Chiefs’ offense rolls as Bucs have no answers
KC scores TDS on four first-half possessions
TAMPA, Fla. — Patrick Mahomes had all the answers for solving Tampa Bay’s stingy defense, winning his latest matchup against Tom Brady in the stadium where the seven-time Super Bowl winner dealt him one of his most disappointing losses.
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Mahomes threw for 249 yards and three touchdowns, including an electrifying jump pass to Clyde Edwards-helaire, to lead the Chiefs to a 41-31 victory over the Buccaneers on Sunday night.
Mahomes had TD throws of 16 yards to Travis Kelce, 1 yard to Edwards-helaire and 10 yards to Jody Fortson while making NFL history by reaching 20,000 yards passing faster than anyone else.
Edwards-helaire and tight end Noah Gray rushed for TDS for the Chiefs (3-1), who won the first meeting between Mahomes and Brady since Tampa Bay’s 31-9 rout of Kansas City in the Super Bowl — also played at Raymond James Stadium — two seasons ago.
“When I came into the stadium I realized that I hadn’t been here and the bad taste I had last time came into effect,” Mahomes said. “But it’s still not a playoff game. It’s a regular-season game, which is important. That Super Bowl will always leave a bad taste for me.”
The short pass to Edwards-helaire was Mahomes at his improvisational best: He escaped two defenders, did a 360-degree spin move and flipped the ball over a crowd to the running back in the back of the end zone.
“I was able to use my speed, my little bit of speed, to get around the edge there. I was gonna run for it, but they kind of flew around me,” Mahomes said. “I realized I wasn’t going to make it and I saw Clyde, so I kind of flicked it up to him.”
Brady noted it’s fun watching Mahomes, unless he’s on the opposing sideline.
“I love seeing Patrick play. … Unfortunately we’re on the wrong end of it tonight,” said Brady, who’s 1-2 against the Chiefs quarterback since joining the Bucs in 2020 after two decades with the New England Patriots.
Brady completed 39 of 52 passes for 385 yards and three TDS without an interception for Tampa Bay (2-2).
The Bucs, however, played from behind the whole night after rookie Rachaad White fumbled the opening kickoff and Mahomes threw his TD pass to Kelce two plays later.
The Chiefs also got into the end zone on three of their next four possessions, with Mahomes repeatedly shredding the Tampa Bay defense with pinpoint passes and Edwards-helaire and Isiah Pacheco taking turns running the ball effectively.
“It’s a team sport. We didn’t play great on offense. We didn’t help (the defense) much, either,” Brady said.