For the fifth time in history, the Colts and Chiefs will meet in the AFC Playoffs with a spot in the AFC Championship Game on the line.
While the 2018 versions of the Colts and Chiefs are far different from the 1995, 2003, 2006, and 2013 teams, Indianapolis has had a knack for knocking out Kansas City. In fact, they're a perfect 4-0 all-time in the playoffs against the Chiefs. Three of those four wins are among the most significant in Colts' history (1984-present, which is the only history that anyone in Indianapolis cares about) and the most soul-crushing in Chiefs' history. I tweeted out a Cliff's Notes version of them on Saturday evening, but wanted to expand a bit in this post:
1995 AFC Divisional - Colts 10, Chiefs 7
Ah, the Cardiac Colts! After a 9-7 season, the Colts kicked off their playoff run with the team's first postseason win in their Indianapolis history - a 35-20 defeat of the Chargers in San Diego - then headed to Kansas City to rip the heart out of Chiefs Kingdom. KC had set a franchise record for wins (13) en route to earning the AFC's top seed. They were heavily favored, thanks in part to Marshall Faulk's injury, but that ended up not mattering. The Chiefs turned the ball over four times and Lin Elliott famously missed three field goals, all of which were shorter than 43 yards, with the last coming in the final minute to seal the Indy victory.
2003 AFC Divisional - Colts 38, Chiefs 31
This is one of the most historical/significant wins of Peyton Manning's career, so I've always found it odd how it seems to be forgotten about. Entering the 2003 postseason, Manning's Colts had never won a postseason game. Some of those demons were exorcised with a dominant, 41-10 blowout of Denver in the Wild Card round, but there were still many who weren't Peyton/Colts believers as Indy headed to Arrowhead Stadium to face the 13-3 Chiefs. The Colts started the game with three straight 70+ yard touchdown drives and never punted in a 38-31 win. Manning threw for 303 yards and three touchdowns and should-be Hall-of-Famer Edgerrin James added 125 yards on the ground and the other two scores.
2006 AFC Wild Card - Colts 23, Chiefs 8
Due to a disastrous December, which included losses in Jacksonville and Houston where the Colts gave up a combined 566 rushing yards, most thought that All-Pro Larry Johnson would have a big day at the RCA Dome. Instead, the Colts' defense stifled L.J. to the tune of just 32 yards and ran for 188 themselves (Joseph Addai went for 122) in a fairly easy 23-8 win. The victory kick-started the Colts' Super Bowl XLI run.
2013 AFC Wild Card - Colts 45, Chiefs 44
The Colts finished the 2013 regular season with three straight wins, including a dominating 23-7 victory at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 16, so there wasn't much concern from fans heading into the game. However, the rematch followed a much difference script than two weeks prior. An Andrew Luck interception on the first play of the third quarter led to another Chiefs touchdown put the Colts in a 38-10 hole early in the second half, but they would score touchdowns on five of their next six possessions, including Luck's "superman" scoop-and-score and a 64-yard hookup with TY Hilton, to rally for a wild, 45-44 win. It remains the second-largest postseason comeback in NFL history.