In a Monday Night Football clash that lived up to its billing, the Kansas City Chiefs edged the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30-24 in a thrilling overtime victory. Patrick Mahomes threw three touchdown passes and Kareem Hunt sealed the win with a 2-yard plunge in the extra period, extending Kansas City’s perfect record to 8-0 this season.
The game was an epic showdown of quarterbacks as Mahomes, despite dealing with a gimpy ankle, showed his mettle with 291 yards passing, completing 5 for 5 on the decisive drive in overtime. Running back Kareem Hunt also played a key role, powering through with a 106-yard rushing performance and ending the game with his touchdown in overtime, which had the Kansas City fans in Tampa roaring.
The Chiefs seemed to have the game under control, but Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield refused to go down quietly. Down 24-17 with less than a minute to play, Mayfield orchestrated a masterful drive, finding Ryan Miller in the end zone with just 27 seconds left. That touchdown put Tampa Bay within two points of tying the game, and Bucs head coach Todd Bowles briefly considered going for the win with a two-point conversion. Ultimately, he chose to play it safe and opted for the extra point, forcing overtime — a decision he admitted he only gave “very minor” thought to changing.
Once in overtime, the Chiefs won the coin toss, giving Mahomes and the Kansas City offense the first crack at ending the game. Mahomes, determined to avoid giving the ball back to Mayfield, drove the team down the field with a perfect series of throws. Travis Kelce, who had 14 catches for 100 yards, was instrumental in keeping the chains moving, with pop icon Taylor Swift cheering him on from a suite.
On the game-winning drive, Mahomes showcased his trademark poise and accuracy, hitting DeAndre Hopkins, who finished with eight catches for 86 yards and two touchdowns, as the Chiefs marched steadily down the field. Eventually, Hunt capped off the drive with a determined rush up the middle, ending Tampa Bay’s hopes of an upset and sealing Kansas City’s 14th consecutive win dating back to last season.
Kansas City’s defense, despite missing some key starters due to injuries, put on a gritty display. They limited the Buccaneers’ rushing attack to a mere 95 yards and held Mayfield to 200 yards passing. Though Mayfield threw two touchdowns and kept his team in the fight, the Chiefs defense consistently thwarted Tampa Bay’s attempts to establish momentum on the ground, forcing the Buccaneers to rely almost entirely on the arm of their quarterback.
This victory not only marked the Chiefs’ 14th straight win but also made them the sixth reigning Super Bowl champion to start a season 8-0, a feat that hadn’t been achieved since the Carolina Panthers in 2014. Kansas City has also now won their last eight games when trailing in the second half, a testament to their resilience under head coach Andy Reid.
Following the game, Bowles reflected on the decision to kick the extra point rather than go for the two-point conversion, stating, “It was a tough call. We wanted to play it smart and take our chance in overtime.” However, with Mahomes on the other side, the decision may linger in Bowles’ mind as one of those ‘what ifs’ that define close games.
Looking ahead, Tampa Bay (now 4-5) will attempt to bounce back when they host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, while Kansas City will aim to keep its unbeaten streak alive as they face division rival Denver at home.
