Indianapolis Colts @ Kansas City Chiefs
Final Score: Chiefs 23, Colts 20 (OT)
Writer: Raymi Chavez
It was a playoff atmosphere in Kansas City, and this game lived up to the billing. The first half was interesting, with the Chiefs dominating time of possession and nearly doubling the Colts in offensive plays, but they were only able to muster three field goals. An early interception off a fantastic play by Laiatu Latu set the Colts up for their first touchdown. They followed that up with a clinical touchdown drive that included catches from Ashton Dulin (his fifth of the season), Mo Alie-Cox (his fifth of the season) and concluded with a touchdown pass to Drew Ogletree (his first catch of the season). The Chiefs sold out to stop Jonathan Taylor, and they were successful all game long, but Daniel Jones was able to take advantage in the first half. In the third quarter, the Chiefs were stifled again on offense, and the Colts still moved the ball down the field. However, they settled for two field goals, keeping the Chiefs barely in the game. A promising fourth-quarter drive by the Chiefs was brought to a halt when Kareem Hunt fumbled for the first time all season. The Chiefs’ defense brought the heat, forcing the Colts into three-and-outs, and the Chiefs took advantage, bringing the game into overtime and finishing off the Colts behind Hunt’s best game of the season. It was also interesting for fantasy managers, so let’s take a look at that.
Two Up
- Rashee Rice — Rice came to life in the second half. He was the only pass catcher on the Chiefs who was able to get anything going.
- Kareem Hunt — 30 carries for Hunt. The Chiefs needed a victory, and they leaned on their 30-year-old running back — who would’ve thunk it?
One Down
- Jonathan Taylor — Outside of one big run, Taylor was stifled by the Chiefs’ defensive game plan.
Indianapolis Colts
Quarterback
Daniel Jones: 19/31, 181 Yards, 2 TDs | 3 Carries, 16 Yards
Daniel Jones started red-hot, taking advantage of all the open space created by the Chiefs’ selling out to stop Jonathan Taylor. Once the second half began and the plays were less scripted, Jones started to struggle. The Chiefs dialed up the pressure, but Jones’ inaccuracy and some great hits at the time of the catch when he was accurate led to a rough finish to the game for him. Jones’ overall game was excellent. He was calm in the pocket, used his legs when needed, and was mostly very accurate until the fourth quarter. This is the fear for Colts skeptics. I wouldn’t say Jones failed, but he certainly left some plays on the table late in the game. This offense is lightning, though, and Jones will continue to be a strong fantasy quarterback (except maybe next week against the Texans).
Running Back
Jonathan Taylor: 16 Carries, 58 Yards | 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 8 Yards
Jonathan Taylor‘s second-worst output of the year was a result of the Chiefs’ entire defensive game plan revolving around stopping him. In a sense, he still made a positive impact for the team by forcing the Chiefs into soft coverage schemes, but outside of one 27-yard run, Taylor couldn’t counter the Chiefs’ plan. Outside of that run, Taylor averaged 2.1 YPC, and that’s definitely how it felt. A little concerning that this has happened in two of his last three games. Competent defenses seemed to have figured out that you can give yourself a shot by taking Taylor out of the game and if thats the theme the rest of the season it’ll be difficult for Taylor to have the same kind of fantasy impact he’s had for the majority of the season.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Michael Pittman Jr.: 8 Targets, 5 Receptions, 27 Yards, TD
Michael Pittman Jr. was popped early, connecting twice in short yardage with Jones, even a third time for 19 yards, which was called back for illegal formation. He peaked early with a touchdown following an interception that set the team up in a goal to go situation. He was quieter the next two quarters before showing back up in the fourth quarter, mostly with incompletions from badly thrown balls. He was unable to take advantage of the softer coverage schemes because the Chiefs’ defensive game plan focused on stopping Taylor.
Tyler Warren: 7 Targets, 5 Receptions, 45 Yards
Tyler Warren had one of his quieter games, doing most of his work in the third quarter once the Colts were beyond their scripted plays. Four straight games without finding the end zone is a bit of a worry, as tight ends don’t usually pop too much without some trips to the end zone.
Josh Downs: 6 Targets, 2 Receptions, 10 Yards
Josh Downs and Jones struggled to connect all day. There were a couple of plays where Downs got himself wide open, and Jones just missed him amid a myriad of pressure from the Chiefs. Back-to-back dud games for Downs have him quickly losing the flex value his three-game TD streak earned him.
Alec Pierce: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 26 Yards
Popped up early in the third quarter to set the Colts up for a field goal, but was otherwise stuffed by the Chiefs on Sunday.
