Yahoo Sports NFL on Patrick Mahomes

ArticleShane Steichen defends decisions to kick off, kick field goal in overtimeSeptember 21, 2026

From the article

If we go first with it, Mahomes gets four downs going the other way, so we wanted to play defense there and know we had four downs.

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Steichen's OT strategy hinged on limiting Mahomes' four-down opportunities.

Colts coach Shane Steichen cited Mahomes' ability to move the ball down the field as a key factor in his decision to kick off after winning the overtime coin toss; Steichen wanted to avoid giving Mahomes four downs to work with if the Colts scored first, preferring instead to play defense and preserve the Colts' own four-down opportunity.