Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes admitted he was initially worried when he injured his ankle in the fourth quarter of Monday night's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

When Mahomes threw a game-winning touchdown pass to running back Samaje Perine, he limped and had to be helped to his feet:

According to ESPN's Adam Teicher, Mahomes noted that he initially thought the issue was much more serious than it turned out to be, saying, “Definitely scary. I think it hurt more just because it was the same ankle I rolled last week, so it scared me.” When you don't know exactly what's happening and you feel a sharp pain, you're always scared the worst.

Mahomes managed to get to the sideline under his own power, and after testing his ankle there, he was back on the field for the Chiefs' next offensive series.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters after the game that he had informed Mahomes he was taking him out and told backup Carson Wentz to get ready, but Mahomes did enough between series to show Reid that he would be fine getting back in.

Mahomes showed no ill effects from the injury as he led the Chiefs on a touchdown drive and threw a five-yard scoring pass to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins with 4:17 left in regulation.

The Bucs tied it with 27 seconds left on a one-yard touchdown pass from Baker Mayfield to wideout Ryan Miller, but that only delayed the inevitable.

Kansas City won the coin toss in overtime and the Buccaneers never saw the ball again as Mahomes marched the Chiefs 70 yards down the field in 10 plays, culminating in a two-yard touchdown run by running back Kareem Hunt to make it 30. Yard touchdown secured. 24 win.

With the win, KC improved to 8-0 on the season and remained the only remaining NFL team with an undefeated record.

Perhaps most importantly, Mahomes had his best statistical game of the season, going 34 of 44 for 291 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Mahomes had thrown at least one interception in each of the Chiefs' first seven games and entered Monday's contest with eight touchdown passes and nine picks on the year.

While his overall numbers still leave something to be desired, Mahomes and Kansas City's offense as a whole may finally be on the right track.

It appears Mahomes once again has the No. 1 wide receiver he has been missing since Rashee Rice's season loss, as Hopkins recorded eight catches for 86 yards and two touchdowns in his second game as a member of the Chiefs.

Mahomes and Hopkins will look to continue nurturing their relationship on Sunday when the Chiefs host AFC West rival Denver Broncos.