Pewter Report’s Bucs Training Camp coverage is presented by Synergy Outdoor Kitchens & More

Become the envy of the neighborhood – and the place to come for Tampa Bay watch parties and home tailgating – with a custom outdoor kitchen from Synergy Outdoor Kitchens & More! Get a FREE Coyote Portable Tailgate grill – an $800 value – with the purchase of a new outdoor kitchen Wesley Chapel • Sarasota/Bradenton • Tampa • Orlando / Call Synergy at 813-993-1531 or visit SynergyFL.com

Coming off a preseason-opening road win over the Jets last Friday night, the Bucs returned to Raymond James Stadium Saturday night to play in front of the home fans for the first time in 231 days. In town were the Kansas City Chiefs, though they took the field without Patrick Mahomes and some of their other regular starters.

On the flip side, Tampa Bay followed head coach Todd Bowles’ long-established practice of using Week 2 of the preseason to get the starters some live snaps.

As it turned out, there was little to enjoy in two drives from the Bucs’ starting offense. The Bucs’ starting defense, though? That was the good stuff, as it forced two three-and-outs before calling it a night. The first half was relatively uneventful, and in the end, it was once again rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels coming in for the second half to give Tampa Bay a spark. What was once a 9-0 halftime deficit was flipped on its head, with the rookie out of Kansas leading the Bucs to a 16-15 win.

Here’s a recap of all the action from Saturday night’s exhibition matchup between Tampa Bay and Kansas City at Ray Jay:

Bucs 16, Chiefs 15

The Chiefs got the ball to open things up, and the Bucs’ defense started fast, forcing a three-and-out. That got the ball over to Baker Mayfield and Tampa Bay’s starting offense.

Bucs C Graham Barton and QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

With Tristan Wirfs, Ben Chukwuma and Justin Skule all sidelined, the Bucs had undrafted rookie Paul Rubelt starting at left tackle. That left Zac Robinson in a position where he had to go run- and screen-heavy to protect Mayfield. Bucky Irving got the drive going with 14 yards on three straight carries, but the drive eventually stalled when Ted Hurst was called for a post-whistle personal foul.

All that did was give the Buccaneer defense another chance to stifle Justin Fields and the Chiefs offense. This time, third-down pressure from both Yaya Diaby and Rueben Bain Jr. forced a third-down incompletion and another three-and-out.

The Bucs offense quickly went three-and-out on its second possession, with three straight screens going nowhere.

Kansas City moved the chains for the first time on its next drive, though this one came against Tampa Bay’s second-teamers. But an eventual third-down forced fumble by Anthony Nelson led to a third punt in three possessions. That brought out backup quarterback Jake Browning and the Bucs’ second-team offense to start their night.

Bucs QB Jake Browning – Photo by: IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect

Browning’s Bucs debut got off to a rough start, with Felix Anudike-Uzomah getting right by Marshall Foerner on a 2nd & 4 to light up the veteran quarterback for a sack and send him to the sideline to get checked for a concussion. In came Jalon Daniels, but only for a play.

The scoreless first quarter ended soon after.

Early in the second, Fields had the Chiefs inside the 10, but an ill-advised scramble drill led to Nelson and Mo Kamara dropping him for a 20-yard sack. Despite the big loss, a 45-yard Harrison Butker field goal gave Kansas City a 3-0 lead with 10:18 to go in the half.

Browning cleared protocol and returned for the Bucs’ next drive, which turned into the drive of despair for the offensive line. After Josh Williams got the offense into Chiefs territory for the first time all night, a Foerner false start moved the unit back into its own half. Dean Patterson IV got Tampa Bay into plus territory on the next play, only for a Rubelt false start to undo it. Then, on an eventual fourth-down try at the Kansas City 41, a Luke Haggard holding penalty forced the Bucs to punt.

Bucs OT Paul Rubelt – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Rookie quarterback Garrett Nussmeier entered the game in place of Fields on the Chiefs’ next drive and led a slow, plodding drive that went 50 yards in 13 plays and took 4:35 off the clock. It ended with a 58-yard field goal by Butker, which extended the visitors’ lead to 6-0 with 1:41 left before halftime.

Tampa Bay’s offense went out with a whimper before halftime, turning it over on downs. And to make matters worse, Butker came on to try a 69-yard field goal… and made it. That gave Kansas City a 9-0 advantage heading into the locker room.

Browning got one drive in the third quarter before his night was finished. He went 9-of-12 for 84 yards.

Jalon Daniels’ official entrance into the game came at the 10:41 mark in the third. With good field position at the Chiefs’ 49, he went to work right away by finding Dean Patterson IV for a 24-yard gain. He then ran for 10 yards before converting a 3rd & 2 inside the 10 with a short pass to Ko Kieft.

Bucs QB Jalon Daniels – Photo by: IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect

Two plays later, Daniels and Kieft connected again for a 2-yard touchdown. With B.T. Potter’s PAT, the Bucs were within 9-7 with 6:50 left in the third.

The Chiefs answered right back with help from a Roman Parodie pass interference penalty. Their nine-play, 75-yard drive ended with a 1-yard touchdown run by Emmett Johnson, but with Butker missing the extra point, they led 15-7.

Daniels kept the Buccaneer offense moving as the third quarter wound down, getting the ball across midfield before the drive eventually died just inside the 30 early in the fourth quarter. Tampa Bay still got points, with Potter hitting a 46-yard field goal to get the home team within 15-10.

The Bucs’ comeback continued with some good fortune, as Chris Oladokun had a pass go right into and out of his intended receiver’s hands and into Parodie’s for an interception – and some redemption.

Daniels and the offense turned the takeaway and resulting short field into points and a lead, with Sean Tucker scoring from 1 yard out. Even with an unsuccessful two-point try, the Bucs led for the first time all night at 16-15 with 10:05 to go.

Kansas City ate up a chunk of the clock on its ensuing possession, taking it under four minutes before a 42-yard field goal try by Butker to potentially get the lead back for the visitors. Instead, Butker’s kick went wide right, getting the ball back over to Daniels and the Tampa Bay offense with 3:23 to go.

Chiefs K Harrison Butker – Photo by: IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect

Daniels made a couple of big plays on the Bucs’ next possession, picking up the necessary first downs to force the Chiefs into burning through their timeouts. Then came victory formation, sending Tampa Bay to a 2-0 record in preseason play.

Jalon Daniels finished the night 9-of-14 for 71 yards and a touchdown, leading all three of the Bucs’ scoring drives and closing out the game with poise late in the fourth. Sean Tucker was Tampa Bay’s leading rusher, carrying the ball five times for 23 yards (4.6 avg.) and a touchdown, though Bucky Irving ran well in limited action as well, going for 14 yards on three carries (4.7 avg.).

Dean Patterson IV and Kameron Johnson led all Bucs receivers with 56 yards apiece, with Patterson hauling in six of his seven targets and Johnson catching four of his five.

Defensively, Rashad Wisdom (seven tackles) led Tampa Bay, with Roman Parodie coming up with a key interception and Anthony Nelson tallying 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble. Mo Kamara chipped in with a half-sack as well, while Caden Fordham added a tackle for loss.

With their only home preseason game over with, the Bucs will now have Sunday off before a Monday travel day. That’s when the team will make the short trip up to Jacksonville for the week, where it’ll have joint practices with the Jaguars Tuesday and Wednesday before the two sides match up Friday night for their respective preseason finales.