By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The Kansas City Chiefs needed overtime to get the job done, but remained the lone unbeaten team in the NFL and set the franchise record for the most consecutive wins, defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30-24 at Arrowhead Stadium on Monday night.
The 14 consecutive wins date back to last year. Previously the longest winning streak was 13 games, back between 2019 to 2020, when Kansas City made the first Super Bowl run in 50 years.
After both teams traded punts to open the game, it was Harrison Butker that got the Chiefs on the board first, late into the first quarter, hitting a 40 yard field goal. Following that, the Buccaneers put together an 11 play drive that carried into the second quarter, ending with a seven yard touchdown run by Rachaad White, who grew up in Kansas City and attended Center High School.
An 11 play drive by the Chiefs on the ensuing drive consumed over six minutes of clock, and for the first time since he joined Kansas City after being traded last week, Deandre Hopkins found the endzone on a one yard touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs wound up leading 10-7 at the halftime break.
Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield put together a nice drive to take the lead back at the start of the second half, driving down the field and finding tight end Cade Otton for a go ahead touchdown. The lead was extended later in the quarter, Chase McLaughlin knocking through a 47 yard field goal, putting Tampa Bay up 17-10 going into the final quarter of regulation.
With the Buccaneers leading, Kansas City put together another long drive, 12 plays using up the final minutes of the third quarter and finding the endzone early in the fourth, Mahomes connecting with Samaje Perine for a seven yard touchdown pass. Following the play though, the entirety of Chiefs Kingdom collectively held their breath.
While scrambling to find Perine on the play, Mahomes appeared to tweak an existing ankle injury, and was helped off the field by trainers and into the blue injury tent on the sideline, while backup Carson Wentz began warming up in case he was needed. Following a Tampa Bay punt though, the crowd was loud, as Mahomes trotted back onto the field.
Even hobbled, Mahomes showed he was an MVP caliber quarterback, putting together a 15 play drive that ended with the welcome party for Hopkins continuing, as Mahomes again found the 12 year veteran in the endzone for a five yard touchdown pass, giving the Chiefs the lead back for the first time since halftime.
Both teams went on to trade punts, setting Tampa Bay up for one last drive to tie up the game, which Mayfield orchestrated over 15 plays, leaving just 27 seconds on the clock as Ryan Miller caught a one yard touchdown pass. With some question if head coach Todd Bowles would go for two, it was McLaughlin that marched on the field to knock through the extra point and leave the game tied.
The Chiefs made an attempt to get down the field, having three timeouts remaining, but were forced to punt and send the game to overtime. Kansas City won the toss, and chose to receive. Overtime wins and the Kansas City Chiefs, they go together like peanut butter and jelly, having not lost an overtime matchup since the 2021 AFC Conference Championship against the Cincinnati Bengals.
A 10 play drive for the Chiefs ended the game, as Kareem Hunt plunged into the endzone from two yards out, one play after Travis Kelce nearly found the endzone on a quick pass from Mahomes, advancing the Chiefs to an 8-0 record.
Mahomes put together his best game of the season thus far, going 34 of 44 passing for 291 yards and three touchdowns and no interceptions, the first this season Mahomes had no turnovers. Hunt rushed 27 times for 106 yards and a score. Kelce had 14 catches for 100 yards, while Hopkins had eight catches for 86 yards and two touchdowns.
The Chiefs will stay in Kansas City next week for their first AFC West rivalry matchup at Arrowhead Stadium, after traveling to the Chargers and Raiders, taking on the Denver Broncos in Week 10. Kickoff is at noon with pregame at 11am on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM) and Q Country 92.7