CNN
—
Tom Brady dismissed any considerations a couple of potential arm harm within the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 41-31 loss to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs on Sunday evening.
Within the post-match press convention, the quarterback responded sharply to a query about his arm saying, “I’ll be alright. It’s football.”
Regardless of a powerful efficiency from the seven-time Tremendous Bowl winner, it was his reverse quantity, Patrick Mahomes, who got here away with the win after one other dazzling efficiency. The Chiefs quarterback went 23-for-37 for 249 yards and three touchdowns in opposition to one of many league’s greatest defenses.
The sport was performed in entrance of a bought out Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, simply 4 days after Hurricane Ian devastated Florida, and the followers have been handled to an exciting encounter.
Following a Bucs’ fumble on the opening kickoff, Mahomes threw his first landing within the second play of the sport, discovering tight finish Travis Kelce who hurdled a sort out to cross the purpose line.
The Chiefs didn’t let up, going 79 yards in 12 performs earlier than Clyde Edwards-Helaire made a three-yard run to place the away workforce 14-3 up.
On the following drive, Mahomes showcased his celebrity standing with a highlight-reel landing. The 27-year-old evaded a few tackles earlier than flicking the ball into the endzone for Edwards-Helaire to attain his second landing of the night.
“I used to be ready to make use of my pace, my little little bit of pace, to get across the edge there. I used to be gonna run for it, however they sort of flew round me,” Mahomes stated. “I spotted I wasn’t going to make it and I noticed Clyde, so I sort of flicked it as much as him.”
Brady hit again within the second quarter along with his personal landing, discovering Mike Evans on a 13-yard cross, however it was a play late within the half which had the Bucs devoted nervous about their QB.
Tampa Bay had a 1st-and-10 play at its personal 34 with 5:09 on the clock within the second quarter when Brady was strip-sacked by Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed.
Brady instantly grabbed his higher arm after being hit by Sneed and was visibly struggling. After sitting on the bench, he went to the sideline to throw some passes alongside backup Blaine Gabbert, however no harm designation was introduced and Brady returned to play following one other Chiefs landing.
The 45-year-old didn’t appear fazed as soon as he returned to motion and threw one other landing cross to Evans with simply 10 seconds left on the clock to shut the halftime deficit, 28-17.
Brady and Mahomes traded second-half landing throws, however the Bucs have been unable to mount a comeback regardless of the protection limiting the Chiefs to 13 second-half factors as the sport completed 41-31.
Regardless of Mahomes incomes the post-game plaudits, it was Brady who had the higher statline, going 39-for-52 for 3 touchdowns and a season-high 385 yards. Regardless of his excellent recreation, Brady is now 1-2 in opposition to his quarterback rival since transferring right down to Florida in 2020.
The loss didn’t cease the seven-time Tremendous Bowl winner from praising his rival within the post-game, “I really like seeing Patrick play. Sadly, we’re on the mistaken finish of it tonight.”
Regardless of the arm harm scare, Brady will probably be hoping to begin in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons subsequent Sunday, persevering with a exceptional run of appearances.
The quarterback has began 37 in a row for his present workforce and 97 consecutive video games in whole, a run extending again to 2016 when he was with the New England Patriots.
The defeat by the hands of the Chiefs leaves the Bucs with a 2-2 document, however nonetheless on high of the NFC South because of their 1-0 document in divisional video games.
In the meantime, the Chiefs, who are actually 3-1 and lead the AFC West, will tackle the Las Vegas Raiders again in Kansas Metropolis.
