Harrison Butker has built a career on staying calm when the pressure peaks, and on Sunday, that composure once again defined the moment. With the Chiefs’ season teetering and the game knotted in overtime, the veteran kicker delivered a poised, clinical finish, drilling a 27-yard field goal that secured the Kansas City Chiefs’ 23-20 victory over the Indianapolis Colts at Arrowhead Stadium.
Butker Credits Composure in Chiefs’ Overtime Win Over Colts
Chiefs Can Rely on Butker When It Matters
By the time he lined up for his fifth field-goal attempt of the afternoon, Butker had already provided the bulk of Kansas City’s scoring. He was four-for-four in regulation, keeping the Chiefs within striking distance as they clawed back from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit. But with two minutes remaining in overtime and the game tied at 20, the stakes were significantly higher.
“My heart rate is pumping,” Butker said after the win, acknowledging that even short attempts can feel massive in moments that determine a team’s season.
Thanks to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense, the 27-yard attempt was set up perfectly. Kansas City began its overtime drive pinned at its own 10-yard line, but Mahomes guided the unit efficiently downfield. A 21-yard scramble by the quarterback and a series of methodical runs and short passes pushed the Chiefs to the Indianapolis 9, placing Butker in an optimal position to deliver the finishing blow on second down.
Colts’ Timeout Helped Him Regain Control
Despite the favorable distance, Butker admitted the pressure of the moment affected him more than most routine kicks. Yet in an unusual twist, he said the Colts may have inadvertently helped him regain control.
“They called a timeout. I think that probably helped me slow the heart rate down,” Butker said, referring to Indianapolis’ attempt to ice him before the kick.
Icing the kicker is commonplace, especially in a situation that can swing the outcome of a game and, potentially, a playoff race. Butker said the brief pause allowed him to reset, breathe, and re-center his focus. Moments later, he drilled the kick with ease.
While the timeout will undoubtedly appear as a footnote in the box score, it is hardly the moment the Colts will lament most. Their offense failed to register a first down on four straight possessions, including their lone series in overtime after winning the coin toss. Kansas City’s defense tightened when it mattered most, giving the Chiefs the opportunity to complete their comeback.
Turbulent Start to the Season
The victory also marks a continuation of Harrison Butker’s steady resurgence after a turbulent start to the season. He missed a kick, either a field goal or an extra point, in five of Kansas City’s first six games, prompting questions about consistency. Since then, he has quietly re-established reliability at a time when the Chiefs need it most. The overtime-winning kick extended Butker’s streak to 12 consecutive successful field goals dating to a Week 4 miss against the Baltimore Ravens.
Ranked 10th in the AFC with a 6-5 record, the Chiefs will have an opportunity to continue their resurgence and climb the playoff table when they host the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving.
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