After today’s 23-20 overtime win against the Indianapolis Colts, Patrick Mahomes spoke about how the defense—and fans—responded to a rare fumble by Kareem Hunt.

After today’s 23-20 overtime win against the Indianapolis Colts, Patrick Mahomes spoke about how the defense—and fans—responded to a rare fumble by Kareem Hunt.

“I thought it was really cool to not only see our defense stand tall in that moment. That was a huge drive, [and to] stand tall and take it upon themselves and say we’ve gotta get a stop right now.

“And then there was, like, a feeling that you had in Arrowhead. You can see the fans … were behind us. Like, they didn’t … hang their heads because it was a fumble—they said we’re gonna be with y’all through the end, through this all. And I thought that was really cool, and you could kind of feel that momentum … swing in our favor even after a bad play for us. So I’m glad that happened here, because I thought that really did change the outcome of the game.”

The defense’s clutch performance, fueled by the palpable energy from the stands, was the true turning point in a game that felt dangerously close to slipping away. When Hunt coughed up the ball, giving the Colts prime field position and a chance to truly seize control, the deafening cheers and towel-waving only intensified. The message from the faithful was clear: no panic, only belief. This immediate, positive reinforcement seemed to inject a renewed focus into the defensive unit, allowing them to stonewall the Colts’ drive and force a punt, protecting the scoreboard from any damage and preserving the team’s fighting chance.

After the fumble, the Chiefs scored 11 unanswered points—including six via a Kareem Hunt rushing touchdown—to take the game to overtime. Hunt, clearly shaking off the miscue, redeemed himself with a powerful drive that culminated in his score, capping a superb individual performance where he rushed 30 times for 103 yards in the game. Mahomes’ comments highlight a truth about championship-caliber teams: they not only make plays, but they also draw strength from their community, proving that in Kansas City, the 12th man is more than just a tradition—it’s a force multiplier.