Bucs head to KC trying to spoil Chiefs' pursuit of franchise-record 14th straight win Monday night

Published Oct. 31, 2024 6:34 p.m. ET

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs have reached the point where they seem to be making history just about every week.

Patrick Mahomes becoming the fastest player in NFL history to throw for 30,000 yards in last week's win over Las Vegas. Travis Kelce sitting one touchdown reception short of passing Tony Gonzalez for the franchise record.

Here's another one: The Chiefs, at 7-0 the last unbeaten team in the league, can set another club record Monday night against Tampa Bay by winning their 14th consecutive game going back to last season. It's a string of excellence that encompasses their run to a second straight Super Bowl title, and the longest in the NFL since they also won 13 in a row during the 2019-20 seasons.

“Guys have accepted the challenge,” Mahomes said, “and that's why we've been able to win these games we've won.”

The most remarkable thing about the winning streak is the Chiefs have not played particularly well, at least on offense, where they have lost their top two wide receivers and starting running back to what are likely season-ending injuries.

It's helped that running back Kareem Hunt, who was sitting at home as a free agent when Kansas City called, has rejoined his old team and been effective on the ground. And that the trade last week for DeAndre Hopkins already appears to be paying dividends, even though the three-time All-Pro wide receiver has had only a handful of practices with his new team.

“They know how to win,” Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles said. "They’ve been through it many times. They know how to win close games. They know how to win blowouts. So you’re going to have to play a heck of a ball game to beat them.”

The Buccaneers (4-4) have shown they can win close games, too. And lose them. They started the season 3-1 while handing the Lions their only loss through the first eight weeks of the season. But they followed by losing three of their past four, including a 31-26 loss to the Falcons last week.

Baker Mayfield has been playing well, but he'll be without injured wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin on Monday night.

“Their offense is very efficient. Their quarterback is playing great, and he lost two of his guys and he keeps rolling,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “They've got a real good offense, and they use all of them.”

Midseason funk

Tampa Bay has struggled for the second straight year after a hot start. But players say there’s no panic, especially after they lost six of seven after a fast start in 2023, only to rebound by winning five of six and earning a third straight division title.

“The guys that were here, we know how we did it," Mayfield said. "It’s doing the little things right, not beating yourselves. We have the mental makeup to overcome anything, and I truly believe that. I believe that’s the group that we have.”

Where’s the D?

While the Buccaneers have evolved into a potent offensive team, ranking fourth in yards and scoring, it seems to have come at the expense of the defense, which has been on a decline since Bowles was hired as the coordinator five years ago.

“It’s frustrating because we’re making mistakes, beating ourselves. That’s the part we have to clean up,” said Bowles, whose defense has allowed at least 31 points in three of the past four games — all losses. “We can’t play ourselves plus the opponent.”

Seldom-played series

The Buccaneers and Chiefs have only met 15 times since Tampa Bay joined the NFL as an expansion team in 1976. And while the Chiefs have won two of the past three, Tampa Bay won the one that counted most: Tom Brady led the Buccaneers to a 31-9 rout in the Super Bowl on Feb. 7, 2021, which happened to be played on their home field.

Hope for Hopkins

Despite having just two practices last week, Hopkins was on the field for about a third of the Chiefs' offensive plays, and caught two passes for 29 yards. Now, with another week-plus to learn the offense, he figures to have a much bigger role Monday night.

“Hitting him over that medium-to-long range is going to open up the guys down the field, and take pressure off other guys in terms of eyes and coverage,” Mahomes said. “Teams have to account for that.”

More new faces

The Chiefs landed some pass rush help this week by trading a sixth-round pick in 2026 to New England for Josh Uche, a 2020 second-round pick of the Patriots. He has 20 1/2 sacks over parts of five seasons, including two through the first seven games of this season. His best year was in 2022, when Uche had 11 1/2 sacks and forced two fumbles in 15 games.

“I remember playing in Kansas City last year and we had to bring our A-game,” Uche said. “There's so many different threats and weapons on the team that you have to prepare for.”

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AP Sports Writer Fred Goodall in Tampa, Florida, contributed.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

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