2024 NFL SEASON, WEEK 9: FOUR THINGS TO WATCH FOR IN BUCCANEERS-CHIEFS ON MONDAY NIGHT

By: Bobby Kownack, Digital Content Producer

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4) at Kansas City Chiefs (7-0)
Where: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, MO)
When: 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, NFL+

Monday night’s showdown brings together two teams heading in different directions.

Kansas City enters November as the NFL’s only unbeaten team, having won every game since a Christmas Day loss to the Broncos in 2023. That includes four playoff victories and a perfect start to this season. With a commanding lead in the AFC West and the top spot in the conference, the Chiefs are firmly positioned in their pursuit of a ninth straight division title.

Meanwhile, the Buccaneers, who have won three consecutive NFC South crowns, find themselves in a more precarious spot, sitting at .500 halfway through the season. Tampa Bay has lost two straight, including two setbacks to division leader Atlanta in October. Before heading into their Week 11 bye, the Bucs face two of last season’s Super Bowl contenders—first the Chiefs, then the San Francisco 49ers. Can they pull off an upset in Kansas City, or will the Chiefs continue their dominance at home?

Here are four key storylines to watch for when the Buccaneers visit the Chiefs on Monday night:

1) Baker Mayfield’s Hot Streak

Tampa Bay’s faith in Baker Mayfield has paid off, with the quarterback playing at an elite level. The 29-year-old has been electric, leading an offense that ranks fourth in both total yards and scoring. Mayfield leads the NFL with 21 touchdown passes and ranks second in passing yards (2,189). If he throws three or more TDs against Kansas City, he’ll become just the seventh quarterback since 1970 to achieve five straight games with 3+ TDs. Despite injuries to key receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans in Week 7, Mayfield threw 50 times in Week 8, marking his third game this season with 45 or more pass attempts. However, he has also been prone to mistakes, tying for the league lead with nine interceptions—seven of those coming in the past three weeks. To defeat the Chiefs, Mayfield will need to continue his impressive play while avoiding costly turnovers.

2) Patrick Mahomes Looking for a Bounceback

Mahomes, who shares the interception lead with Mayfield and Green Bay’s Jordan Love, has struggled statistically this season. Despite this, the Chiefs are on track to set a franchise record with 14 consecutive wins if they take down the Buccaneers. Mahomes has been less of a game-changer this season, relying more on the Chiefs’ dominant defense. He has thrown just eight touchdown passes—on pace for the lowest total of his career—and his passer rating of 84.9 is his worst since becoming a starter in 2018. With limited weapons in the passing game and tight end Travis Kelce aging, Mahomes has not had the same explosive outings that once defined his play. However, the Buccaneers’ defense has been porous, allowing the fourth-most passing yards and sixth-most passing touchdowns in the NFL, which could provide Mahomes with an opportunity to regain his vintage form. Given Tampa Bay’s tendency for high-scoring affairs, Mahomes may need to channel his old magic to keep pace.