Chiefs Rally From 11-Point Deficit to Beat Colts 23-20 in OT on Butker's Fifth Field Goal

When the Kansas City Chiefs trailed the Indianapolis Colts by 11 points in the third quarter on Sunday, November 23, 2025, few expected a comeback. But then came the fourth quarter. And overtime. And Harrison Butker — cool, calm, and clutch — drilling his fifth field goal of the day to seal a 23-20 win at GEHA FIELD AT ARROWHEAD STADIUM. The victory wasn’t just a win. It was a lifeline. The Chiefs, at 6-5, clawed back into playoff contention. The Colts, once the AFC South’s undisputed leaders at 8-3, suddenly looked vulnerable.

How the Game Unfolded: A Slow Start, Then a Surge

The first half felt like a mismatch. The Colts, led by quarterback Anthony Richardson, moved the ball with precision, scoring two touchdowns in the first half — one on a 42-yard run by running back Jonathan Taylor, another on a 17-yard slant to wideout Zay Flowers. They led 14-9 at halftime. Meanwhile, the Chiefs looked disjointed. Their offense stalled repeatedly. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was under pressure, and the offensive line gave up three sacks in the first two quarters. Butker’s two field goals kept them within striking distance.

The third quarter was a ghost town. No points. No momentum. Just silence from Arrowhead’s usually roaring crowd. The Colts added a field goal to go up 20-9. It looked like Indianapolis was going to cruise to their ninth win. But here’s the thing: the Chiefs don’t quit. Not when Mahomes is on the field. Not when Butker’s leg is still warm.

The Turnaround: Fourth Quarter Fireworks

With 9:17 left in the fourth, Mahomes found tight end Travis Kelce on a 28-yard crossing route. Two plays later, Isiah Pacheco — despite being listed with a knee injury — burst through the line for a 15-yard touchdown. The extra point cut the lead to 20-17. The crowd stirred. Then, with 2:41 left, Kansas City Chiefs defense forced a three-and-out. Mahomes took over. A 45-yard bomb to rookie receiver Davey Liggins set up Butker’s fourth field goal — a 47-yarder — tying the game at 20-20 with 0:42 on the clock.

Overtime. No coin toss drama — the Chiefs won it, and Mahomes didn’t waste a snap. A 12-yard scramble. A 14-yard pass to Kelce. Then, with 3:18 left in OT, Butker lined up for his fifth. 42 yards. Clear skies. No wind. The kick was true. Arrowhead erupted. The Chiefs had done it.

Who’s Affected? Playoff Implications Shake Up the AFC

The win moved the Kansas City Chiefs to 6-5, leapfrogging the Los Angeles Chargers (7-4) in the AFC West standings — though they still trail the Denver Broncos (9-2). More importantly, they’re now sixth in the AFC playoff race, just one game behind the fifth-seeded Tennessee Titans and within striking distance of the final wild card spot.

For the Indianapolis Colts, the loss was a gut punch. They fell to 8-3, still atop the AFC South, but their path to the top seed just got harder. They’re now 2-3 on the road — a glaring weakness. Their defense, which had allowed just 18.4 points per game entering the match, gave up 23 in the final 25 minutes. The message from the locker room? “We let them back in,” said cornerback Julian Blackmon. “That’s on us.”

How to Watch: Broadcast and Streaming Details

The game aired live on CBS, drawing a 9.1 national rating — one of the highest for a Week 12 matchup this season. Streaming options were plentiful: Paramount+ carried the feed nationally, while NFL+ offered mobile-only access for Colts fans, starting at $6.99/month. The Chiefs’ official site promoted NFL+ as the only way to catch “every playoff game and the Super Bowl on your phone.”

YouTube also hosted a fan-driven “NFL Sunday Football LIVE Play by Play and Watch Party,” with over 420,000 concurrent viewers. “This was an AFC showdown with massive stakes,” the stream’s description read. “Rhino Nation didn’t sleep.”

What’s Next? The Chiefs’ Tough Road to the Postseason

Now, the Kansas City Chiefs face a brutal stretch. They travel to Dallas on Thanksgiving Day (November 27, 2025) to face the Dallas Cowboys — a 7-4 team with a top-5 defense — before returning home to host the Houston Texans on December 7. Both games are winnable, but neither is easy. The Cowboys are playoff-bound. The Texans, while 6-5, have a dangerous defense and a rookie QB in Jayden Daniels who’s playing like a veteran.

Meanwhile, the Indianapolis Colts host the Carolina Panthers next Sunday. They need to win out to keep pace with the Broncos and avoid a wild card battle.

Behind the Scenes: Injury Updates and Coaching Moves

One of the biggest storylines entering the game was the status of Isiah Pacheco. Listed as “considered...” in injury reports, he played 18 snaps — just enough to make an impact on the game-winning drive. His knee looked stiff, but he didn’t miss a carry. Head coach Andy Reid said afterward: “He’s a warrior. We knew what we were getting. He gave us everything.”

On the other sideline, Colts head coach Jeff Saturday admitted his team “lost focus” in the final quarter. “We played scared to lose,” he said. “They played to win.”