After Hunt's efforts, Mahomes then found wide receiver Rashee Rice for a successful two-point conversion, and mere moments after Indianapolis looked poised to put the game away, Kansas City was only down three points.
The two teams then traded punts across the following two possessions before the Chiefs – beginning at their own 3-yard line – embarked on a 15-play, 87-yard series that ended with a 25-yard, game-tying field goal as time expired in regulation. The possession included a 47-yard strike from Mahomes to Rice, who turned a 2nd-and-13 deep in Kansas City territory into a drive that had palpable momentum.
Mahomes then found Rice again – this time for 19 yards on 4th-and-3 – to move the chains and move into reasonable field goal range for Butker, who tied the game a handful of snaps later.
It was all part of a tremendous game for Rice, who tallied eight catches for 141 yards – 132 of which took place in the second half – as Kansas City racked up 494 yards of offense and 33 first downs. A handful of missed miscues, including a 1-for-6 mark in the red zone, meant that the Chiefs didn't translate the vast majority of that production to the scoreboard, but despite some early struggles, Rice's efforts and, ultimately, Butker's 25-yard kick – his fourth of the day – sent the game to overtime.
"[Rice] stepped up and made plays happen," Mahomes said. "He wants to be great, and he wants to be that guy in that moment."