Chiefs vs Colts.
A birthay present to go to the game.
First game with my whole family.
The season hangs in the balance as the Chiefs are 5-5 entering the game.
Only my 2nd time seeing Mahomes. Last time was a loss vs the Colts.
Let's do this.
Before the game, I dragged my family to see the Lombardi trophies. The last time I was in this stadium was in 2019. I took pictures of the singular trophy. Nobody was around it. Nobody cared.
Well now we've got four.
And it was crowded! Hard to get a good picture, but worth it!
Section 346, Row 26, Seats 1-4. Great seats. A little high and far, but I could still see well.
Colts get the first posession. Helped by some penalties, the Chiefs force a punt. Mahomes takes over from his own 4 yard line.
2nd play of the game for the Chiefs: ball tipped, interception. Colts score immediately. We're 7 minutes into the game and the Colts are up 7-0 even though the defense got a stop. It's a bad feeling.
Chiefs get a good drive going and make Red Zone Appearance #1. I'm really hoping for a touchdown before the end of the quarter, so it will be on the near end zone to us. On 2nd and Goal from the 4, direct snap to Kelce in shotgun. It's a weird feeling in the stands when they shift into a trick play formation. Lots of apprehension.
I warned my kids that this could happen and it literally ruins what would have been such an exciting moment.
Not only does it erase the touchdown, but the 15 yard penalty ensures it will be a field goal. Colts up 7-3.
Ensuing drive, Colts go 75 yards for a score with the help of a 48-yard pass. It's 14-3 Colts with 10 minutes to go in the first half. Feels like this could be a blowout.
Next drive Chiefs have a 4th and 1 on their own 43. Andy goes for it. Gets it. But it leads only to a field goal attempt. Colts 14-6.
Chiefs get a 3rd and 1 stop for no gain. 4th and 1 and the Colts line up for it. Crowd going nuts. Colts try to draw offside and they can't. Punt it back.
On the same play Chiefs get a 17-yard Kelce catch and a face mask. Go from the 41 to the 12. Red Zone Appearance #2. Chiefs have 1st and goal from the 6.
A touchdown here makes it a 1-point game at the half.
But after a good drive, the Chiefs can't punch it in. Halftime: Colts 14, Chiefs 9.
When you're at the game, all the stuff about the season fades away. You're not thinking about a playoff spot. You just want to win a game. The Colts were the better team in the first half. So many missed opportunities for KC. This could still turn into a Colts blowout, or the Chiefs could rally with the ball coming out to start the 3rd quarter.
Chiefs go 3 and out to start the 3rd quarter.
Indy gets a field goal. Chiefs face a 4th and 3 on their own 43. They're down 17-9 with 6 minutes to go in the 3rd. Andy punts it away. The crowd boos, they want Andy to go for it.
Colts go on a 69-yard drive. They've got 1st and goal from the 7 but the Chiefs make a defensive stand. Colts settle for 3. Colts 20, Chiefs 9. 1 minute to go in the 3rd.
I tell my family: this drive is touchdown or bust. If we get a touchdown we're still in this. If we can't it's over.
42 yard pass to Rashee Rice makes Red Zone Appearance #3. There is hope!
2 plays later, Kareem Hunt gets inside the 10 and fumbles.
Colts take over. It is at this point, when hope seems lost. Win probabability says 86% for the Colts but honestly that seems low.
I'm sitting here thinking we're not even going to see the Chiefs score a meaningful touchdown.
So I'm kinda resigned to accepting a loss at this point. Chris Jones, however is not. He's on the field, and he's urging the crowd to get pumped up. And somehow, the KC defense forces a 3 and out. Chiefs return the punt to the KC 44.
The fumble cost the Chiefs 50 yards of field position, but only a minute on the clock.
There's another personal foul against the Chiefs that wipes away a 20+ yard pass.
But Chiefs keep going, make Red Zone Apperance #4.
