BUCS at CHIEFS

WHEN: Monday, November 4, 2024 | WHERE: Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, MO) | KICKOFF: 8:15 p.m. ET | TV: ESPN

PLAY-BY-PLAY: Joe Buck | ANALYST: Troy Aikman | SIDELINE: Lisa Salters

RADIO: 98 ROCK 97.9 FM | PLAY-BY-PLAY: Gene Deckerhoff | ANALYST: Dave Moore | SIDELINE: T.J. Rives

Game day is approaching, and it’s time for the Pewter Report staff to make its weekly game predictions and offer up our game preview of this week’s matchup. Let us know what you think in the article comments section and add your prediction, too.

Scott Reynolds: Bucs Lose 3 In A Row, Fall Below .500 With Loss In K.C.

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Wow, look at that. All five Pewter Reporters are 4-4 in their predictions – just like the Buccaneers. But unless one of us picks Tampa Bay to upset Kansas City in an upset on Monday Night Football, I suspect the Pewter Reporters will move to 5-4 while the Bucs slip to 4-5. I think the Chiefs win, but this isn’t because I grew up rooting for them when I lived in Overland Park, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City. My allegiances to the Chiefs are long gone. But I’ve been to Arrowhead Stadium plenty of times and it’s tough for opponents to win there, especially on Monday Night Football. Even more so when Andy Reid is the head coach, Patrick Mahomes is the QB and the Chiefs are undefeated.

Mahomes has only thrown eight touchdowns, but an NFL-most nine touchdowns, which is tied with Baker Mayfield. Yet he’s seen Kirk Cousins and Lamar Jackson combine for nine touchdowns and no picks over the last two weeks and he has to be licking his chops at playing Todd Bowles’ pass defense, which is in disarray right now. This is a “get well” game for Mahomes, who will throw for at least three touchdowns in a game that is never quite within reach for the visiting Buccaneers. I expect Travis Kelce and Noah Gray to have big games against Tampa Bay because that’s what tight ends do versus Todd Bowles’ defense.

Offensively, points and yards will be much harder to come by this week as the Chiefs not only have the Top 5 total defense in the NFL, but also the Top 5 scoring defense. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen was able to manufacture points and yards without Mike Evans and Chris Godwin last week against a very average Falcons defense. That won’t be the case this week in Kansas City where trying to run the ball will be an uphill battle. The Chiefs win and move to 8-0.

REYNOLDS’ GAME PREDICTION: Chiefs 30, Bucs 20
REYNOLDS’ SEASON RECORD: 4-4

Matt Matera: Bucs Get Embarrassed On Monday Night Football

Bucs ILBs K.J. Britt and Lavonte David – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

After listening to what Bucs head coach Todd Bowles and co-defensive coordinator Larry Foote had to say this week, it’s evident the Bucs have no answers for what to do at inside linebacker. The team still refuses to platoon another linebacker with K.J. Britt, who has struggled mightily in pass coverage, on the argument that all of the other linebackers are not up to speed on the defense. 

With that information, how are we supposed to believe that anything will be fixed now when they go up against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense? Tight ends have torched the Bucs all season, especially in the last two games. All of a sudden they’ll figure out the formula and slow down Travis Kelce? C’mon. And that’s not to mention DeAndre Hopkins will have another game under his belt, as the Chiefs attack Bucs’ corner Josh Hayes with him or use the speed of Xavier Worthy to torch Hayes, who is expected to make his first NFL start.

I am looking forward to seeing how the Bucs offense looks against Kansas City’s defense. Tampa Bay proved is can score differently. If the Bucs find a continued groove in the running game with Rachaad White, Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker, they’ll at least stay afloat for a bit. Will Rakim Jarrett step up at receiver? They need someone to help out Baker Mayfield besides Cade Otton. The Bucs may have to score all night to win and that’s just way too difficult to do on the road against this opponent.

