By MATT PIKE
The struggles the Kansas City Chiefs have historically had against the Indianapolis Colts continued on Sunday Night Football. However, for a second consecutive season the Chiefs claimed an overtime victory against the Colts.
While the Chiefs outgained the Colts in total yards 523 to 329, through regulation Kansas City struggled to contain the offensive attack of Indianapolis and star running back Jonathan Taylor, who the Chiefs did manage to hold under 100 yards rushing on the night, but did let the tailback find the endzone twice. Daniel Jones threw for over 200 yards with a score as well, but also was picked off once by the Chiefs defense in the loss.
Jones one touchdown in the air started the scoring in the first quarter on a one yard touchdown pass to Tyler Warren. Kansas City was only able to answer with a 46 yard field goal from Butker, but following the field goal Kristian Fulton got his first interception as a Kansas City Chief setting up a 13 yard touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes to Travis Kelce to give Kansas City a 10-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Sunday night looked like vintage Kelce on the field with nine catches for 101 yards and a score. After Monday's milestone passing Jason Witten, Kelce added two more to his resume, tying Rob Gronkowski for the most games with 100 receiving yards and a touchdown, and becoming the top receiver with the most yards after catch in NFL history, passing Marshall Faulk.
Kelce says he had no idea he was near the mark and says its pretty cool to be among some of the best players that have played in the league.
"To be in the talks with guys like Marshall Faulk, Larry Fitzgerald, Terrell Owens, that's some pretty cool stuff man," Kelce tells reporters after the game. "Those are the guys that I grew up watching, and I don't mean to make Larry feel old but he was my first college football game, so guys like that fuel my love for this game, so to be in the same talks as them or to accomplish a feat that they did is pretty cool."
Former Chiefs kicker Spencer Shrader gave the Colts the lead in the second quarter hitting field goals of 42 and 49 yards. Kansas City did have an opportunity to take the lead following the 42 yard field goal, but the drive ended with Butker missing a 51 yard attempt. After Shrade gave Indianapolis a 13-10 lead, the Chiefs struck back stealing the lead again on Mahomes second touchdown pass of the night, a one yard strike to Xavier Worthy. The Colts took a lead into the halftime break however, Taylor breaking a 24 yard run for a 20-17 lead.
After honoring and inducting linebacker Derrick Johnson into the Chiefs Ring of Honor at halftime, Kansas City took the field and opened the second half with the ball. The Chiefs put together a 14 play drive, which included a three yard run by nose tackle Khyris Tonga to convert a fourth and one, ending the drive with Mahomes finding Jalen Royals for another one yard touchdown pass, the first of Royals career.
After not catching a touchdown in his rookie season, having just two catches in seven games, Royals says it felt amazing to finally grab his first score.
"Once in a lifetime opportunity, always your first touchdown is the best touchdown, so its amazing," Royals says. "I was the last read in the progression and he threw it to me, kind throw it to Noah (Gray) a little bit, but a touchdowns a touchdown."
Royals touchdown was the lone score of the third quarter and in the fourth Butker extended the lead hitting a 28 yard field goal, making it 27-20. The Colts used a nearly nine minute drive to tie the game with Taylor's second rushing score of the night from five yards out, and from there both teams traded punts and went to overtime.
Starting with the ball in the extra quarter, Butker hit a 31 yard field goal for the lead, setting up the Colts possession. Kansas City nearly ended the game on a big defensive play Jones completing a 48 yard pass to Laquon Treadwell, however initially Nohl Williams forced the ball out of Treadwell's hands after the receiver got up from the ground, the play called a fumble that would have won the Chiefs the game.
Indianapolis would end up with a fourth and eight, initially lining up as if they were going to attempt to go for the win, calling a timeout and sending Shrader on to tie the game with a 38 yard kick. From there Kansas City drove down the field, and with one second on the clock set Butker up to hit the game winning field goal, which sailed down the middle from 40 yards out for the victory
Butker says games like this one are games that you never get tired of playing in.
"That's why you play, I mean I think the practices can get monotonous, but to have the butterflies and the nerves on gamedays, and have game winning kicks, that's why you play football especially as a kicker, makes you feel alive and I love it," Butker says. "I don't like it, but then I do when you do well after the game."
Mahomes finished 32-for-47 through the air for 382 yards and three touchdowns adding two rushes for 17 yards. Kenneth Walker ran 24 times for 117 yards and caught six passes for 61 yards. Following Kelce as the leading receiver was Tyquan Thornton with four catches for 86 yards and Rashee Rice with four catches for 83 yards. Worthy had five catches for 25 yards and a score.
Kansas City is now 2-0 on the season, still tied with the Las Vegas Raiders early for the top spot in the AFC West. The Chiefs hit the road for the first time this season on Sunday traveling to Miami to face the Dolphins with kickoff at noon. Pregame will air at 11am on 92.7 FM.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.