Ashton Dulin: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 48 Yards
His 48-yard catch-and-run on third-and-1 was the pivotal play on the Colts’ long touchdown drive in the first half.
Drew Ogletree: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 8 Yards, TD
His first catch of the season was a toe-tap touchdown in the back of the end zone, and then he popped up again to get overtime started.
Mo Alie-Cox: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 9 Yards
Kansas City Chiefs
Quarterback
Patrick Mahomes: 29/46, 352 Yards, INT | 4 Carries, 30 Yards
The Chiefs got the pivotal victory, and Mahomes’ numbers look fine, but this was some of the worst football I have seen from him, and I am a massive Chiefs fan. He overthrew Travis Kelce twice on backyard plays that they usually make look easy. Mahomes seemed to do all he could to avoid throwing outside the numbers and even had a couple of throws that were just thrown in the wrong place. He seemed a little rushed in the pocket, and he missed checkdowns consistently. It was like he was fixated on throwing over the middle of the field, and the Colts were focused on blocking up the middle of the field. He did run when he needed to, but he got caught for a sack more often than Chiefs fans are used to seeing. Lou Anarumo has enough history playing against Mahomes to throw him off his game, so a lot of his poor play can be attributed to that.
Running Back
Kareem Hunt: 30 Carries, 104 Yards, TD, Fumble (Lost) | 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 26 Yards
Kareem Hunt put the team on his back Sunday, breaking multiple tackles for chunk plays, converting short-distance downs consistently, and throwing himself into the end zone. His fumble felt backbreaking in the moment, but they didn’t waver on him. If anything, they just leaned on him more. At this point, this running back room is his, even when Isiah Pacheco returns from injury.
Brashard Smith: 1 Carry, 5 Yards | 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 31 Yards
Brashard Smith was utilized all over the place, lining up as a receiver often. He made a massively crucial 6-yard catch in the red zone that gave the Chiefs a great shot at winning the game in regulation and allowed them to eat up the rest of the clock. He also had a 23-yard reception called back due to a boneheaded illegal blindside block penalty. Smith is slowly but surely becoming the Chiefs’ new Jerick McKinnon.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire: 5 Carries, 18 Yards | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 9 Yards
Hello, old friend. Called up to replace Elijah Mitchell, Clyde Edwards-Helaire came in to spell Hunt on some early downs throughout the game, making a couple of impactful runs.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Rashee Rice: 12 Targets, 8 Receptions, 141 Yards
Rashee Rice came to life in the second half. After two receptions for 6 yards in the first half, he finished with 141 yards on six receptions, including a 47-yard connection and another 42-yard hookup with Mahomes. Whenever the Chiefs needed a big play through the air, it felt like Mahomes found Rice. He even caught a pass sitting on his butt at the back of the end zone, but unfortunately, he was sitting out of bounds. Rice is a WR1, and with this team about to play in playoff-level intensity games the rest of the way, I would expect more of this from him.
Xavier Worthy: 8 Targets, 4 Receptions, 59 Yards
Xavier Worthy had a disappointing game, but a 30-yard hookup with Mahomes on a critical third down in overtime made it salvageable. Mahomes was looking for him all game, and they were either on the same page or Worthy failed to bring in contested catches. Had a couple moments looking a little hobbled, Worthy’s value has plummeted since Rice returned.
Travis Kelce: 6 Targets, 4 Receptions, 43 Yards | 1 Carry, 1 Yard
Travis Kelce had a quiet game, especially by his standards. He got open a couple of times on backyard plays that Mahomes just missed him on. It was a peculiar game for sure. He ran in a 3-yard touchdown in the first quarter, which was called back due to a phantom facemask call on Jawaan Taylor. That would’ve given him a good game fantasy-wise, as it is palatable in PPR leagues and mediocre in others.
Noah Gray: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 25 Yards
Noah Gray had two moments that stood out: a dropped deep ball outside from Mahomes that could have been a touchdown if he was able to bring it in, and then a vital 5-yard reception on a third down that set the Chiefs up during their game-tying drive. On that catch, he high-pointed the ball and dropped it while bringing it in, but was able to hold on with his legs while literally unconscious as his head slammed to the turf when he landed. He was able to walk off the field, and can be probably be assumed to be concussed, we’ll know more shortly.
Juju Smith-Schuster: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 8 Yards
He was open for a walk-in touchdown on his one target that didn’t result in a catch, but Mahomes had to throw the ball early due to pressure and overthrew him by a hair.
Marquise Brown: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 10 Yards