TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Rookie Jalon Daniels led three second-half scoring drives to help the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rally for a 16-15 preseason victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday night.
Daniels tossed a 2-yard touchdown pass to Ko Kieft, Sean Tucker scored on a 1-yard run and B.T. Potter kicked a 46-yard field goal for the Bucs (2-0), who trailed 9-0 at halftime.
Harrison Butker kicked three field goals for Kansas City (0-2), including a 69-yarder on the final play of the first half. But what appeared to be a stellar performance soured when he missed an extra-point in the third quarter and then was wide right on a 43-yard field goal attempt that would have given the Chiefs the lead in the closing minutes.
Baker Mayfield, entering a contract year after leading the Bucs to the playoffs two of the past three seasons, started and played two series in his first preseason action since 2024. He was 2 of 4 for 10 yards before being replaced by backup Jack Browning late in the first quarter.
With three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes sitting out, Justin Fields opened at quarterback for the Chiefs, who have not said whether Mahomes will play in next week’s preseason finale against Seattle. The two-time league MVP is coming back from a knee injury suffered last December and has been a full participant in training camp practices.
Fields departed in the second quarter, replaced by rookie Garrett Nussmeier after leading a drive that produced the first of Butker’s three first-half field goals. Nussmeier’s first series led to a 58-yard field goal and Butker added his 69-yarder after Tampa Bay turned the ball over on at the Kansas City 49 with 3 seconds remaining before halftime.
Most of Tampa Bay’s starters only played a couple of series. Browning was 9 of 12 for 84 yards, but was also sacked three times before giving way to Daniels, who finished 9 of 14 for 71 yards and his TD throw to Kieft.
A penalty nullified Butker’s successful kick after Emmett Johnson’s 1-yard TD run hiked Kansas City’s lead to 15-7. The re-try hit the right upright and bounced away.
Up next
Chiefs: Close the preseason at home against the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks next Friday.
Buccaneers: Travel to Jacksonville for joint practices against Jaguars, followed by a preseason finale Friday night.
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