Buccaneers Lose To Chiefs After Poor Defense

By Lily Belcher

Tom Brady’s late offensive production fell short in Tampa Bay’s 41-31 loss to Kansas City Sunday night. It was the most points given up by the Buccaneers defense since Todd Bowles joined the coaching staff back in 2019.

The Bucs gave up the ball early after fumbling it to the Chiefs after the kickoff, allowing Patrick Mahomes’ offense to score an early touchdown. Tampa Bay answered with a field goal, but their defensive line allowed the Chiefs to take an early and commanding lead.

Kansas City scored again on their next two possessions with 79-yard drive and 86-yard drive into Tampa Bay’s endzone, giving Mahomes three touchdowns in the first quarter as Tampa Bay trailed 21-3.

After a touchback to start the second quarter, Brady moved the ball downfield before completing a 13-yard touchdown pass to Mike Evans, who was back on the field this week after serving a one game suspension.

Kansas City and Tampa Bay each scored at the end of the second half to maintain the Chief’s lead at 28-17.

The Chiefs slipped another touchdown past Tampa Bay’s line, despite the defense sacking Mahomes at the 10-yard line before he completed his fourth touchdown pass of the game. The Buccaneers answered with a touchdown before Kansas City tacked on another three points with a quarter ending field goal.

Despite Brady’s urgent attempt to catch up from a 41-24 deficit in the fourth quarter, scoring a touchdown in the final eight minutes of the game, his offense failed to make up for the weak Buccaneers defense.

The Buccaneers gave Brady the ball back after an interception off Mahomes with less than five minutes to go in the fourth. Racing the clock, Brady made five quick plays without a huddle and drove the ball into the endzone one last time with a short pass to Leonard Fournette. Tampa Bay got one more possession in the last 45 seconds but failed to close the ten-point gap that gave them their second straight loss.

The Buccaneers look to improve their record next week with a 1 pm matchup in Tampa against the Atlanta Falcons.