Shane Steichen defends decisions to kick off, kick field goal in overtime – NBC Sports

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The Colts lost 33-30 in overtime after giving the Chiefs the ball first, then settling for a field goal on their own possession. Colts coach Shane Steichen made twice chose to kick in Sunday night’s overtime loss to the Chiefs. Questioned about those decisions after the game, Steichen defended his process even though his team lost the game. Steichen’s two choices came when the Colts won the coin toss and chose to kick off to start overtime, and then when the Colts settled for a game-tying field goal rather than trying to score a game-winning touchdown at the end of their only overtime possession.

On the choice to kick off after winning the toss, Steichen said he didn’t want to score first because it would be too easy for Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to move the ball down the field if the Chiefs knew they were going to go for it on every fourth down. “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,” Steichen said.