Ira Kaufman’s 10 Takeaways From Bucs-Chiefs
October 3rd, 2022
Click on through to shop at BillCurrieFord.com. Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan is ready to help you PERSONALLY and give you the Ira Kaufman discount. Just ask!
BY IRA KAUFMAN
The Bucs never stopped ’em. Not really.
The NFL’s No. 1 scoring defense was overwhelmed at the line of scrimmage Sunday evening as the Chiefs gained a small measure of revenge for their lopsided Super Bowl loss in Tampa.
This was not a game to moan about Tampa Bay’s lack of offensive balance. Tampa Bay fell behind early and it soon became evident that Patrick Mahomes and his band of brothers were not to be denied.
The Chiefs came in averaging only 93 yards on the ground, but they passed that total by halftime. Clyde Edwards-Helaire and rookie Isiah Pacheco capitalized on enormous holes as Tampa Bay’s front 7 got their butts kicked from Dale Mabry to Bayshore Boulevard.
When the final seconds ticked off, Kansas City had 189 rushing yards. The Bucs had 3.
Tom Brady kept firing away, finishing with 39 completions, tied for the second-most in his storied career. A plodding offense came to life, but the Chiefs kept converting third downs and making plays in the red zone. If Todd Bowles has experienced a worse day as a defensive coordinator, it must have been a doozy.
Mahomes exhibited his usual wizardry, throwing from a variety of arm angles and often escaping a pass rush that dropped him three times. His only mistake was a foolish late interception that gave the Bucs brief life.
Tampa Bay ultimately ran out of time in a 41-31 setback, but the harsh truth is the Buc defense ran out of answers early and never recovered.
Here’s how the visitors dropped the Bucs to 2-2 before a national TV audience expecting a more competitive game:
* When Cris Collinsworth can’t drum up excitement about a potential comeback, you know you’re out of it. Every time the Buc defense needed to make a play, KC kept the chains moving. Converting 12-of-17 on third down is a ridiculous success rate, even with Mahomes under center.
* Can somebody around here cover Travis Kelce — or at least try? The future Hall of Fame tight end caught 9-of-10 passes sent his way, including 7 in the first half, giving him 19 receptions in his last two meetings with Tampa Bay. His knack for finding open spaces is fantastic and his yards after the catch is equally impressive.
* It was nice to see Mike Evans return with a vengeance after last week’s suspension. If there’s a more effective red-zone target in the NFL, let me know.
* The game balls should go to Kansas City’s offensive line, especially left guard Joe Thuney and center Creed Humphrey. They manhandled the interior of Tampa Bay’s defense and continually got KC runners to the second level. The Chiefs kept churning out at least five yards on first-down runs, staying ahead of the sticks. That’s how you finish with 18 more snaps and 17 more minutes of possession time.
* For the second consecutive game, safety Mike Edwards was credited with 13 tackles. He also added a sack, but many of those stops came well down the field. Bowles would much prefer for Devin White and Lavonte David to lead the team in tackles.
* It was a mixed bag for Rachaad White. The rookie back fumbled the opening kickoff, leading to a quick 7-0 deficit, but he flashed his receiving skills by catching all five targets for 50 yards. He’s going to get more snaps as the season progresses.
* As the game developed, Byron Leftwich realized this was not a night to feed the run game. With the Chiefs knowing Brady would be firing away on virtually every snap, Tampa Bay’s pass protection was outstanding. The only sack came from blitzing cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, and it was a big one as Brady lost a fumble. But overall, Brady was given a clean pocket and suffered few hits from a defense that sacked Matt Ryan five times last week.
* Through four games, the Bucs have gotten very little from Julio Jones or Chris Godwin, both undermined by injuries. As good as he is, Evans can’t hold up this offense by himself. Given the scant production at tight end, it’s imperative that Godwin and/or Jones emerges as a credible threat.
* Here’s all you need to know about this matchup: Kansas City’s only punt came with less than a minute to play and the game well decided.
* Nothing like an early-season battle for NFC South supremacy, right here at Raymond James Stadium. Here come the 2-2 Falcons, averaging a healthy 26 points behind a surprisingly potent ground game that just rushed for 202 yards vs. the Browns, besting the 201 they ran on the Saints in Week 1.
Ira loves that lifetime warranty on new and used vehicles!
October 3rd, 2022 at 6:43 am
Didn’t help that it felt like almost every Chiefs third down was less than four yards.
