Just after throwing a touchdown in the fourth quarter to tie the game, Patrick Mahomes fell to the wet Arrowhead turf and had to be helped off the field. He shook it off and led his team to a brilliant overtime touchdown drive, defeating the Tampa Bay Bucs 30-24.
The Kansas City Chiefs might be lucky, but they are also very good at playing football. Despite making mistakes offensively, Patrick Mahomes kept grinding, shook off another ankle sprain, and was magic when it counted.
At 8-0, the Chiefs have a stranglehold on the AFC West and the AFC Conference, and even though they look beatable, they just keep winning. Mahomes completed 34 of 44 passes with three touchdowns, two to newcomer DeAndre Hopkins. His 35-yard catch between two Bucs defenders busted Arrowhead from the seems.
His addition should scare the NFL because if anyone thinks he’s old and has lost a step, they need to see their optometrist. He seems comfortable in the playbook for just his second game in a Chiefs uniform and understands the opportunity he can create offensively.
Yes, Hopkins ran the wrong route at the end of regulation, which could have resulted in an opportunity for a Harrison Butker field goal, but once the Chiefs won the coin toss in overtime, you knew they had this game.
Kareem Hunt was a beast in the second half. The Chiefs put the passing game in their back pocket and fed their running back, play after play. He ended up with 106 yards on 27 carries and earned every yard. His two-yard touchdown in overtime resulted from his refusal to go down before the ball crossed the goal line.
It’s scary to think what will happen when Isiah Pacheco returns in December. Even more concerning is that the Chiefs are still not playing their best football.
On the other side of the ball, the Chiefs defense made some critical stops once the Bucs had taken a 17-10 lead in the third quarter. However, they showed vulnerability in pass coverage on the Bucs game-tying drive in the fourth quarter.
Joshua Williams and Christian Roland-Wallace were outmatched most of the game. If GM Brett Veach makes a trade before Tuesday’s deadline, it would be better to add another cornerback.
They also failed to get to Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield. The Chiefs only had one sack, and it seemed as if defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo was conservative in his approach to bringing pressure. I know part of that hesitation was his cornerstones, which were struggling, so he got a pass.
Then again, the Buc’s patchwork offensive line played a great game and deserves credit. This pass rush will be fine once Charles Omenihu returns from injury, and newcomer Joshua Uche gets comfortable.
Still, the offense is beginning to find its identity. Travis Kelce led the Chiefs with 14 catches and 100 yards receiving. He made the big play that set up the game-winning touchdown, and he played his tail off.
Head Coach Andy Reid must be pleased with his team. They struggled in the first half, and Xavier Worthy misjudged the sidelines and should have scored a touchdown on the opening drive. Those are correctable moments for Worthy, but he needs some work. The addition of Hopkins should help immensely.
Next, the Chiefs play division rival Denver at Arrowhead next Sunday. The Broncos are coming off a brutal loss in Baltimore against the Ravens, so we won’t know which team we’ll see in Kansas City.
It’ll be a short week, but that might be good for the Chiefs.
