Chiefs Remain Undefeated Thus Far in 2024
Whether you love them or you hate them, the Kansas City Chiefs are not only dominating the AFC, but the entire NFL. Last year’s Super Bowl champions certainly have a huge opportunity to reclaim the AFC title and make another Super Bowl appearance. Kansas City saved their undefeated season at home during Monday Night Football against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Chiefs were in the driver’s seat until the Bucs got a much-needed touchdown with 27 seconds left in the matchup. With the game heading to overtime, Kansas City fought deep into the overtime period to pull off their eighth win on the season. Tampa Bay drops to 4-5 and stands still in second place within the NFC South behind the 6-3 Atlanta Falcons. Next week, the Chiefs will take on a divisional rival in the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead. For the Bucs, they’ll play against a struggling San Francisco 49ers team that is just 4-4 on the season.
For the first 13 minutes, there wasn’t any scoring, until Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker kicked in a 40-yard field goal to give Kansas City the initial lead. Five minutes into the second quarter, the lead would switch hands as Rachaad White ran the ball in for a seven-yard touchdown, and with Chase McLaughlin knocking down the extra point, the Buccaneers led 7-3. A couple of minutes later, Kansas City would retake the lead when former Titans receiver DeAndre Hopkins caught a one-yard touchdown pass by quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Butker drilled the extra point to make it a 10-7 game.
Three and a half minutes into the third, Tampa Bay retook the lead for the second time when tight end Cade Otton caught an 11-yard touchdown pass by quarterback Baker Mayfield. McLaughlin hit the extra point to make it a 14-10 game. Tampa Bay extended their lead to seven when McLaughlin clutched in a 47-yard field goal. Not even a minute into the final quarter of action, Chiefs running back Samaje Perine caught a seven-yard touchdown pass, and Butker hit the extra point to tie the game at 17. With about a little more than four minutes remaining, Hopkins would catch another touchdown pass, this time for five yards. Butker kicked in an extra point and gave Kansas City a 24-17 lead. Wide receiver Ryan Miller caught a one-yard touchdown pass, and McLaughlin got in the extra point to tie the game up at 24 with 27 seconds left. This game would head into overtime with the Bucs looking to hand the Chiefs their first loss of the season. Instead with four minutes remaining in the overtime period, running back Kareem Hunt rushed the ball in two yards to win the game for Kansas City in a 30-20 victory.
Mahomes went 34 for 44 with 291 passing yards, and three touchdowns. Hunt finished the game with 27 carries for 106 yards. Tight end Travis Kelce recorded 14 receptions for 100 yards, while Hopkins had eight receptions for 86 yards. For the Bucs, Mayfield finished the game going 23 for 31 recording 200 passing yards and two touchdowns. Mayfield also had four rushes for 20 yards. Tight end Cade Otton picked up eight receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown.
