The Colts had the Chiefs right where they wanted them in overtime Sunday night, and then they let Patrick Mahomes off the hook.
Indianapolis had a chance to finish Kansas City after a wild sequence that nearly ended with a miraculous pass being ruled a fumble. Momentum was squarely on the Colts’ side, and the ball was in the red zone.
But the Chiefs’ defense tightened up and forced a 4th-and-8. From there, Shane Steichen had a choice: chase the win or settle for the tie.
He chose the latter.
That decision sent the game to a second chance for Kansas City, and that was all Mahomes needed. The Chiefs’ offense moved down the field and finished the job with the game-winning field goal, escaping with a last-second overtime victory on Sunday Night Football to go to 2-0. The Colts fell to 0-2.
It was the kind of moment that invites instant regret. Steichen is already under pressure in Indianapolis, and this was a spot that called for conviction. Instead, the Colts played cautiously, and in the end they got the result that usually comes with that approach.
Mahomes, meanwhile, looked like himself again. He had been wheeling and dealing all night, and Steichen handed him one more shot to close it out. Against Mahomes, that’s a dangerous gift.
If the situation had been flipped, Andy Reid almost certainly would have attacked the fourth down without blinking. That’s part of the difference.
Reid has three Super Bowl wins and the freedom that comes with them. He doesn’t coach scared.
In Other News...
Chiefs Just Gave Season Ticket Holders Another Reason To Brag
Season-ticket members around Kansas City are opening their latest annual perk from the Chiefs, and this one has a little more swagger than a typical thank-you gift. The team sent out red wool varsity jackets with a vintage look, a nod to the kind of old-school style that fits a franchise that has spent years turning Arrowhead into one of the leagues loudest and most recognizable stages.
It is the sort of giveaway that does more than fill a closet, because these gifts have become part of the conversation among NFL fans as teams look for ways to reward their most loyal buyers. Chiefs supporters were already quick to share their reactions on social media, and with a jacket like this, the bragging rights may last well beyond the first wear. [Read more 🡒]
Andy Reid Had The Perfect Reaction To A Caitlin Clark Chiefs Nod
Caitlin Clarks recent Chiefs nod landed in the right hands, and Andy Reid made sure to acknowledge it in a way that fit both his style and the moment. The WNBA star sent the Kansas City coach a pair of her signature Nike sneakers, the Caitlin 1 in the Sea of Red colorway, a design tied to her well-known support of the Chiefs and her effort to blend her basketball journey with personal expression.
Reid responded with appreciation for the gift and took the opportunity to praise Clark as well as the WNBA, giving the exchange a little more weight than a simple celebrity handoff. For Kansas City fans, it was another reminder of how often the Chiefs have become part of a broader sports conversation, and how a nod from one of the sports biggest names can travel well beyond the football field. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Headed To Miami With Two Defensive Issues Still Lingering
The Chiefs are heading to Miami with a couple of defensive concerns still hanging around after the win over Indianapolis. Special teams penalties put the defense in awkward spots, and the pass coverage on the back end was tested enough to keep Steve Spagnuolos group from looking as buttoned up as it wants to be at this point in the season.
LJarius Sneeds day in coverage drew attention, and the front four did not provide the kind of relief Kansas City usually leans on, finishing without a sack against the Colts. Spagnuolo has been vocal about Sneeds talent, but the bigger issue now is whether the Chiefs can tighten the coverage and generate more pressure before a tougher test in Miami forces those flaws into the spotlight again. [Read more 🡒]