STWF Sports | Nov. 23, 2025 – Tony Romo didn’t hold back on Sunday afternoon, voicing what every Kansas City Chiefs fan inside Arrowhead Stadium was thinking: Travis Kelce and the reigning AFC champions were robbed. But even with officiating drama clouding the opening quarter, the Chiefs clawed their way back to a season-saving victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

Kansas City thought they had tied the game early when Kelce lined up in the wildcat, took the direct snap, faked a handoff to Rashee Rice and powered over the goal line for what would have been his 85th career touchdown. It was vintage Andy Reid creativity — a perfectly timed wrinkle against a Colts defense that never saw it coming.

Kelce celebrated. The stadium erupted. The momentum swung.

Then the flag dropped.

Right tackle Jawaan Taylor was penalized 15 yards for a facemask, wiping out the touchdown and killing the drive. Kansas City settled for a field goal instead of six — and Arrowhead let the officiating crew hear it.

Romo Calls Out “Phantom Facemask”

CBS cameras quickly zoomed in on the replay, and to many watching at home, the call looked bizarre. Taylor appeared to make minimal contact, certainly not the type that typically triggers a major foul and a revoked touchdown.

Romo, calling the game alongside Jim Nantz, immediately criticized the decision.

“You just wasted a great play,” Romo said in disbelief. “This has happened three or four times in games we’ve been doing recently. That’s not a 15-yard penalty.”

CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore chimed in to say the play merited a closer look — something the on-field crew never provided. Across social media, fans were irate.

“Horrible facemask call negates a cool Travis Kelce TD… But I thought the refs only help the Chiefs?” one fan wrote.

“The Chiefs are getting screwed by the referees!” another said.

“Garbage call,” a third added. “That’s not a facemask in any universe.”

The penalty set the tone for a frustrating first half in which the Chiefs failed to get into any offensive rhythm and trailed 14–9 at the break. For a team that already entered Week 12 under pressure after a sluggish start and a Super Bowl LIX loss that still stings, another defeat could have been devastating.

“Playoff Mahomes” Arrives Early

But if Kansas City has learned anything in the Patrick Mahomes era, it’s that the two-time MVP specializes in digging them out of trouble. As Romo put it mid-broadcast: “Andy Reid has unleashed Playoff Mahomes… and it’s not even January.”

KC’s defense made sure the game stayed within reach, holding the Colts to just six second-half points and shutting them out entirely in the fourth quarter. With time running out, Mahomes orchestrated a composed, clinical drive that set up Harrison Butker’s game-tying field goal as regulation expired.

From there, the Chiefs seized control.

Indianapolis went three-and-out on the opening possession of overtime, and once Mahomes got the ball again, the Chiefs needed only one more march into field-goal territory. Butker drilled a 27-yarder, Kansas City won 23–20, and a game that started chaotically ended with the Chiefs back above .500 at 6–5.

A Win the Chiefs Desperately Needed

While the Kelce touchdown that never was will dominate discussion, Kansas City proved Sunday that resilience remains their defining trait.

The defense shut down Jonathan Taylor late. Mahomes steadied the offense when it mattered. And despite bad breaks, questionable calls, and mounting pressure, they delivered a victory they absolutely had to have.

Had the Chiefs lost, their postseason outlook would have dimmed significantly. Instead, they remain alive — flawed but dangerous — with a proven ability to absorb adversity and respond.

Even Romo acknowledged as overtime ended: “That’s the heart of a championship team right there.”

Kelce may have had a touchdown taken away, but the Chiefs walked away with something much more important: their season still intact.