Takeaways, recap of Week 12 matchup between Chiefs and Bucs

(Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Back in November, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-24 in Week 12 of the regular season. Since then, both teams have combined for only one loss, coming in the Chiefs Week 17 matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers when Kansas City sat most of their starters.

In the Week 12 game, Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill had 269 yards and three touchdowns on 13 receptions. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes accumulated 462 passing yards and three touchdowns. The score did not tell the full story of the game, as the Chiefs held a 17-point lead going into the fourth quarter, stifling a comeback attempt by quarterback Tom Brady.

But since that game, the Buccaneers have won seven straight en route to their rematch with the Chiefs in Super Bowl LV where they meet their Week 12 foe.

Bucs cornerback Carlton Davis, who had the unfortunate task of covering Hill in the previous matchup, will look to correct his mistakes but bring the same mentality on Sunday.

“I’m always going to be myself,” Davis said Tuesday, per Bucs Wire. “It didn’t work out the first game as far as what we did and our game plan, but we’ve corrected it and we’ve got a great game plan going in. But I’m going in with the same mentality and that’s to dominate. I play defensive back in the NFL so you’re going to have your share of losses.”

But it wasn’t just Hill who had a dominant performance in Week 12. Mahomes put up massive statistics while also showing poise in the fourth quarter when Brady attempted to mount a comeback. The reigning Super Bowl MVP was able to manage the clock in the final minutes of the game and keep the ball out of Brady’s hands to secure the win.

On Sunday, the Chiefs will be without starting left tackle Eric Fisher, who suffered a torn Achilles in the AFC Championship game, in a matchup where protecting the quarterback will be key.

In the NFC Champship game, the Bucs’ pass rush, led by Shaquil Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul, were able to sack Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers five times. In Week 12, Barrett and Pierre-Paul were the only ones to sack Mahomes with one apiece. Barrett’s came at a key moment in the game to force a fumble, ultimately leading to a score.

Brady’s stats, while inferior to Mahomes’, were solid with 345 yards passing and three touchdowns. However, his two interceptions proved costly. Chiefs defensive backs Bashaud Breeland and Tyrann Mathieu picked off Brady in consecutive possessions in the third quarter, thwarting Tampa Bay’s attempts to get in striking distance.

This year’s Super Bowl shouldn’t lack excitement, as both teams have copious amounts of firepower on offense and feature some electric players on defense, most of whom have been playing their best football since that Week 12 matchup.

In case you missed it, here’s a recap of the Week 12 game between the Chiefs and Bucs:

The Chiefs got off to a quick start with a 34-yard pass to Hill to start the game. Mahomes went back to Hill three plays later for a 23-yard connection, but the drive stalled at the one yard line and resulted in a field goal by Harrison Butker.

Later in the first quarter, Mahomes and Hill connected for a 75-yard touchdown on the first and only play of the series, extending the Chiefs’ lead to 10-0. After a three-and-out by the Bucs, Mahomes went back to Hill three times on the ensuing drive, the third in the form of a 44-yard touchdown to put Kansas City up 17-0.

Hill finished the first quarter with 203 yards and two touchdowns, making him the third player in the past 30 years to have at least 200 yards in a quarter, joining Lee Evans and Qadry Ismail, according to YahooSports.

On their next offensive possession, the Chiefs seemed to be on their way to putting the game out of reach when the Bucs forced a turnover. Barrett stripped Mahomes of the ball and William Gholston fell on it.

Brady led the Bucs down the field and capped off the drive with a 29-yard touchdown pass to Ronald Jones, who made two defenders miss as he tiptoed down the sideline for the score.

The Chiefs drained the rest of the first half and finished a 13-play drive with a field goal to take a 20-7 lead into halftime.

Kansas City held the Bucs to a field goal by Ryan Succop on their first possession of the second half and quickly responded with a touchdown drive that ended up with Hill catching a 20-yard pass in the endzone.

Brady threw interceptions on the Bucs’ following two possessions, but the Tampa Bay defense forced back-to-back punts to give their offense a chance. In the fourth quarter, Brady threw a strike to Mike Evans on fourth down to connect for a 31-yard score, putting the Bucs within 10.

The Bucs defense was able to hold once again, giving Brady the ball back with just over six minutes left in the game. After a series of short passes and penalties on the Chiefs, Tampa Bay methodically drove down the field and capped the drive with a seven-yard touchdown to Evans.

The Bucs chose not to attempt an onside kick, and Mahomes was able to run out the clock and hook up with Hill for the last time on a third-down conversion with one minute left to seal the game.

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