MATERA’S GAME PREDICTION: Chiefs 38, Bucs 20
MATERA’S SEASON RECORD: 4-4

Bailey Adams: Bucs Can’t Deal The Chiefs Their First Loss Of The Season

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: USA Today

I can’t pick the Bucs in this one. I went against my better judgement last week and picked Tampa Bay to beat Atlanta and split the season series. Instead, Todd Bowles’ defense continued to have no answer for Kirk Cousins and Co. and the team lost its second straight game. So, how can I justify the Bucs rolling into Arrowhead Stadium and dealing the 7-0 Chiefs their first loss of the season? Even if Kansas City hasn’t looked unbeatable this year, it has been to this point. And I don’t like Tampa Bay’s chances to change that on Monday night.

The Buccaneers defense is just bad. There really isn’t much help on the way, and even if Patrick Mahomes hasn’t been at his best this season, I can’t see him having much trouble moving the ball and putting up points on this unit. Travis Kelce figures to have a big game against a Tampa Bay linebacking corps that simply can’t hang in coverage right now, and this could be a breakout for the recently traded for DeAndre Hopkins.

As much as I continue to trust offensive coordinator Liam Coen, I have a hard time imagining Baker Mayfield playing a completely clean game given the way he’s played lately. I don’t think the offense will necessarily be the problem in this one, but the issue is that it will need to be near-perfect to beat the Chiefs because of how bad Bowles’ defense has been. I’m not seeing it here, and I think the defending champs roll.

ADAMS’ GAME PREDICTION: Chiefs 31, Bucs 20
ADAMS’ SEASON RECORD: 4-4

Josh Queipo: Bucs Shock The World And Hand The Chiefs Their First Loss Of The Year

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and LT Tristan Wirfs – Photo by: USA Today

There is no logical reason for the Bucs to win this game, so don’t ask me to give you one. Kansas City’s offense looks to exploit exactly where the Bucs are weakest right now. They are an on-schedule, run-first team that registers few explosives down the field in the passing game. Patrick Mahomes has reinvented himself in recent years as a mostly game manager.

Kansas City’s defense is one of the best in the NFL and will certainly challenge Liam Coen, Baker Mayfield and the Bucs’ re-tooled offense. They play well in primetime games whereas the Bucs do not, having lost at Atlanta on Thursday Night Football and to Baltimore at home on Monday Night Football two weeks ago. I do not have any in-depth analysis that shows the Bucs have real advantages outside of the fact that I think Tampa Bay’s offensive line will hold up surprisingly well against a very good Kansas City defensive front that boasts All-Pro Chris Jones, George Karlaftis and now Josh Uche, among others.

Call it vibes. Call it me expecting all of my colleagues to take Kansas City and I like being a contrarian. Call it “sometimes weird stuff happens in football.” But let’s call it a Bucs win in an upset thanks to a Chase McLaughlin field goal.

QUEIPO’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 24, Chiefs 21
QUEIPO’S SEASON RECORD: 4-4

Adam Slivon: Bucs Fall To Chiefs — And Below .500

The Bucs head into Monday night looking to get right and back in the win column. It’s been tough sledding for the team since beating the Saints, 51-27, back in Week 6. It’s been a real uphill climb since then without star wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin — and it does not get any easier facing the 7-0 Chiefs on the road at Arrowhead Stadium on Monday Night Football.

It is no secret that Tampa Bay has struggled mightily defensively this season, allowing 26.6 points per game. Although Kansas City’s offense is led by Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs have not dominated on that side of the ball. That could change in primetime unless Todd Bowles is able to come up with a defensive gameplan that can limit Kansas City’s offensive success — and the amount of points on the scoreboard. Although Baker Mayfield was able to have success through the air against the Falcons, the Chiefs boast an elite defense. Of course there is star defensive tackle Chris Jones, but linebackers Nick Bolton and Leo Chenal have given defenses problems up the middle. Chenal excels in coverage and that could limit Cade Otton’s success.

Halfway through the season, it has become clear where the strengths and weaknesses of the Bucs lie. While the offense has improved and can still put points up without their stars, the defense has been unable to do its part. I don’t see that drastically changing facing a well-coached and undefeated Chiefs squad. They could keep it close, but not enough to avoid falling below .500.

SLIVON’S GAME PREDICTION: Chiefs 27, Bucs 20
SLIVON’S SEASON RECORD: 4-4