Down 11 points early in the fourth quarter, Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt’s fumble in the red zone against the Indianapolis Colts could have proved backbreaking for Kansas City.
Travis Kelce did not let his team, or Hunt, get discouraged.
The Chiefs hadn’t scored a touchdown all game and were searching for the end zone before Hunt’s fumble on the Colts’ six-yard line.
But as Hunt stomped his way to the bench along the Chiefs’ sidelines, Kelce stopped the veteran running back in his tracks for what fans saw as a turning point in the game.
Cameras during the game broadcast captured Kelce hugging Hunt and offering him words of encouragement. Faced with adversity, the Chiefs marched 61 yards on an 11-play drive, capped by a redemptive 2-yard touchdown from Hunt. Kansas City later converted a field goal to force overtime.
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In overtime, Hunt accounted for 29 yards rushing to help set up a Harrison Butker field goal and clinch a 23-20 comeback victory over the Colts on Sunday, Nov. 23. Hunt also became the first Chiefs player to amass over 100 yards rushing in a single game this season after the Chiefs did not shy away from putting the ball in his hands after he and Kelce’s pep talk.
Fans saw the moment as a true mark of Kelce’s character and the Chiefs’ team chemistry.
“the moment it turned around,” one fan wrote, resharing the video on X.
“This was a huge moment today. Incredible leadership by 87. Kept Kareem focused and not down on himself because Kelce knew they needed him down the stretch. Championship pedigree,” a second fan said.
Another fan added: “Under appreciated was Travis’s leadership with Kareem after the fumble. He refused to let Kareem beat himself up about it and helped him get his head back in the game. He came up huge for us in the 4th.”
Improving to 6-5 on the season, Kansas City is in the heat of the playoff chase due to the Denver Broncos (9-2) holding a three-game lead in the AFC West division.
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According to ESPN, the Chiefs have a 61 percent chance of making the postseason but just an 11 percent chance of winning the division.
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