellent on critical downs and the offensive line did plenty for running back Kareem Hunt, who finished with 104 rushing yards. The defense, led by longtime coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, blitzed Colts quarterback Daniel Jones effectively to force four consecutive three-and-outs.”

The first one-score victory that has eluded the Chiefs all season long finally came on Sunday, and it couldn’t have come at a more opportune time.

“‘This is exactly what we needed, to win against a really good team and the game is not going your way,’ Mahomes said after the game. ‘You could've folded in that situation -- and kind of the rest of the season -- but guys responded. ... It was a do-or-die type of thing. Guys made plays happen.’”

The Chiefs will look to build on this performance on Thanksgiving when they take on the Dallas Cowboys on the road in Week 13.