ShareLOS ANGELES: Kansas City running back Kareem Hunt bulled into the end zone for a two-yard game-winning touchdown in overtime Monday, lifting the Chiefs to a 30-24 victory over Tampa Bay that improved their perfect NFL record to 8-0.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes shook off a late injury scare as he threw for 291 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Mahomes, who rolled his ankle in a win over the Raiders last week, came up limping after he managed to escape pressure in the pocket and flip a seven-yard touchdown pass to Samaje Perine that pulled the Chiefs level at 17-17 early in the fourth quarter.
He needed help to get to the sideline, but after treatment in the medical tent he returned to hit DeAndre Hopkins with a five-yard touchdown pass that put the reigning Super Bowl champions up 24-17 with 4:17 remaining. But Tampa Bay responded, quarterback Baker Mayfield piloting a 10-play, 71-yard drive capped by a one-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Miller. The Bucs opted not to go for a two-point conversion and the lead, and the extra point kick tied it at 24-24. Kansas City’s final drive in regulation stalled, but they got the ball to start overtime and Mahomes directed a methodical 10-play march to the game-winning score.
Hunt, behind blockers Wanya Morris and Creed Humphrey, rushed for 106 yards, Mahomes crediting his persistence with wearing down the Tampa Bay defense. “Obviously we were doing some good early in the game, but we couldn’t finish drives,” Mahomes said.. “And then Kareem took it on himself ... he took it running again and we were able to do it again.”
Travis Kelce had two catches on the game-winning drive and finished the night with 14 catches for 100 yards. Hopkins, in his second game since arriving in Kansas City via a trade from Tennessee, had eight catches for 86 yards and two touchdowns, the first a one-yarder that put the Chiefs up 10-7 in the second quarter.
Mayfield connected on 23 of 31 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns and Rachaad White — who grew up in Kansas City — rushed for another touchdown for the Bucs. The game was the latest renewal of the rivalry between Mahomes and Mayfield, which stretches back to their college days.
Mahomes and Mayfield combined in a wild college football showdown in 2016 that saw Mayfield’s University of Oklahoma take down Mahomes and Texas Tech in a clash that finished 66-59. This season, their fortunes have diverged, and as the Chiefs continue their unbeaten run toward a shot at a third straight Super Bowl title the Bucs have now fallen to 4-5 with four defeats in their last five games.
Mahomes downplayed his ankle injury after the game, saying he expected to be ready when the Chiefs host Denver on Sunday. “You always fear the worst,” he said. “But as I got some time it started feeling better. We’ve got a short week, but we’ll rehab it up and I’ll be ready to go next week.”
Meanwhile, New Orleans Saints sacked head coach Dennis Allen on Monday, one day after falling to a seventh straight NFL defeat. The team said in a statement that special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi would serve as interim coach.
New Orleans won their first two games of the season by margins of 37 and 25 points. But a 23-22 loss to NFC South division rivals Carolina gave them their first seven-game losing streak since 1999. “Dennis has been part of our organization for many years. He is highly regarded within the NFL. He has been extremely loyal and professional and most importantly an excellent football coach for us. All of this makes today very tough for me and our organization,” Saints owner Gayle Benson said in a statement.
“However, this decision is something that I felt we needed to make at this time.” Allen became the second NFL coach to be fired this season. The New York Jets parted ways with Robert Saleh in October. Allen, who was New Orleans’ defensive coordinator under Sean Payton from 2015-2021, was appointed head coach in 2022.
During his tenure the Saints have gone 18-25 and failed to reach the playoffs. Several key Saints players have missed time with injuries this season, including quarterback Derek Carr and wide receivers Rashid Shaheed and Chris Olave. Olave suffered his second concussion of the season in Sunday’s defeat. — AFP
