A pair of NFL heavyweights go toe-to-toe on Sunday night when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1, 0-1 home) host the Kansas City Chiefs (2-1, 1-1 away) in a primetime battle. Tampa Bay leads the all-time series against the Chiefs, 8-6, including a 31-9 victory in Super Bowl LV.
The kickoff for Sunday’s nightcap is at 8:20 p.m. EST inside Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Tampa Bay enters as a one-point favorite, and the over/under total is 46.0 points.
What to Know – Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City wants to put Week 3 into the rearview after a surprising loss to the Indianapolis Colts. The Chiefs are tied with the Denver Broncos atop the AFC West division.
Patrick Mahomes hasn’t missed a beat after losing one of his top targets, Tyreek Hill, in the offseason. Mahomes is completing 67.9% of his passes for 857 yards, eight touchdowns, and only one interception. The four-time Pro Bowler had his worst outing of the year in last week’s defeat.
The Chiefs have spread the wealth in the rushing game between starter Clyde Edwards-Helaire, rookie Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon. Edwards-Helaire leads the group with 22 touches for 116 yards and one touchdown and is third on the team in receiving, catching 12 passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns.
With Hill in South Beach, tight end Travis Kelce has become even more of a focal point in Kansas City’s passing attack. Kelce leads the team, catching 17 of 24 targets for 230 yards and two touchdowns. Former Pittsburgh Steeler JuJu Smith-Schuster is the top wideout with 14 receptions for 178 yards.
What to Know – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers dropped a hard-fought contest last week at home against the Green Bay Packers. Tampa Bay failed to convert a 2-point conversion in the closing seconds to fall 14-12 at home. The loss didn’t affect Tampa’s position at the top of the NFC South.
Tom Brady continues to lead the Bucs’ offense at the young age of 45. Brady had a quiet season over the first three weeks, throwing for 673 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.
Leonard Fournette is the workhorse in the backfield for the Bucs, carrying the ball 57 times this season for 227 yards. Fournette is searching for his first rushing touchdown of the season, but it hasn’t been without lack of use.
The veteran running back has accounted for 74% of the Bucs’ rushes. Leading pass-catcher Mike Evans is back in the lineup this week after carrying a one-game suspension for fighting two weeks ago.
Tampa missed Evans playmaking ability at wideout last week, and his 16.5 yards per catch will be welcomed back this week.
The Pick is In
The Chiefs owe the Buccaneers payback for the blowout loss in the Super Bowl two years ago. Kansas City has the pieces to do it while the Buccaneers continue to search for cohesiveness on offense.
It’s hard to fathom Brady and the Bucs losing two home games in a row, but the Chiefs get it done.
The Pick: Kansas City Chiefs ML
