š„ BREAKING NEWS: After dismantling the Colts, the Chiefs skyrocket in NFL Week 13 power rankings and leave rivals scrambling to catch up.QQ
This was a season-preserving win, no doubt, and Kansas City slayed the one-possession-game dragon by beating Indianapolis. The Chiefs might have won 12 one-score games a season ago, but prior to Sunday, theyād lost five straight in the 2025 campaign. And it required an 11-point comeback in the final nine minutes, with Patrick Mahomes coming up big in money spots and Kareem Hunt atoning for his fumble with a productive effort otherwise. If Kansas City can get Isiah Pacheco back, thatās great, but Hunt really seems to have reclaimed the captainās chair for now. The Chiefsā defense had a few early shaky moments, unable to get home rushing four, but Steve Spagnuolo dialed up the blitzes and smothered the Colts after halftime. Is K.C. back? For now, yeah.
ā Eric Edholm
ESPN:Ā 12
(Up from 13)
Thanksgiving game memory: Running back Marcus Allen passes Walter Payton in 1996
The Chiefs donāt have many fond memories on Thanksgiving, but Allen passed fellow Hall of Famer Walter Payton on the all-time rushing touchdowns list in Detroit. Allen recorded his 111th score on a 1-yard dive into the end zone in the first quarter. His performance, including 73 rushing yards and two touchdowns, helped the Chiefs rally for a 28-24 comeback victory over the Lions. The win was sweeter for the Chiefs after their holiday loss a year earlier to the Cowboys.
ā Nate Taylor
The Athletic:Ā 10
(Up from 16)
One big question: Can they fix the running game?
As Mike Sando outlined in his āPick Sixā column, the Chiefs rank last in the NFL in explosive run percentage and have just eight carries of 12-plus yards this season. It has made them largely dependent on the passing game, which has looked stagnant at times.
ā Josh Kendall
Sports Illustrated:Ā 8
(Up from 15)
Column here on Kansas City and what I suspect is a delightful bug in the NFLās new scheduling system.
ā Conor Orr
Pro Football Talk:Ā 13
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The team that always thrives in the playoff is firmly in playoff mode.
ā Mike Florio
CBSSports.com:Ā 11
(Up from 14)
The Patrick Mahomes magic was on full display in the comeback against the Colts. Now they face a tough turnaround on the road against the Cowboys on Thursday.
ā Pete Prisco
Yahoo! Sports:Ā 9
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The Chiefs didnāt exactly blow away the Colts, but the Colts are a good team and a win was crucial for Kansas City. A Thanksgiving game at Dallas looks a little tougher now. Itās a tricky spot on a short week, and with perhaps the biggest audience of the NFL regular season watching.
ā Frank Schwab
The Sporting News:Ā 14
(Up from 16)
The Chiefs got their old-school close one-score win over the Colts with Patrick Mahomes getting all the needed support from Kareem Hunt and the running game, plus the defense. They might have turned the corner at the ideal time ahead of a playoff push.
ā Vinnie Iyer
USA Today: 7
(Up from 9)
Must be horrible being related to a K.C. player. The team is playing on Thanksgiving and Christmas this year ā¦ though it might be on vacation by MLK Day given how things have been going, Sundayās defeat of Indy notwithstanding.