October 3rd, 2022 at 6:48 am
I’m sure TB12 wishes he stayed retired. This sad sack crew of NFL wannabes may win 8 games (by accident). The coaching is exceptionally bad, the players mentally out of it expecting opposing teams to roll over. And, last, but not least, this is the most physically weak team the Bucs have fielded … ever. So, we await the long injury list for hamstring issues, knee problems, rib problems, and so forth. The low-flying Falcons are next. Will the Bucs be ready?
October 3rd, 2022 at 7:06 am
Taking it easy during training camp is not smart.
Players need to be tough and physical to survive in the NFL.
We can’t run because Goedeke can’t move anyone off the line.
He was 305 pound RT. Not a 320 pound LG. (Ideal size for a guard)
Engram is opening holes up in Minnesota.
LSU product? Plug and play. Goedeke? Not ready.
Losing Logan Ryan is the main reason we lost. He’s amazing.
October 3rd, 2022 at 7:13 am
Well Jason Licht your top draft pick Logan Hall had exactly 0 tackles and 0 sacks , for the SEASON Hall has 1 sack and 1 tackle. LaVonte David is not the same as the player that put a governor on Kelce in the Super Bowl. Licht Picking Camarda was a wasted pick( See Aguayo pick-Licht should know better) , he was abysmal. All the while the LB you passed on at 27 -Devin Lloyd- is the NFL Rookie of the Month and leads rookies if not the whole league in some major defensive stat categories.
Well Jason Licht your top 2 free agent signings in Russell Gage and Akiem Hicks are surely not lighting it up either-you just made Hicks and Gage the 2 most overpaid players in the league.
Well Jason Licht , it is quite obvious you should have retained Ndamakong Suh with the cash wasted on Hicks. So do something , hell anything right and FREAKING SIGN SUH NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 3rd, 2022 at 7:24 am
The PA announcer calling ‘Thiiiiiiiirrrrd Doooooooown’ is becoming a joke. Why do they do that???? Last night it just meant ‘be ready to move the chains’
October 3rd, 2022 at 7:32 am
Never should have let Bowles take over the team. No emotion No fire No common sense on the sidelines.
October 3rd, 2022 at 7:36 am
The jury is still out but Russell Gage looks like a third string wide receiver. He had a decent game last week but Brady had no one else to throw too. Don’t look now but Julio Jones is in the has been category. Defensively can Todd Bowles make someone else the defensive coordinator already. How can you get totally outcoached and just stand there on the sidelines with that stupid look on your face like you don’t know what the hell is going on. Just a pathetic game played by the Bucs.
October 3rd, 2022 at 7:42 am
Falcons will beat them down if they’re not careful.
October 3rd, 2022 at 7:43 am
Literally people In the crowd were talking about getting rid of bowels already ….
When I saw Darden come out in the end of the game I was like holy spit this is their first punt of the night …
We missing that ferocity in the middle of the defense, might as well call Suh back at this point.
October 3rd, 2022 at 7:43 am
Exactly!!!!!! He looks like Ron Rivera looking lost and overwhelmed.
October 3rd, 2022 at 7:45 am
We are missing a spit fire head coach
October 3rd, 2022 at 7:47 am
Look, the Bucs had it handed to them last night. Mahomes and the Chiefs played lights out. I’m not sure another team out there could have stopped the Chiefs last night. So, I’m night totally disheartened. It’s clear however that our defensive front has got to figure out a way to stop the run, and quick. We do that, and we’ll be just fine.
October 3rd, 2022 at 7:47 am
If I am not mistaken. EVERYONE was happy with a 2-2 start. Although I did not want to admit it than, I will now.
I am happy with a 2-2 start.
We could EASILY be 3-1.
Just wish we would not have abandoned the run so quickly. Our D was GASSED and needed time to figure out their adjustments, but it NEVER came.
You MUST control the clock against teams that are Dominating your D and give those guys an opportunity to figure out what is happening. Our D just seemed DAZED and CONFUSED from the get go and the O was SLOW to control the ball.
PLUS, trading TD for Field Goals was never a good idea.
October 3rd, 2022 at 8:15 am
Our running game is Lenny up the middle. You saw how much more creative the Chiefs running game is, and how they use more then one back to great affect. We might as well just throw every down.
October 3rd, 2022 at 8:53 am
One word… SUH
October 3rd, 2022 at 8:59 am
Chris Collinsworth to Mahomes is sappier than Madden to Favre. Blech.
October 3rd, 2022 at 9:03 am
Why is nobody talking about how crappy vea is??
Brady will be gone next year.
Free agents won’t want to come here
Jason is a marginal drafter
October 3rd, 2022 at 9:29 am
We don’t look like we are getting much from JTS & Hall, our first draft picks…..
Despite the fumble, I like what I see from White…….
