After a 23-20 overtime win, the Kansas City Chiefs are alive and well in the AFC playoff race. The crucial win over the Indianapolis Colts improved the team’s perception around the league. Each site’s
power rankings moved the Chiefs up ahead of the Week 13 game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day.
Here’s this week’s sampling:
NFL.com: 12
(Up from 15)
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, they’d 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, that’s great, but Hunt really seems to have reclaimed the captain’s chair for now. The Chiefs’ 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.
— Eric Edholm
ESPN: 12
(Up from 13)
Thanksgiving game memory: Running back Marcus Allen passes Walter Payton in 1996
The Chiefs don’t 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.
— Nate Taylor
The Athletic: 10
(Up from 16)
One big question: Can they fix the running game?
As Mike Sando outlined in his “Pick Six” 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.
— Josh Kendall
Sports Illustrated: 8
(Up from 15)
Column here on Kansas City and what I suspect is a delightful bug in the NFL’s new scheduling system.
— Conor Orr
Pro Football Talk: 13
(Up from 18)
The team that always thrives in the playoff is firmly in playoff mode.
— Mike Florio
CBSSports.com: 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.
— Pete Prisco
Yahoo! Sports: 9
(Up from 10)
The Chiefs didn’t 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. It’s a tricky spot on a short week, and with perhaps the biggest audience of the NFL regular season watching.
— Frank Schwab
The Sporting News: 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.
— 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 … though it might be on vacation by MLK Day given how things have been going, Sunday’s defeat of Indy notwithstanding.
— Nate Davis
FOX Sports: 12
(Up from 16)
They’re alive! What an incredible comeback to beat the Colts in overtime. Their defense came up huge. Patrick Mahomes threw for 352 yards. The dynasty isn’t over yet.
— Ralph Vacchiano
