TAMPA, Fla. — Rookie Jalon Daniels led three second-half scoring drives to help the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rally for a 16-15 pre-season 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 pre-season 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 pre-season 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 pre-season at home against the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks next Friday.
Buccaneers: Travel to Jacksonville for joint practices against Jaguars, followed by a pre-season finale Friday night.
0:34