Summary:
- The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30-24, remaining undefeated at 8-0.
- The victory came after a tense overtime that saw the Bucs pass up the chance to clinch the game in regulation.
- Head coach Todd Bowles received criticism for opting for the extra point instead of a 2-point conversion.
The Kansas City Chiefs stayed undefeated at 8-0 after a tense overtime win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who passed up a chance to clinch the NFL game in regulation.
With 27 seconds remaining, down by one point, the Buccaneers scored a touchdown that brought them within a point of victory.
As a significant underdog playing at Arrowhead Stadium, many expected head coach Todd Bowles to direct his team toward a 2-point conversion to secure a win.
Instead, Bowles opted for the extra point, sending the game into overtime. The gamble didn’t pay off, and Kansas City won the game 30-24.
Bowles faced criticism for not taking the risk. After the game, he explained he didn’t give too much thought to the idea of going for 2, arguing the wet conditions on the field convinced him they should go into overtime instead.
“We had our shots, and we lost the game” he added.
When asked if Bowles’ decision to skip the 2-point attempt surprised him, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid replied, “No. But I’m glad he didn’t”.
Despite being expected to dominate the 4-4 Buccaneers, the Chiefs faced a tough contest. Tampa Bay started strong, with Rachaad White scoring a touchdown to give them an early 7-3 lead.
Kansas City bounced back as Patrick Mahomes connected with DeAndre Hopkins on a deep throw, setting up a touchdown pass that put them up 10-7 by halftime.
Baker Mayfield kept Tampa in the game, consistently connecting with tight end Cade Otton, who stepped up in the absence of injured wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
Otton’s touchdown and a field goal gave the Buccaneers a 17-10 lead in the third quarter, putting pressure on the Chiefs.
Kansas City responded by leaning on the ground game. With rain pouring, Kareem Hunt’s powerful runs set up Mahomes to throw a game-tying touchdown to Samaje Perine.
Mahomes briefly left the field after an awkward step but returned quickly. Hopkins caught his second touchdown to give the Chiefs a 24-17 lead with just over four minutes remaining.
Tampa Bay refused to back down. After Kansas City’s defense forced a punt, the Buccaneers pushed into Chiefs territory. Mayfield found Trey Palmer on a crossing route down to the 1-yard line, then hit Ryan Miller for the tying touchdown.
After the Bucs opted for the extra point and pushed the game to overtime, the Chiefs won the coin toss and quickly moved into their opponents’ territory.
Mahomes stayed composed, finding Travis Kelce to advance the ball downfield. On the final play, Hunt scored from the 2-yard line, sealing Kansas City’s victory and preserving their undefeated record.
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