TAMPA, Fla. — — Patrick Mahomes had all of the solutions for fixing Tampa Bay’s stingy protection, successful his newest matchup in opposition to Tom Brady within the stadium the place the seven-time Tremendous Bowl winner dealt him one in all his most disappointing losses.
Mahomes threw for 249 yards and three touchdowns, together with an electrifying soar move to Clyde Edwards-Helaire, to steer the Chiefs to a 41-31 victory over the Buccaneers on Sunday night time.
Taking part in at bought out Raymond James Stadium solely 4 days after Hurricane Ian ravaged parts of Florida, Mahomes had TD throws of 16 yards to Travis Kelce, 1 yard to Edwards-Helaire and 10 yards to Jody Fortson whereas making NFL historical past by reaching 20,000 yards passing sooner than anybody else.
Edwards-Helaire and tight finish Noah Grey rushed for TDs for the Chiefs (3-1), who received the primary assembly between Mahomes and Brady since Tampa Bay’s 31-9 rout of Kansas Metropolis within the Tremendous Bowl — additionally performed at Raymond James Stadium — two seasons in the past.
“Once I got here into the stadium I spotted that I hadn’t been right here and the dangerous style I had final time got here into impact,” Mahomes mentioned. “However it’s nonetheless not a playoff recreation. It’s a regular-season recreation, which is vital. That Tremendous Bowl will all the time depart a nasty style for me.”
The brief move to Edwards-Helaire was Mahomes at his improvisational best: He escaped two defenders, did a 360-degree spin transfer and flipped the ball over a crowd to the operating again at the back of the top zone.
“I used to be in a position to make use of my velocity, my little little bit of velocity, to get across the edge there. I used to be gonna run for it, however they form of flew round me,” Mahomes mentioned. “I spotted I wasn’t going to make it and I noticed Clyde, so I form of flicked it as much as him.”
Brady famous it is enjoyable watching Mahomes, except he is on the opposing sideline.
“I like seeing Patrick play. … Sadly we’re on the improper finish of it tonight,” mentioned Brady, who’s 1-2 in opposition to the Chiefs quarterback since becoming a member of the Bucs in 2020 after twenty years with the New England Patriots.
Brady accomplished 39 of 52 passes for 385 yards and three TDs with out an interception for Tampa Bay (2-2). The Bucs, nevertheless, performed from behind the entire night time after rookie Rachaad White fumbled the opening kickoff and Mahomes threw his TD move to Kelce two performs later.
The Chiefs additionally received into the top zone on three of their subsequent 4 possessions, with Mahomes repeatedly shredding the Tampa Bay protection with pinpoint passes and Edwards-Helaire and Isiah Pacheco taking turns operating the ball successfully.
“It’s a workforce sport. We didn’t play nice on offense. We didn’t assist (the protection) a lot, both,” Brady mentioned.
“We didn’t do nice within the first half. Too many missed alternatives on third downs, turnovers. We gotta play so much higher to be one of many good groups,” the seven-time Tremendous Bowl winner added. “We haven’t performed our greatest but this yr.”
Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed sacked Brady, forcing a fumble that Mahomes was Grey’s TD, with the tight finish taking a direct snap from middle on the 1-yard plunge that put Kansas Metropolis up 28-10.
Brady threw TD passes of 13 yards and 1 yard to Mike Evans, who returned from serving a one-game suspension for his function in a on-field brawl at New Orleans two weeks in the past. He had eight receptions for 103 yards.
Evans’ second TD trimmed Kansas Metropolis’s result in 28-17 at halftime. That was as shut because the Bucs received till Leonard Fournette’s 5-yard TD reception minimize Tampa Bay’s deficit to 41-31 with 3:30 remaining.
Brady wouldn’t get the ball again till lower than a minute was left.
Kansas Metropolis completed with 417 yards of complete offense, together with a 189-3 edge on the bottom, in opposition to a protection that had allowed a league-low 27 factors via three video games.
“Every little thing on this recreation fell on the defensive facet of the ball,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles mentioned. “You identify it we did it. Missed tackles. Missed assignments. Unhealthy calls.”
The Bucs sacked Mahomes thrice and intercepted him as soon as, however it was not the “popping out social gathering” linebacker Shaquil Barrett thought his workforce might have in opposition to an offensive line the Chiefs have overhauled since struggling in opposition to Tampa Bay within the Tremendous Bowl loss.
With Hurricane Ian approaching the Florida’s Gulf Coast, the Bucs evacuated for 4 days to the Miami space, the place they practiced Wednesday, Thursday and Friday on the Dolphins’ coaching facility whereas the NFL made contingency plans to maneuver the sport to Minneapolis if it couldn’t be performed in Tampa.
The Glazer household that owns the Bucs has introduced it’s donating $1 million for hurricane reduction. The NFL Basis is matching that donation, and the Bucs on Sunday night time started a “Florida Sturdy” marketing campaign to boost funds, in addition to honor emergency personnel and first responders.
Gamers and followers noticed a “second of help” prior the nationwide anthem, and the Bucs additionally paid tribute to these affected by the hurricane in a video presentation displayed on large scoreboard screens earlier than the sport.
INJURIES
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker (ankle) was inactive for the third straight recreation. … Bucs WRs Chris Godwin (hamstring) and Julio Jones (knee ), in addition to LT Donovan Smith (elbow), performed for the primary time since Tampa Bay’s season-opening victory at Dallas. … Bucs CB Logan Ryan left with a foot damage within the first quarter. … TE Cameron Brate (concussion) and CB Carlton Davis (stinger) left within the second half.
UP NEXT
Chiefs: Return residence to face the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday, Oct. 10.
Buccaneers: Host the Atlanta Falcons subsequent Sunday.
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