Find out who stood out and who struggled in the Bucs' 30-24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs was a nail-biter, with the game going all the way into overtime. Despite a valiant effort, the Bucs lost the coin toss, giving Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense a chance to march 70 yards downfield and seal the game with Kareem Hunt’s two-yard touchdown plunge.
Controversy brewed over Todd Bowles’ decision not to attempt a two-point conversion after the Bucs’ last-minute touchdown, opting instead to send the game into overtime as underdogs on the road.
Still, it was an encouraging showing for the Bucs, who hung tough against the undefeated, defending Super Bowl champions despite missing key players, including their top three wide receivers. While there were some costly mistakes on that rainy Monday night, there were also bright spots. Here’s a look at who shined and who struggled in the Bucs’ 30-24 loss to the Chiefs.
NT Vita Vea
Vita Vea was a powerhouse on Monday Night Football against the Chiefs, recording 10 tackles and two sacks. His first sack, on the opening drive, resulted in a 10-yard loss that pushed the Chiefs out of field goal range and led to a punt. Vea’s second sack came on Kansas City’s first possession of the second quarter, adding another three-yard loss.
TE Cade Otton
With Chris Godwin out for the season and Mike Evans sidelined until after the bye week, Cade Otton once again stepped up as the go-to receiver. He delivered with a go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter, finishing the game with eight catches on 11 targets for 77 yards and a score.
DL Calijah Kancey
Double trouble. The duo of Vea and Kancey ate on Monday Night Football. Not to be outdone by Vea's two sacks, Kancey notched two of his own. His first sack came on a key third down to end the first half for the Chiefs. Kancey's second sack was on Kansas City's first drive of the second half. In total Kancey two sacks totaled a loss of 19 yards and ended two drives for the Chiefs offense.
It was a tough night for Hayes in coverage, and the struggles began early. He nearly allowed a deep touchdown to rookie receiver Xavier Worthy, who fortunately stepped out of bounds. Hayes gave up several first-down receptions, including a 12-yarder to former Buc Justin Watson in the second quarter. Though he had solid coverage on Deandre Hopkins during a 35-yard catch, the veteran receiver managed an incredible grab despite the defense.
Just two plays later, Hayes was in coverage on the Chiefs' go-ahead touchdown to Hopkins, leaving him wide open in the back of the end zone for the one-yard score. Hayes recovered a fumble shortly after, but the Bucs couldn’t capitalize with points. After leaving with cramps, he returned only to be on the coverage end of Hopkins’ second touchdown—a five-yard grab in the fourth quarter—and later missed a crucial tackle in overtime, allowing Hopkins to pick up 15 yards and move deeper into Bucs territory.
Third Down Defense
The Bucs entered the game ranked 19th in third-down conversion rate, while the Chiefs held the NFL’s second-best rate—and it showed. Mahomes picked apart the Bucs’ defense on third down, completing 10 of 10 passes with three touchdowns. Overall, the Chiefs converted 12 of 18 third downs, as the Bucs’ defense struggled to find any solutions.
Middle Of The Field Defense
The Bucs' struggles in the middle of the field are well-documented, and things didn't improve on Monday Night Football against the Chiefs. Mahomes exploited this weakness, completing 10 passes in that area for 85 yards, three first downs, and a touchdown. Despite Todd Bowles' efforts to involve linebackers J.J. Russell and Vi Jones more in the rotation, the outcome remained unchanged. If the Bucs look to make a move before the trade deadline, addressing the inside linebacker position should be a top priority. At least they can expect Dean's return soon—unfortunately, there seems to be little hope on the horizon for the linebacker corps.
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