Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs have upheld their position as the sole unbeaten team in the 2024 season thus far. In an electrifying match, the Red Army faced off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, emerging victorious in overtime with a score of 30-24.
Reflecting on the contest, Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield expressed his frustration. He placed the blame on the whole team for their heart-wrenching loss to the Chiefs. During the post-game press conference, Mayfield stated:
“Before the half, penalties and me not completing the ball on a couple of easy throws and on that last drive before halftime that really giving away three points and when you look at it against a team like this, that is the difference in winning and losing.”
The match began rather slowly, with only Harrison Butker putting points on the board in the first quarter via a field goal. However, the pace quickly picked up as the Bucs notched the first touchdown of the game. From that point on, the contest turned into a thrilling exchange reminiscent of the 2016 showdown between Mahomes and Mayfield in their college days.
As the teams fought for equality, Mayfield noted that the outcome hinged on the finer details during the heated contest. According to him, this included the Chiefs’ 40-yard field goal, the result of an eight-play drive in the first quarter.
The Oklahoma alum described the overall outcome as “disappointing,” but he did not single out specific players for blame. Instead, he felt a collective responsibility was at play, though he made it clear that every player gave their all on the field.
Despite acknowledging the presence of minor mistakes, he emphasized that the team fought valiantly. This determination was evident in their ability to push the game into overtime. Mayfield also mentioned that missed opportunities, such as winning the coin toss, played a crucial role in the outcome.
While he felt “proud of all the guys” and how the offense performed, the inability to prevent Kareem Hunt from achieving a 2-yard touchdown must have been a source of disappointment.
Nonetheless, Mayfield delivered an impressive performance alongside his teammates. The quarterback finished the game with 200 yards passing and 2 touchdowns, with no interceptions. The Chiefs, similarly, demonstrated their strength, with Patrick Mahomes showcasing a return to his previous form.
He recorded 291 passing yards and 3 touchdowns without any interceptions, a reassuring sign for Chiefs fans. The team will take on Bo Nix and the Broncos next, maintaining an unbeaten record of 8-0. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay is set to face their divisional rivals, the 49ers, in Week 10.
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