Undefeated Chiefs Already Look Better With DeAndre Hopkins, Bucs Fall Short

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PublishedNovember 5, 2024 12:23 AM EST|UpdatedNovember 5, 2024 12:23 AM EST

The Kansas City Chiefs’ decision to bring in longtime elite wideout DeAndre Hopkins just paid off.

The Chiefs found themselves in a surprising slugfest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night. Still, Kansas City escaped with a 30-24 overtime win in primetime.

The Buccaneers suffered a disappointing loss, but the game ranked as one of Mayfield’s best performances.

Mayfield truly stepped up when his team needed him most.

Mayfield and the Bucs led a 10-play, 71-yard game-tying drive with under two minutes left to answer Patrick Mahomes’ newly boosted offense, pushing the unbeaten Chiefs team to extra time.

KANSAS CITY, MO – NOVEMBER 04: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates after a play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL football game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on November 4, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Despite regaining momentum at the end, Tampa Bay ate the loss after Mahomes marched the Chiefs down the field in overtime, setting up a walk-off touchdown run by Kareem Hunt.

A fourth-quarter injury scare to Mahomes, who entered the game with an ankle sprain, siphoned some late-game momentum for KC. Mahomes required help to walk off the field at the start of the fourth quarter, entering the Chiefs’ medical tent for evaluation. Carson Wentz briefly stepped in, but Mahomes muscled through pain to return.

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – NOVEMBER 04: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs is helped off the field after an apparent injury against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the fourth quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on November 04, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Tampa Bay slipped to 4-5, though most of the chatter on Monday night asked whether the Bucs were ‘contenders or pretenders’ based on their solid outing.

The majority of NFL fans see the Bucs as ‘pretenders’ since expectations are usually low for teams who host Tom Brady and are made to rebuild their offense in the aftermath.

At times, this Tampa Bay team has led ‘contender’ moments — keeping up with powerful offenses like the Chiefs, Eagles, and Lions. Monday’s surprise performance by the Bucs also came absent of their top two wideouts, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, who are out with injuries.

Mayfield completed 23 of 31 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns. His worst contribution of the night came from calling the overtime coin toss, picking the wrong side and letting the Chiefs start overtime on offense. Mayfield never got another shot at tying or winning the game.

DeAndre Hopkins recorded eight catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns.

Hopkins, who was traded to the Chiefs on Oct. 24, delivered a gut punch of a performance to his doubters (after a rough stretch in Tennessee) and to NFL fans who loathed the thought of Kansas City’s offense adding a 32-year-old Hopkins with some juice left.

There’s no easy way to say it: the best team in the NFL got better thanks to Hopkins.

What else could Tampa Bay have done?

KANSAS CITY, MO – NOVEMBER 04: DeAndre Hopkins #8 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL football game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on November 4, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Several missed passes from Mahomes in the fourth quarter, possibly hampered by a leg injury, had enough air underneath them to get scooped by Tampa’s defense. Mahomes completed 34-of-44 for 291 yards and three touchdowns.

Also finding his groove, alongside Hopkins, was Chiefs’ Kareem Hunt, who rushed 27 times for 106 yards and the game-winning score. A two-yard run by Hunt capped the Chiefs’ 70-yard OT drive to bump them up to 8-0.

Taylor Swift was at the game, cheering on her man, Travis Kelce, who caught 14 passes for 100 yards.

Also in attendance was Patrick Mahomes’ mother and proud MAGA supporter, Randi Mahomes. Randi’s hoping to celebrate more than a Chiefs win on the eve of the election.