ClutchPoints
For 45 minutes, the Indianapolis Colts looked like a polished AFC contender. They were balanced, composed, and in total control. Football games, though, last 60 minutes. In Week 12, the Colts discovered just how brutal those final moments can be. After holding an 11-point fourth-quarter lead, Indianapolis melted down in staggering fashion. They ultimately lost, 23-20, in overtime to the Kansas City Chiefs. A defense that had frustrated Patrick Mahomes all afternoon watched its effort go to waste as the offense, led by Daniel Jones, went cold at the worst possible time.
The collapse featured everything a playoff hopeful cannot afford. Colts fans saw three-and-outs when the game needed closing out. They abandoned drives, had tight-window misses, and had questionable play-calling. Even after winning the overtime coin toss, the Colts immediately punted the ball back to Mahomes. That’s an invitation the Chiefs gratefully accepted before drilling the game-winning field goal.
Yes, Indy is still 8-3. Yes, their defense made Mahomes look mortal for long stretches. That said, this loss revealed cracks in the foundation. Suddenly, the panic meter in Indianapolis is flashing red.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss the Indianapolis Colts panic meter after offense’s 4th-quarter collapse against Chiefs.
The bitter truth is that the Colts don’t lose this game if Daniel Jones plays even average football in the fourth quarter. Indianapolis led 20-9 entering the final frame. The defense had Mahomes stuck in checkdown mode. Momentum leaned firmly toward the Horseshoe. And then, inexplicably, Jones vanished.
After Kansas City cut the deficit to three, Jones responded with a three-and-out. Then another. Another followed in overtime. At every single high-leverage moment, he missed throws. Some were near-interceptions, while others thrown behind receivers.
This wasn’t the poised, efficient Jones who had led the Colts to an 8-2 start and rebuilt his reputation into that of a legitimate franchise quarterback. This was the Giants-era version of Jones. He was hesitant, rattled, and unable to manufacture answers under pressure. Worse, the implications will likely stretch far beyond one loss.
Indy is weighing whether to commit long-term to Jones. Performances like this pour gasoline on that debate. If your $40-million-a-year quarterback disappears in the game’s most important moments, how can you trust him in January?
Panic Meter on Daniel Jones: 8/10. And growing.
If you are searching for a culprit on the defensive side, keep looking. The defense played well enough to win this game twice.
From the opening whistle, Lou Anarumo’s unit disrupted Mahomes’ rhythm. Laiatu Latu picked off Mahomes on his first throw of the afternoon. The secondary clamped down on Kansas City’s deep routes. Even with DeForest Buckner sidelined, the front found ways to muddy the pocket.
When the Chiefs reached goal-to-go with under a minute remaining, the defense delivered its finest stand of the season. They stuffed Kansas City and forced the game to overtime. Germaine Pratt’s tackle for loss, combined with airtight zone coverage,...