With 8:37 to go in the game, Kareem Hunt jumps over the line and we get to see our first Chiefs touchdown. It was on the near end zone to us, great view for us.
Prior to the conversion, Colts are up 20-15. I think you go for one here. My logic, very possible that the Colts still get a field goal. You miss this 2pt and then you have to go for a 2pt in that situation and it's too early to be chasing points. But I am not in Andy Reid's ear.
He calls a 2pt conversion pass play. And Mahomes cooks with Rice.
It's 20-17. I love it because even if we allow a field goal, I love the Chiefs down 17-23.
The Chiefs D forces a 3 and out.
Mahomes takes over down 3, 7 minutes to go. We live for this! 3 and out, punt.
The Chiefs D forces ANOTHER 3 and out.
1st and 10 from the KC 6. 94 yards from glory.
No problem. 1st and 13 from the KC 3. 97 yards from glory.
Incomplete pass.
Ummmm, 2nd and 13 from your own 3. All of that work to get back in this game, and we're two incomplete passes from punting again.
Here's who Mahomes throws to. I know it's blurry because of the whip pan, but there is a defender right behind Rice, and another in the vicinity if the ball gets tipped. Rice catches at close to full speed.
Here he is after the catch, looks like the Colts will get him around the 25.
Here he is 4 seconds later getting pushed out at the 50.
This went from a potential 3rd and long if tipped, to a almost in field goal range moment.
But we're not done with the drama.
Noah Gray catches a ball as he goes unconcious. Sets up a 4th and 3 at the Colts 43.
Chiefs are going for it.
Some people see it as a high pass to Rice. Some as a low pass to Kelce who is 8 yards beyond Rice. Either way, Rice catches and now the Chiefs are in field goal range. Red Zone Appearance #5.
1st and goal from the 2, with one minute to go. Colts have no timeouts left. From here you could do worse than 4 runs up the middle. But 1st run loses a yard. Incomplete. Sack.
Very nerve wracking knowing that any fumble or missed snap or missed kick and you're walking out with a loss. I can't believe they had 1st and goal from the 2 and couldn't punch it in.
Butker makes it. Free football.
I'm a little panicked inside that was the Chiefs best chance. If the Colts go down and score a TD in OT, it's a real regret moment.
But somehow the Chiefs D forces another 3 and out.
Chiefs face 3rd and 7 from their own 24. An incomplete and we have to punt it away.
Mahomes steps up in a nice pocket and makes a pass to Xavier, worthy of highlight reels.
And just a few plays later, Rice makes another catch to put the Chiefs in Red Zone Appearance #6.
After making us wait around for while, Butker finally kicks his field goal. So many things could go wrong, but none did.
Final: Chiefs 23, Colts 20 (OT)
By the way this was my 12th Chiefs game at Arrowhead, first overtime game.
I know how bad the long walk to the car is after losing. Then you're stuck in traffic and it's miserable.
But on the other hand, taking my kids to the first game and seeing a win like this, this is something that could stick with them for the long haul. So this felt like winning a Super Bowl.
Here were the Colts posessions:
Punt
Touchdown (3 yard drive)
Touchdown
Punt (3 and out)
(end of half)
--halftime--
Field Goal
Field Goal
Punt (3 and out)
Punt (3 and out)
Punt (3 and out)
--overtime--
Punt (3 and out)
The KC defense needed four stops in a row at the end to give the KC offense a chance to win and that's exactly what they delivered. The Chiefs lost the tunover battle 2-0. Also got zero sacks. Just stops.
Here were the Chiefs posessions:
Interception
Field Goal
Field Goal
Field Goal
--halftime--
Punt
Punt
Fumble
Touchdown
Punt
Field Goal
--overtime--
Field Goal
Chiefs were able to time it so each team got 4 posessions in the first half, but KC got 6 posessions to Indy's 5 in the second half.
Oh yeah and one more thing:
