2024 Week 9: Buccaneers 24, Chiefs 30
This confirms it, the Chiefs are the team of destiny. The Buccaneers tied the game with ~30 seconds left, too much time for KC, but in a spot where everyone thought TB would go for two Todd Bowles wimped out and tried to beat KC in overtime. I don’t understand that decision, well I do actually. It’s that most coaches are scared of the media so they play to NOT lose, rather than to win sending the game to OT was the not-lose decision. The risky coaches like Dan Campbell or early-career Sean McVay get bullied out of that play style eventually. Dan Campbell might be the exception to the rule.
Mahomes hurt his ankle and needed to be helped/hopped off the field and two minutes later he was jogging on the sidelines, and then came back with no problem. I have no idea how he recovered so quickly but whatever. It’s the Chiefs. It’s Mahomes. It’s what they do.
The Chiefs (8-0) can seal the division and possibly the AFC if they beat Denver and Buffalo the next two weeks, and I’m sure they will. The Chiefs seem on their way to the first 20-win season, the second undefeated season ever, and the first SB three-peat.
Tampa Bay is now under .500 and would need an epic comeback and simultaneous collapse by the Falcons to win the NFC South. If they get to a wildcard spot they have tiebreakers over Detroit, Philly, and Washington. Bowles is on the hot seat after a third-straight loss
=====================================
QB Report:
- Patrick Mahomes (34/44 for 291 yards, 3 TDs) fantasy week was saved by the game-winning drive in OT, without it it was just going to be a ‘meh’ but better game for Mahomes, not a high-end performance like we got. I’m convinced Mahomes doesn’t try unless it’s a close game in the 4th quarter or the playoffs. He looked like any random mid-tier QB until it was 17-10 at the start of the 4Q and they scored 14 points to take the lead, while Mahomes suddenly flipped a switch and looked like ‘Mahomes’.
- Baker Mayfield (23/31 for 200 yards, 2 TDs) played fine, he was given trouble by the Chiefs defense early, they tried to sit on a lead after the half so they didn’t throw as much, and then it started raining which dampened the pass game too.
RB Report:
- Rachaad White (3-19-1; 3 catches for 16 yards) was once again saved by a touchdown. He is the ultimate sell-high. Only 30 yards this game and he’s been scoring lately, which could attract some suckers. Bucky Irving (7-24-0; 3 catches for 10 yards) couldn’t get anything going, nor could White, so they went to Sean Tucker (3-11-0; 1 catch for 6 yards) who looked the best, his one drive ended in a TD, and that was basically it for his game. I don’t know what’s going on here. Avoid this backfield like the plague.
- Kareem Hunt (27-106-1; 1 catch for 11 yards) had a nice night, mostly due to OT. Isaiah Pacheco is working out and should be returning from IR soon, but they have no reason to rush him back because of how well Hunt is playing. This will get complicated around Week 13 which is just in time for the playoffs. Yay!
WR Report:
- DeAndre Hopkins (8-86-2/9) goes to Kansas City and who knew, he is still really good at football! Other older receivers were moved this year, Amari Cooper, Davante Adams, and Diontae Johnson went to bad situations. Davante has the least competition because of his past with Aaron Rodgers, but Cooper isn’t the best WR on his team, nor is Diontae Johnson. DeHop though… he’s the best receiver even with Rice healthy. He is a true WR1 moving forward, this was the perfect landing spot.
- I believed Rakim Jarrett (1-9-0/1) would have a nice 8-10+ fantasy performance, maybe hitting the teens with a score, but nope, just the one target. He looked fine in his routes and on that catch but there was no concerted effort to get him the ball. Sterling Shepard (4-48-0/5) is the other slot guy for TB and his story was the same as Jarrett’s until late in the game. I don’t believe he had a single target until the 4th quarter.
- Everything in the Tampa offense runs through Cade Otton (8-77-1/11) right now, and the more I think about it, the more I believe this will continue when Mike Evans returns. I was skeptical at first but it’s working so well, and Baker is no dummy, so there’s no reason this should go away. Will he keep up this ridiculous production? Certainly not, but he’ll move from being THE TE1 to a top 3-option with Kittle and Bowers. I’ve always liked Otton, he was utilized well in the playoffs last season, but I never thought he would be this great. Nicely done Cade, and I’m sorry it took two injuries and three seasons for you to arrive.
image source: (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)