VIDEO: M&I Bank Post Game Report with Mitch Holthus

Game Log | Postgame Notes | Postgame Quotes | Photos | Gamebook (PDF) | Highlights

by Bob Gretz

K Matt Bryant’s 34–yard FG with 10:24 remaining in overtime provided the winning margin as the Chiefs lost a gut-wrenching 30-27 loss at Arrowhead Stadium, ending one of the Chiefs best performances for the season.

The Chiefs held a 24-3 lead late in the first half, but couldn’t keep that margin as the Buccaneers battled back with 10 points just before halftime and they scored 17 in the second half and overtime, including the last 11 points of the game. The defeat came despite the fact the Chiefs owned plus-three turnover differential for the second week in a row.

Kansas City had one of its best running days of the season, as rookie RB Jamaal Charles ran for 106 yards on 18 carries and the team had 183 rushing yards. But in the second half, the Bucs racked up 280 yards behind QB Jeff Garcia and did enough to walk away with their sixth victory of the season.

The game started with the Chiefs offense on the field first and QB Tyler Thigpen led the group on a beautiful 12-play, 69-yard drive that converted a trio of third-down plays. The bulk of the drive came on the ground as Thigpen and RBs Kolby Smith and Charles picked up 34 yards. Thigpen was three of four in the drive, including a pair of passes to TE Tony Gonzalez for 11 and 16 yards and the scoring pass, a seven-yard throw to WR Dwayne Bowe who beat rookie CB Aqib Talib at the goal line. It was the first offensive TD in the first quarter this season for the Chiefs to give the club an early 7-0 lead.

There was more to come and it came thanks to a big play from the Chiefs defense. On Tampa Bay’s first offensive play, RB Earnest Graham fumbled after he was hit by DT Tank Tyler. The ball was recovered by DE Turk McBride, setting up the offense at the Bucs 41-yard line. This time it took Thigpen seven plays to drive the offense in for a score, as Smith dove over left guard from one yard out for his first TD of the season to give KC a 14-0 advantage.

The Bucs got the first points of the second quarter as Bryant hit a 25-yard FG to end a 13-play, 68-yard drive and make the score 14-3 Tampa Bay had first-and-10 at the Chiefs 13-yard line, but the defense held the Bucs to six yards on three running plays. McBride made a nice stop on former Chiefs RB Michael Bennett for loss of two yards on third down.

The Chiefs came right back and offensive coordinator Chan Gailey reached deep into his playbook to get the touchdown. On a third-and-one, Charles took a direct snap from center and went over left tackle to gain 16 yards and a first down. Two plays later, Charles again took the direct snap, pitched to WR Mark Bradley on what looked like an end-around play. But Bradley threw on the run to a wide open Thigpen in the end zone for the Chiefs third offensive touchdown of the day to make the score 21-3 in favor of the Chiefs. With the catch, Thigpen became the fifth player in franchise history to run for a TD, throw for a touchdown pass and catch a TD pass.

Tampa Bay answered and was moving down the field until QB Jeff Garcia overthrew his TE Jerramy Stevens and CB Brandon Carr grabbed the interception. His 35-yard return took the ball to the Chiefs 42-yard line. Later, the Chiefs were able to add a field goal before the end of the half, set up by a pretty 56-yard pass play from Thigpen to Bradley. Barth hit the 39-yard FG to give them a 24-3 lead.

The Bucs got their first TD of the game, as RB Clifton Smith ran through and past the Chiefs kickoff coverage unit for a 97-yard touchdown return to pull the Bucs to within 14 points at 24-10. Bryant added a 43-yard FG on the final play to make the Chiefs lead 24-13 at intermission. The first half was costly to the Chiefs however, as Smith was taken from the field by cart with a sprained knee and LB Derrick Johnson suffered a hamstring injury that knocked him out of the game.

The third quarter proved to be a defensive battle, as the Chiefs and Bucs did not allow each other to mount much of an offensive attack. The Chiefs entered the fourth quarter with an 11-point lead, unusual territory for them in this 2008 season. But that margin did not last long. The Bucs drove to the Chiefs 22-yard line, when Garcia threw to Clifton Smith, who caught the ball and then lost possession on a hit by CB Tyron Brackenridge. McBride recovered his second fumble of the game and Kansas City had the ball at their 10-yard line. But Charles returned the favor on the next play, as he lost control of the ball while running outside and Tampa Bay recovered at the Chiefs three-yard line. Garcia handed off to Graham who stopped and lofted a pass to TE Alex Smith in the end zone for the Bucs first offensive TD of the day. Tampa Bay went for two points, but the play was stopped and the Chiefs lead was now five points at 24-19.

The Chiefs got three points back on a 28-yard Barth FG that brought an end to a 10-play, 71-yard drive that made the count 27-19 with 7:38 remaining. The big plays in the possession were a 22-yard Thigpen to Bowe completion and a pretty 22-yard run by Charles, where he stopped like he was going out of bounds and cut back for another 10 yards.

Tampa Bay came back and Garcia directed a long drive down the field, eventually to a first-and-goal at the Kansas City seven-yard line. Graham ran left and lost the ball before he hit the goal line, with the ball recovered in the end zone by S Jarrad Page. Bucs coached Jon Gruden challenged the call, but officials upheld the on-field decision and the Chiefs dodged a bullet.

With the ball at their 20-yard line and 3:24 remaining in regulation, the Chiefs offense needed a first down to help kill off the clock. They thought they had one when Gonzalez made a remarkable one handed catch on a third down throw from Thigpen. But the Chiefs tight end was flagged for offensive pass interference, negating the play and the Chiefs ended up punting the ball away.

P Steve Weatherford’s kick went 41 yards and was returned 14 yards by Clifton Smith to midfield. Garcia again drove the Bucs offense into the scoring zone and got a TD on a 24-yard pass to WR Antonio Bryant who beat CB Maurice Leggett in the corner. Tampa Bay had to go for two points and Garcia found Alex Smith in the end zone to tie the score and send the game into overtime. The Bucs won the extra coin toss and moved 58 yards before Bryant drove home the game winner. Now 1-7, the Chiefs will be on the road next weekend, traveling to San Diego to play the Chargers on November 9. Kickoff is 3:15 p.m. (Central).