Chiefs need OT before besting Bucs to remain unbeaten

Kareem Hunt bulled his way in for the decisive 2-yard rushing score with 4:08 left in overtime and the Kansas City Chiefs remained unbeaten with a 30-24 victory over the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night.

Patrick Mahomes passed for 291 yards and three touchdowns despite aggravating his left ankle injury while helping Kansas City (8-0) win its 14th consecutive game, including the postseason. DeAndre Hopkins caught two touchdown passes in his second game for Kansas City.

The Buccaneers scored a tying touchdown in the final minute of regulation, but the Chiefs won the coin toss at the start of overtime and never allowed Tampa Bay to possess the ball again. It was the first time all season Kansas City reached the 30-point mark.

Hunt rushed for 106 yards on 27 carries, Travis Kelce had 14 receptions for 100 yards and Hopkins had eight catches for 86 yards. Mahomes connected on 34 of 44 passes.

Baker Mayfield completed 23 of 31 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns for the Buccaneers (4-5). Cade Otton had eight receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown, and Ryan Miller caught the tying 1-yard pass with 27 seconds to play in the fourth quarter.

Kansas City drove 70 yards on 10 plays in overtime.

The Chiefs knotted the score at 17 on Mahomes’ 7-yard touchdown pass to Samaje Perine with 14:14 left in the fourth.

Mahomes reinjured the ankle on the play. He was running toward the line of scrimmage and took an awkward step before making a shot put-like throw to Perine.

Mahomes eventually needed to be helped off the field, and he entered the medical tent. A short time later, Mahomes jogged down the sideline and then returned to the contest when Kansas City next had possession.

Mahomes wasn’t hampered on the Chiefs’ ensuing march as he guided a 15-play, 78-yard drive over 8:26 during pouring rain. He hit Hopkins with a 5-yard scoring pass to give Kansas City a 24-17 lead with 4:17 to go.

The Buccaneers answered with a 10-play, 71-yard drive to force OT.

Tampa Bay trailed by three at the half before using 10 third-quarter points to take a 17-10 lead.

Bucky Irving returned the second-half kickoff 46 yards to the Tampa Bay 49-yard line to get things started. The Buccaneers then moved 51 yards on six plays with Mayfield connecting with Otton on a 11-yard scoring pass with 11:36 left in the third quarter.

The Buccaneers’ lead grew to seven on Chase McLaughlin’s 47-yard field goal with 5:50 left in the period.

Earlier, Kansas City struck first when Harrison Butker kicked a 40-yard field goal with 2:16 left in the first quarter.

Tampa Bay answered with a Rachaad White scoring on a 7-yard run for a 7-3 lead with 10:23 left in the second quarter.

On Kansas City’s next possession, Hopkins made a stellar 35-yard grab between two defenders to give the Chiefs the ball at the 3-yard line.

Three plays later, Mahomes threw a 1-yard scoring pass to Hopkins.