Chiefs vs. Buccaneers recap: K.C. dominates Tampa Bay in Week 4

The Kansas City Chiefs dominated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road in Week 4 for all four quarters on Sunday Night Football.

The pre-game storyline was centered on a showdown of two superstars. It turns out that only one was truly deserving of the limelight. In a primetime game on Sunday Night Football between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it was Patrick Mahomes and company who took control early and never allowed Tom Brady to get back into it. The Chiefs won by a final score of 41-31.

The Chiefs came out firing on all cylinders, which was a welcome sign after such a miserable performance against the Colts in Week 3. After forcing a fumble on the opening kickoff return from Rachaad White, the Chiefs made short work of a short field and Mahomes found tight end Travis Kelce for a 16-yard touchdown for the game’s first touchdown.

The momentum continued to remain on the Chiefs’ side for the majority of the first half. The Chiefs’ offense was unstoppable for the most part, and the only thing that could stop them from imposing their will on the Buccaneers defense was the Chiefs’ themselves. The one drive that failed to end in a touchdown—not just a score but a touchdown—was a fourth down pass attempt from Mahomes to a wide-open Clyde Edwards-Helaire who somehow couldn’t haul in a short toss that would have given him his second touchdown catch in the first half.

The Buccaneers deserve credit for keeping pace with the Chiefs, at least enough to keep it from being a blowout early. Tom Brady looked sharp on a couple of key drives that made it clear he appreciated having some of his injured targets back for the first time in weeks—names like Chris Godwin and Julio Jones who both came with big plays when they were needed. Of course, Mike Evans turned in a memorable first half with two touchdown catches of his own to keep Tampa Bay in the game.

From there, however, the Chiefs would only continue to apply pressure on the Bucs with a short field goal to start the second half and then another touchdown on a 10-yard pass from Mahomes to Jody Fortson. For a Bucs team that came into the game with perhaps the best defense in the league, it was surprising to see the Chiefs click in every facet. Even the running game, against which the Bucs are particularly stout, enjoyed a banner night with a 5.1 average and 189 total rushing yards.

By the time the fourth quarter began, the Chiefs were up by two scores, 38-24, and running away with things. A short field goal by replacement kicker Matthew Wright gave them 41 and a 17-point lead. The Bucs made things a bit closer thanks to a careless error by Mahomes on a deep fourth-quarter pass that was intercepted by Sean Murphy-Bunting. Brady took advantage of solid field position to give the Bucs one more touchdown, a short catch by Leonard Fournette from five yards out.

The Chiefs are now 3-1 and sit all alone in first place in the AFC West. They will host the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday Night Football in Week 5. The Buccaneers, meanwhile, will host the Atlanta Falcons in Week 5.