The Tampa Bay Buccaneers struggled in their Week 9 offensive showdown, giving the NFL's only undefeated team its biggest challenge of 2024 on Monday night at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won the coin toss in overtime and elected to receive. Patrick Mahomes led a 70-yard scoring drive, handing the Buccaneers their third straight loss. The Bucs tied the game with 27 seconds left in regulation when Baker Mayfield hit Ryan Miller for a one-yard touchdown, capping a methodical 71-yard drive. Mayfield faked a handoff to Rachaad White and then hit Miller on a corner route to tie the score at 24 after the other try. However, Mayfield was never able to touch the ball again and Tampa Bay fell to 4-5 with a 30-24 road loss. Kansas City's four touchdowns came on third down and the unit converted on 12 of 18 third-down attempts while the Bucs converted on five of 11.

“The only thing we're taking from this is a loss, and we can't get used to losing,” head coach Todd Bowles said. “That’s the biggest thing – we’re not going to get used to losing. We had some big plays, we made our swings, but they scored more than we did. We fought but it wasn't good enough so we did it. “I have to prepare for another one next week.

On a rainy night in Kansas City without their three starting receivers, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan, the Buccaneers found a way to achieve cohesion and maintain momentum. Baker Mayfield completed 23 of 31 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.

Mayfield gave the Buccaneers a 14-10 lead in the third quarter with an 11-yard scoring pass to Cade Otton, who caught eight passes for 77 yards and the aforementioned score. Otton became the first tight end in franchise history with eight or more receiving yards in three consecutive games and only the second with 75 or more receiving yards in three consecutive games. With over eight receptions and over 75 receiving yards in NFL history (three), he tied the second-longest streak of games by a tight end, trailing only Travis Kelce (six games, 11/1/20 – 12/13/20). ). Bucky Irving gave the Bucs positive field position on the scoring drive with a 46-yard kickoff return. In a beautiful play design, Ryan Miller went vertical, creating an advantageous matchup for Otton on a wheel route. Otton was wide open, caught the ball and charged up to score. The Bucs also ran 95 yards early in the game against the NFL's second-ranked rush defense, while White and Irving led the running game.

White gave the Bucs their first lead early in the second quarter when he ran seven yards for a touchdown, and kicker Chase McLaughlin hit a 47-yard field goal in the third frame to give the Bucs a 17-10 lead provide. On White's touchdown, the Bucs were operating out of a tight field on the left side of the formation and Tristan Wirfs moved to create scoring space for White along with Payne Durham and Otton. Mahomes responded with a 78-yard touchdown pass eight and a half minutes after halftime and culminated in a five-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins. The Chiefs converted three first downs on the drive to set up Hopkins' touchdown on a slant in the back of the end zone.

On the game's first drive, Vita Vea sacked Patrick Mahomes for a 10-yard loss to put Kansas City out of field goal range on third down before adding another knockdown later in the first half. Vea has a team-best 5.0 sacks this year and his 5.0 sacks are the most among nose tackles this season – 2.5 more than the next closest nose tackle per StatsPass position designation. Vea also led the team with a career-best 10 tackles and three quarterback hits. He became a disruptive force inland, breaking through during the Monday Night Football contest. Vea imposed his will at the point of attack and forced his way into the backfield all night long.

Defensive lineman Calijah Kancey posted his first career multi-sack performance. He demonstrated his first-step quickness and change-of-direction ability, making him the first choice ahead of Pitt. Antoine Winfield Jr. led the team with a season-best 12 tackles, marking his 11th career game with 10 or more tackles. Rookie defensive back Tykee Smith forced his third fumble of the season, beating Kelce. Smith's three forced fumbles in 2024 are the third-most in the NFL and the most among rookies. Outside linebacker Yaya Diaby added two tackles for loss and wreaked havoc in the backfield with a quick diagnosis.

Travis Kelce became Mahomes' favorite target of the night. He finished the game with 100 yards on 14 receptions and regularly found ways to create leverage and exploit gaps in zone coverage. DeAndre Hopkins, the Chiefs' new signing in a trade with the Titans, finished the game with 86 yards on eight receptions and two touchdowns. Kareem Hunt rushed for 106 yards on 27 carries.