Chiefs-Colts refs rule Indy receiver down before overtime fumble in controversial call

The Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs played a Week 2 instant classic on Sunday Night Football, and it ended with the wildest sequence of the young 2026 season so far. The Chiefs beat the Colts, 33-30, on a game-winning field goal by Harrison Butker in overtime. Kansas City thought it won the game earlier in the overtime period, but a controversial call by the refs gave the Colts another chance. After the game went into overtime tied at 27-27, and the Chiefs marched down the field with the first possession but had to settle for a field goal inside the 10-yard line. The Colts had one more chance to tie or win the game, and madness immediately ensued. On their first play of overtime, Colts QB Daniel Jones launched a deep ball that fell into the open arms of receiver Laquon Treadwell. Treadwell bobbled the ball on his way to the ground, secured it, and then got back up. When Treadwell got back on. his feet, Kansas City cornerback Nohl Williams punched out the ball for a fumble. The refs initially ruled it was a fumble, and because Kansas City recovered, the game was over. The play was reviewed with the game hanging in the balance, and the refs decided to overturn the call. Treadwell was ruled down on contact before he got back up and fumbled. Indianapolis would eventually kick the game-tying field goal. Should this have been a game-ending fumble? Watch the play here and decide for yourself: Jones goes deep to Treadwell! After review it's ruled he was down by contact. INDvsKC on NBC/Peacock Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/6GLhdpYWwr — NFL (@NFL) September 21, 2026 Here’s another angle at the moment that caused the refs to rule Treadwell down. pic.twitter.com/8KSuG7bGVi — badbeats (@backdoorisopen) September 21, 2026 The refs ruled that a Chiefs defender had a hand on Treadwell’s hip when he hit the ground, so that meant he was down by contact. Do you agree? It’s so close, but I actually think the refs got it right. That’s just enough contact to say the runner is down. It’s still shocking to see this call go against the Chiefs, especially at Arrowhead. The Colts thought about going for it on 4th-and-8 inside the red zone, but ultimately decided to take the game-tying field goal. Indy’s defense immediately let Patrick Mahomes win the game on his ensuing drive. The Chiefs won the game regardless, but this was still a wild moment.

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