The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30-24 in extra time on “Monday Night time Soccer” to stay undefeated at 8-0.
Patrick Mahomes is so again.
There had been a lot early-season discourse on whether or not quarterback Patrick Mahomes had misplaced it — as many nationwide speaking heads have been fast to level out that the Chiefs have been successful each week regardless of Mahomes — moderately than due to him.
Mahomes heard all of the noise, as evidenced by his podium session Wednesday, when he acknowledged he was snug with all of the successful however challenged himself to play higher, resulting in improved statistics.
The 2-time NFL MVP sleeping big awoke on Monday evening — reminding of us of how rattling good he may be to the tune of 34 for 44, 291 yards and three touchdowns and even preventing by means of an damage scare to remain within the sport.
It virtually wasn’t sufficient.
When a feisty Tampa Bay workforce compelled extra time, Mahomes was known as upon yet one more time, and he orchestrated the 10-play, 70-yard drive the workforce wanted to get it completed.
DeAndre Hopkins is simply what the physician ordered.
The Chiefs’ 2024 marketing campaign started with a tough starting, as their offseason plan to reestablish an explosive offense disappeared earlier than their eyes. First, within the preseason, they misplaced Hollywood Brown for a lot (if not all) of the common season.
Extensive receiver Rashee Rice’s seemingly season-ending damage was to comply with, and shortly after, JuJu Smith-Schuster’s hamstring subject deemed him unavailable for a couple of weeks.
Chiefs normal supervisor Brett Veach made the transfer for large receiver DeAndre Hopkins, the 32-year-old five-time All-Professional who says he’s energized to play significant soccer as soon as once more.
After a 23-snap introduction final week, Hopkins performed like he’s been on the roster all season. His 35-yard high-point catch amidst three defenders to arrange his first rating showcased a menace that Kansas Metropolis hasn’t appeared to have for a very long time: a receiver who can simply go up and get it.
Hopkins appears to be the proper complement to tight finish Travis Kelce. His eight-catch, 86-yard, two-touchdown effort appears to be like like simply what the physician ordered in a yr the place the offense has been decimated by accidents.
Hopkins and Kelce assist one another. The tight finish put collectively one other unbelievable efficiency, main the workforce with 100 yards on the evening.
For the primary time all season, the protection dissatisfied in large spots.
The Buccaneers by no means backed down from the Chiefs — even with star large receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans out of the lineup.
Analyzing the evening main into the ultimate drive of regulation, the Chiefs’ protection (led by George Karlaftis) had been taking part in sufficiently, holding Tampa Bay to beneath 250 web yards to that time.
The issue was twofold. First — as has been the case each week — Kansas Metropolis’s protection neutralized the working sport however fell sufferer to the opponent’s athletic tight finish. Second — on this explicit night — it couldn’t make the well timed stops.
As Tampa Bay’s main goal, tight finish Cade Otton collected eight catches and 77 yards, and he put the Buccaneers forward by beating security Justin Reid on the sixth play of a go-ahead drive out of halftime.
On the ultimate drive of regulation, with lower than three minutes remaining, quarterback Baker Mayfield rapidly picked the Chiefs’ protection aside, swiftly shifting down the sector en path to a game-tying landing.
It has been a defensive workforce for some time, however on Monday evening, the protection wanted the offense for a change.
It got here by means of — so on this evening, Kansas Metropolis stays unblemished.
