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On Sunday, the (5-5) Kansas City Chiefs will host the (8-2) Indianapolis Colts on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Let’s see how the game plays out in the “Madden NFL 26” video game!
First quarter
The Chiefs receive the opening kickoff and immediately go to work on Indianapolis. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ first throw finds tight end Travis Kelce for a first down, pushing Kansas City out to its own 49-yard line.
Momentum briefly stalls after a false start on Jawaan Taylor and a three-yard loss by running back Isiah Pacheco. Facing second-and-18, Mahomes hits wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who fights his way to within a yard of the sticks. On third-and-1, Mahomes surprisingly keeps it himself, plunging forward on a quarterback dive to move the chains.
The drive fizzles from there. Mahomes misses Kelce on a third-down pass, forcing the Chiefs to settle for placekicker Harrison Butker’s field goal.
Indianapolis answers immediately. Running back Jonathan Taylor explodes for a 59-yard run on his first carry of the afternoon, flipping the field in an instant. On the very next play, Taylor gets the call again and goes untouched through the defense for a 14-yard touchdown, giving the Colts a four-point lead.
The team punts on the following drive.
End of first quarter: Colts 7, Chiefs 3
Second quarter
Indianapolis opens the quarter with a perfectly executed wheel route to Taylor, and quarterback Daniel Jones drops the throw right in stride for Taylor’s second touchdown of the game, stretching the Colts’ lead.
Mahomes answers with a steady dose of Smith-Schuster, hitting the veteran twice — first for a first down past midfield, then for a 16-yard gain. Pacheco follows with a 16-yard run of his own. But once the Chiefs reach Indianapolis’ 20-yard line, the defense stiffens, breaking up multiple passes — including one in the end zone. Kansas City settles for another Butker field goal.
The Colts’ next possession stalls near their own 48. On third-and-8, Jones takes a deep shot to wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., but safety Chamarri Conner jumps the route and nearly comes away with an interception. The drop forces an Indianapolis punt.
After the two-minute warning, Mahomes finds Smith-Schuster again on a seam-beater streak to push Kansas City into Colts territory. Two plays later, he hits wide receiver Hollywood Brown on a corner route to the 15-yard line. On the very next snap, Mahomes goes right back to Brown, who bullies cornerback Sauce Gardner and falls into the end zone.
End of second quarter: Colts 14, Chiefs 13
Third quarter
Indianapolis opens the second half with the ball and immediately goes to work. Wide receiver Josh Downs snags a quick slant from Jones and turns upfield for 22 yards, just crossing into Chiefs territory. Taylor keeps plowing through Kansas City defenders, converting a third-and-5 on a screen pass by charging straight through cornerback Jaylen Watson.
The Colts continue pushing deep into Chiefs territory, eventually reaching the 10-yard line. But their momentum vanishes when Jones forces a throw over the middle and linebacker Leo Chenal jumps it, intercepting the pass and giving Kansas City the ball at its own 6-yard line.
The Chiefs, however, cannot take advantage. The team goes three-and-out and punts the ball right back to Indianapolis.
On the ensuing Colts possession, Kansas City’s defense comes up big again. A well-timed casino blitz on third down frees linebacker Drue Tranquill, who blasts through for a sack and forces Indianapolis to punt it right back.
End of third quarter: Colts 14, Chiefs 13
Fourth quarter
The Chiefs open the quarter with possession and work their way across midfield to the Colts’ 40-yard line. On an RPO, Mahomes keeps the ball, but an Indianapolis defender comes flying in, blowing up the play and dropping him for a four-yard sack. Facing third down, Mahomes tries to extend the drive, but the ball is knocked out of Brown’s hands. Butker bails the team out, drilling a 54-yard field goal to give Kansas City its first lead since the first quarter.
Indianapolis responds by leaning heavily on Jones and Taylor, who chew up clock and yardage with their legs as they methodically march downfield.
Inside the two-minute warning — and just outside the red zone — the Colts face a third-and-2. Jones hits Pittman on a quick throw, but linebacker Nick Bolton shuts it down at the line of scrimmage. Kicker Michael Badgley comes on and nails the field goal, putting Indianapolis back on top.
On the first play of the Chiefs’ ensuing drive, Mahomes does not see linebacker Zaire Franklin dropping into coverage. Franklin steps in front of the throw for a brutal interception, giving the ball right back to Indianapolis.
The Colts pick up the one first down they need and proceed into victory formation.
Final score: Colts 17, Chiefs 16
Notable stats
- Patrick Mahomes: 22 for 30 passing, 206 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception
- Daniel Jones: 18 for 22 passing, 174 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception, 7 carries, 20 yards
- Jonathan Taylor: 18 carries, 143 yards, 1 touchdown, 4 receptions, 46 yards, 1 touchdown
- Isiah Pacheco: 4 carries, 31 yards, 4 receptions, 19 yards
- Hollywood Brown: 7 receptions, 69 yards, 1 touchdown
- JuJu Smith-Schuster: 5 receptions, 71 yards
- Travis Kelce: 3 receptions, 23 yards
- Rashee Rice: 2 receptions, 20 yards
- Alec Pierce: 4 receptions 37 yards
- Michael Pittman Jr: 4 receptions, 32 yards
- Josh Downs: 3 receptions, 30 yards
- Tyler Warren: 2 receptions, 14 yards
- Chamarri Conner: 10 total (8 solo), 1 tackle for loss, 1 pass deflection
- Nick Bolton: 10 total (6 solo)
- Trent McDuffie: 6 total (5 solo)
- Leo Chenal: 1 total, 1 interception
- Jaylen Watson: 6 total (3 solo), 1 pass deflection
- Drue Tranquill: 4 total (1 solo), 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack
- Sauce Gardner: 5 total (3 solo), 2 pass deflections
- Zaire Franklin: 7 total (5 solo), 1 interception
In Week 13, the Chiefs are on the road at Jerry World, taking on Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving — and we’ll give you a preview from the EA Universe!
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