Why can't I use Google Search keyboard navigation with Chrome?

It turns out that there's an option in the Google search settings that inadvertently disables keyboard navigation.

Make sure "Google Instant Predictions" is set to "Always show Instant results."

EDIT: I found the reason I kept accidently enabling this as well... if you hit tab and then enter (a natural instinct for me to go to the first link) it will select and activate the link for screen readers to disable the instant search - which causes this issue.