The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs are the one undefeated workforce within the NFL, however they have not displayed a dominant present of success.
And that is completely high-quality with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Mahomes and the Chiefs (7-0) will look to proceed their profitable methods Monday night time once they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
5 of Kansas Metropolis’s victories have been by seven factors or fewer, and the offense hasn’t scored 30 but this season.
And Mahomes, a two-time NFL Most Invaluable Participant, would not have dazzling statistics. He ranks sixteenth in passing yardage (1,651) and has extra interceptions (9) than landing passes (eight).
“Once we win, it would not as harm as dangerous,” Mahomes stated of the statistics. “Clearly, I wish to be good, I wish to be nice, I do not wish to put our protection in dangerous positions like the opposite day. On the finish of the day, I wish to win.
“Nonetheless we’ve got to win the soccer recreation, I am good with it.”
The Kansas Metropolis protection actually saved Mahomes on Oct. 27 throughout a 27-20 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Chiefs have been main 17-13 halfway by way of the third quarter when Mahomes threw an interception in his personal finish, setting the Raiders up with first-and-goal from the Kansas Metropolis 3-yard line. The protection stuffed three straight operating performs, and Tershawn Wharton sacked Gardner Minshew on fourth all the way down to keep away from harm.
That sequence additionally shows why the Chiefs are unbeaten — getting key contributions and making large performs on the proper time.
“We have simply obtained to maintain getting higher and higher as we go,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid stated. “That is the vital factor, and guys are working exhausting.”
Kansas Metropolis skilled bumps final season as nicely earlier than placing issues collectively and profitable its third Tremendous Bowl through the Reid-Mahomes period. The Chiefs have gained 13 consecutive video games (counting playoffs) coming into the sport in opposition to the Buccaneers (4-4).
Tampa Bay, which has dropped its previous two video games, is averaging 34.2 factors over the previous 5 video games however has simply two victories throughout that stretch.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield is not impressed with all of the factors his membership has scored. He additionally isn’t boasting about main the NFL with 21 landing passes and rating second in yardage (2,189).
“The one stat we ought to be higher in is wins,” Mayfield stated. “That is the one stat I am centered on.”
Mayfield is tied with Mahomes and Jordan Love of the Inexperienced Bay Packers with 9 interceptions, probably the most within the NFL.
Now that is a stat Mayfield is not thrilled to listen to about.
“I do not wish to flip the ball over,” Mayfield stated. “To me, that is capturing our entire workforce within the foot. That is not what I wish to do. It makes me offended. Clearly, it is one thing I can immediately repair and that is what I will do.”
Tampa Bay will probably be with out standout receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) for a second straight recreation. The Buccaneers are also with out Chris Godwin for the long run after he dislocated his left ankle in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 21.
Whereas Tampa Bay’s offense has been potent, the protection has allowed 30 or extra factors in three of the previous 4 video games. That does not sit nicely with Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles.
“We are able to make 62 good performs and 5 dangerous performs and it goes haywire,” Bowles stated. “We have to chop out the dangerous performs. We perceive that. We’re engaged on it each day. If we lower out the dangerous performs and play the remainder of the sport, we’ll be OK.”
Becoming a member of Evans on the sideline at apply on Wednesday have been linebacker Lavonte David (ankle/chest), defensive lineman Greg Gaines (calf), operating again Bucky Irving (toe) and receiver Sterling Shepard (hamstring).
For the Chiefs, receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring), offensive lineman Ethan Driskell (sickness) and cornerback Nazeeh Johnson (concussion) sat out on Wednesday.
The Buccaneers have gained six of the previous eight conferences, together with a 31-9 rout behind Tom Brady within the Tremendous Bowl following the 2020 season.
–Discipline Stage Media