And, I disagree…..Camarda was a good pick…..a bit inconsistent but can punt.
Goedeke, Otton & Kieft look good….
October 3rd, 2022 at 9:35 am
Hey Ira, was Brady laughing at Scott Miller when he was running up field and the turf monster got him? Are his days numbered in our uniform? For whatever reason Ira I keep repeating the name Devin Thompkins, kick offs, punt returns (that is if the other team punts). We need a little bit of flash speed, where in the hell was Beasly last night? Leftwich is not auditioning well for his next promotion, Ira keep on doing what you are doing, I have been reading and listening to you for years. I am up in North Carolina with the stinking Panthers, that’s why Joe has been soo important to me.
October 3rd, 2022 at 9:47 am
So much fire in the eyes of the Chiefs. They bullied us. Our run defense is terrible. The good news about being down so much early is that Lord Byron didn’t have to run Lenny up the gut on first down.
The poor play even infected Camara who till last night has been a bright spot. Last night he threw up all over himself, poor kickoffs, bad punts, and one out of bounds. Bring back Arians.
October 3rd, 2022 at 10:28 am
Hodad … ‘Our running game is Lenny up the middle.’
Actually Lenny ran 3 times last night for MINUS 3 yards, all in the 1st qtr & all on 1st down. First run off RG gained 3 yds. Second run around left end lost 4 yds. Third run around right end lost 2 yds. He never ran it again, but did catch 7 passes out of 7 targets for 57 yds & 1 TD.
Somehow I’m wondering why gimpy Lenny is running around the ends. It ain’t working.
October 3rd, 2022 at 10:45 am
Bucs got bullied in the trenches all game and were missing tackles left and right. The Chiefs wanted it and the Bucs didn’t. Can’t even get guys to practice on Wednesday after traveling ‘all the way to Miami.’ That’s total BS right there.
October 3rd, 2022 at 11:09 am
Something just ain’t right with this team…or Tom Brady.
October 3rd, 2022 at 11:11 am
It’s difficult to win when your D is facing 2nd and 2 all game long.
October 3rd, 2022 at 11:15 am
Lay an egg against the Falcons, and the season will implode.
IMO, the future is not looking particularly bright for the guys in pewter.
October 3rd, 2022 at 11:22 am
Mahomes, Reid and Kelce had this game circled. If you guys think they still aren’t salty about that Super Bowl your mistaken. KC wanted to do exactly what they did and we weren’t ready. We thought we were going to just play Buc Ball while Reid unleashed basically his whole playbook on us.
I know it was ugly, but now is gut check time for this team. Gut check time for the young guys on the DL. Gut check time for the coaching staff. Feel like we’re tip toeing our way through the first quarter with fears of injury and hopes of playoff push, but we won’t get there playing AND practicing so conservatively. Time to Buc up buttercups. The schedule is what it is and everyone is still going to give us there A game.
October 3rd, 2022 at 11:58 am
Agree Cobra. Something just ain’t right with this team.
October 3rd, 2022 at 12:20 pm
There’s a reason why the BUCS are stuck with leftwich and it shows weekly. He a predictable dumpster fire and the rest of the league knew it. He’s been bailed out by Brady and Arians. JTS is a major downgrade from JPP and Vea obviously misses Suh. Julio is a wasted roster spot and Godwin doesn’t look comfortable. Goedeke is a liability and it’s so obvious how much gronk is missed. Run blocking, chain mover, and red zone target. The team just looks off. Reminds me of post Brady when they could never put a complete game together and found ways to lose.
October 3rd, 2022 at 12:58 pm
Those 2 fumbles were the difference in the game.
For the 2nd week in a row, the home team didn’t show up. No one on the Bucs looked like they wanted to be there, with the exception of Mike Evans.
The Brady magic appears to have worn off. I guess when you take 11 days off in the middle of camp, it’s a little harder to get everyone to keeping buying into your supposed “all-in” attitude…
That said, Brady still looked great.
October 3rd, 2022 at 1:34 pm
I was all in on the Creed Humphries band wagon 18 months ago. At least I was right about him. Still too early to act like the sky is falling for this team, however.
October 3rd, 2022 at 3:09 pm
JTS
October 3rd, 2022 at 3:09 pm
has a looooooong way to go
October 3rd, 2022 at 3:41 pm
“Mahomes, Reid and Kelce had this game circled.” – CRUCIAL
And notice all the trick plays they used – Chiefs used their entire arsenal on us and we STILL almost came back. This was the toughest game on the schedule, and it could’ve gone the other way barring an opening kickoff fumble SMH