The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost the overtime coin toss, then the game as the Kansas City Chiefs remained the NFL’s only unbeaten team with a 30-24 victory on Monday night.
Tampa Bay moved 71 yards in 1:49 to tie the game on Baker Mayfield’s 1-yard touchdown toss to Ryan Miller with 27 seconds left in the fourth quarter. But the Bucs didn’t get an opportunity in overtime as Kansas City took the kickoff and moved 70 yards in 10 plays for a 2-yard touchdown by running back Kareem Hunt to end the game.
The biggest news of the game fizzled out quickly. After flipping a 7-yard touchdown pass to running back Samaje Perine to tie the game at 17-17 with 14:14 left in the fourth quarter, Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes need to be helped off the field to the sideline medical tent. It turned out he had aggravated an ankle injury from last week, and he didn’t miss any time. Mahomes capped the Chiefs’ next possession with his third touchdown pass of the game and second to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins for a seven-point lead with 4:17 left in the fourth quarter.
Mahomes completed 34-of-44 passes for 291 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Mayfield completed 23-of-31 passes for 200 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Four players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field during the Tampa Bay-Kansas City game:
· Buccaneers safety Marcus Banks (Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
· Buccaneers outside linebacker Chris Braswell (Alabama) registered one quarterback hit.
· K.J. Britt (Oxford, Auburn) started at linebacker for the Buccaneers. Britt made nine tackles and broke up one pass. Britt’s breakup came on a throw to Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce with 15 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
· Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean (Auburn) in on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
· Buccaneers cornerback Keenan Isaac (Midfield, Alabama State) did not record any stats.
· Chiefs quarterback Chris Oladokun (Samford) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
· Chiefs wide receiver Justyn Ross (Central-Phenix City) did not record any stats in his 2024 debut. Kansas City elevated Ross from the practice squad to make him eligible to play.
· Chiefs tight end Irv Smith Jr. (Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
· Chiefs wide receiver Montrell Washington (Samford) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
· Buccaneers running back D.J. Williams (Auburn) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Kansas City (8-0) plays the Denver Broncos in an AFC West game at noon CST Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
Tampa Bay (4-5) plays the San Francisco 49ers at noon Sunday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
