Patrick Mahomes threw for 291 yards and three touchdowns, and Kareem Hunt pounded into the tip zone from two yards out in extra time to provide the unbeaten Kansas Metropolis Chiefs a 30-24 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday evening.
DeAndre Hopkins had two TD receptions for the Chiefs (8-0), who drove via the rain for 2 fourth-quarter scores to take a 24-17 lead with 4:17 left. However then Kansas Metropolis watched as Baker Mayfield led the Bucs the opposite means within the ultimate minute, hitting Ryan Miller ultimately zone with 27 seconds to go.
Tampa Bay (4-5) elected to kick the additional level and power extra time, fairly than go for a two-point conversion and the win. And it price the Buccaneers when Mayfield referred to as tails and the coin flip was heads. Mahomes took the ball, he was 5-for-5 passing on their drive in extra time, and Hunt completed his 106-yard speeding day with the deciding TD plunge.
Travis Kelce had 14 catches for 100 yards, and Hopkins completed with eight catches for 86 yards because the Chiefs ran their profitable streak to 14 courting to final season. They turned the sixth Tremendous Bowl champion to begin 8-0 the next season.
Mayfield completed with 200 yards and two TDs passing for the Bucs, who’ve misplaced 4 of their final 5. Mahomes, who has a historical past of angle accidents, needed to be helped off the sector within the fourth quarter earlier than returning to the sport. Mahomes stated after the sport that he can be obtainable for Sunday’s assembly with the Denver Broncos.
“I rolled my ankle … we’ve acquired a brief week however we’ll rehab it and I’ll be able to go subsequent week,” Mahomes stated.
In the meantime, it was a memorable first half for 2 gamers who’d been ready to play in Arrowhead Stadium.
The Bucs’ Rachaad White grew up about 10 minutes away from the stadium however his household may by no means afford a ticket for him to see a recreation. He wound up on a circuitous path via Division II Nebraska-Kearney and a California junior faculty to Arizona State, the place he finally turned of a third-round decide of Tampa Bay within the 2022 draft.
Two yr later, White lastly acquired into Arrowhead – and the tip zone. He punctuated his seven-yard scoring run within the second quarter, which gave the Bucs a 7-3 lead, by almost tossing the soccer into the second deck.
Then it was Hopkins’ flip in his first residence recreation since arriving in Kansas Metropolis from a commerce with the Titans. The three-time All-Professional, who already had caught 4 passes, reeled in a third-down heave from Mahomes amid triple protection for a 35-yard acquire contained in the Tampa Bay 5. Three performs later, Mahomes discovered him behind the tip zone, and Hopkins celebrated his first TD with the Chiefs with a dance from Keep in mind the Titans.
Tampa Bay tried to grab management with consecutive scoring drives to begin the second half. The primary ended with a TD go to Cade Otton, the newest tight finish to shred the Chiefs, and Chase McLaughlin’s 47-yard area objective gave the Bucs a 17-10 lead.
The Chiefs answered within the fourth quarter. Mahomes marched them via the rain 70 yards for a tying landing go, which he delivered to Samaje Perine whereas touchdown awkwardly and tweaking his left ankle, after which threw a laser to Hopkins on third-and-goal to provide Kansas Metropolis the lead.
Tampa Bay promptly went three-and-out, however their protection acquired the ball proper again, and this time Mayfield calmly led his staff down the sector. His capped the drive with a landing throw to Miller – his first profession TD catch – with 27 seconds to go, and Tampa Bay elected to play for extra time.
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