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

The Kansas City Chiefs didn’t just win—they rewrote history. Down 17-6 in the third quarter, the Chiefs clawed back from an 11-point deficit to beat the Indianapolis Colts 23-20 in overtime on Sunday, November 23, 2025, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The hero? Harrison Butker, whose fifth field goal of the night—a 32-yarder in overtime—sealed the win. It wasn’t just a clutch kick. It was the exclamation point on a game that defied logic, injury reports, and expectations.

A Team That Shouldn’t Be This Good

Entering Week 12, the Chiefs were 5-5. Not exactly playoff fodder. But here’s the twist: all five of their wins had come by double-digit margins. No team in NFL history had ever been 5-5 with every victory by 10+ points. That’s not luck. That’s dominance masked by close losses. Against the 8-2 Colts, the Chiefs didn’t just match their record—they surpassed it. The win pushed them to 6-5, breathing life into their AFC playoff hopes with seven games left.

The Injury List That Could’ve Ended Them

Both teams were decimated. For the Colts, starting QB Anthony Richardson Sr. was listed as IR with an orbital injury—yet somehow, his return date was listed as November 23, the day of the game. He didn’t play. Backup Matt Gay (who replaced injured kicker Spencer Shrader) did his best, but without Richardson’s mobility, the offense sputtered. The Colts’ defensive line was gutted too: DeForest Buckner (neck), Jaylon Carlies (ankle), and Mike Hilton (shoulder) were all out. They were playing with a roster held together by duct tape and hope.

The Chiefs weren’t much better. Isiah Pacheco, their leading rusher, was out with a torn MCL. Xavier Worthy, their fastest receiver, was questionable. And Nazeeh Johnson, their starting safety, was on IR. Yet Patrick Mahomes, despite being under constant pressure, orchestrated drives like a veteran conductor. Travis Kelce? He was everywhere. A 25-yard reception on third down? Flagged for pass interference at the nearside 36-yard line. The call didn’t just extend the drive—it shifted momentum.

Butker’s Masterclass

Harrison Butker didn’t just kick field goals—he built a cathedral of composure. His first came early. Then another. Then a third. And a fourth. With 1:12 left in regulation, the Chiefs trailed 20-17. Fourth and 5 at the Colts’ 25-yard line. No timeouts. Mahomes took the snap, rolled right, and fired a dart to JuJu Smith-Schuster. They got the first down. Butker lined up for a 42-yarder to tie it. The snap. The hold. The kick. Good. Overtime.

The coin toss went to the Colts. They ran three plays. A 7-yard pass. A 3-yard run. A sack. Three-and-out. Kansas City got the ball back. Eight plays. Six minutes. Butker, again. 32 yards. No wind. No pressure. Just ice in his veins. The kick was true. The crowd exploded. The Chiefs won 23-20.

What This Means for the AFC Race

The Colts dropped to 8-3. Their path to a top-two seed just got rocky. They’re now tied with the Bills and Ravens, but their lack of a true QB presence looms large. Without Richardson, they’re a one-dimensional team. And they know it.

For the Chiefs, this was more than a win. It was proof. Proof that even without Pacheco, without Worthy, without their safety, they can still win ugly. They can still grind. They can still rely on Butker, Kelce, and Mahomes to do what they’ve done for years: make the impossible look routine.

Behind the Numbers

- Butker’s five field goals tied the Chiefs’ single-game record, last set in 2018 by Cairo Santos. - The 11-point comeback was Kansas City’s largest since 2020. - Mahomes threw for 247 yards, no touchdowns, but zero interceptions. - Kareem Hunt, playing through a sore hamstring, rushed for 78 yards on 18 carries—his most since Week 4. - Ashton Dulin, the Colts’ underrated receiver, caught five passes for 54 yards, his most in a game this season.

What’s Next?

The Chiefs host the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 13. A win there would put them firmly in the playoff conversation. The Colts travel to Houston to face the Texans—a game that could define whether they’re a playoff team or just a good team with a bad quarterback situation.

Historical Context: The 5-5 Paradox

The idea of a 5-5 team winning every game by double digits sounds like a statistical glitch. But it’s real. The Chiefs lost to the Bills by 3, the Bengals by 6, the Chargers by 8, the Broncos by 9, and the Texans by 1. All close. All heartbreaking. And yet, they beat the Steelers by 14, the Dolphins by 16, the Packers by 11, the Titans by 12, and the Lions by 10. That’s not a fluke. That’s a team with elite offensive firepower but shaky defense—and a kicker who never misses when it matters.