2. The Buccaneers will rely heavily on tight ends and running backs in the passing game.
Tampa Bay is the fourth-leading scoring team in the NFL with 29.4 points per game. Outside of the contributions of Evans and Godwin, a big feature of the Buccaneers’ offense is how they use their running backs in the passing game.
Buccaneers running backs lead the NFL in catches (54), receiving yards (491) and receiving touchdowns (4) this season. This accomplishment was largely due to the efforts of tailback (Kansas City native) Rashard White, who had 28 catches for 236 yards and three scores, and rookie running back Bucky Irving, who had 20 grabs for 164 yards. be.
Additionally, tight end Cade Otton figures to have a busy night with both Evans and Godwin out. Otton has drawn exactly 10 targets in each of the last two weeks, catching 17 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield, who leads the NFL in touchdown passes with 21, will still shoot on Monday despite losing his top two options. Meanwhile, the Chiefs defense will look to hold opponents to 21 points or less for the sixth straight year (and hold opponents to 28 points or less for 29 straight games).
Additionally, while Mayfield is having the best season of his career statistically, his 14 “turnover-worthy plays” ranked second in the NFL by Pro Football Focus.
3. Kansas City has been efficient on third down and in the red zone lately.
The Chiefs converted 12 of 16 third down attempts last Sunday, marking their highest conversion rate (75%) in a game in which they faced 10 or more third downs since the beginning of the 2021 season. Kansas City ranks second in the NFL in third-down efficiency (50.5%), and looking at individual games, the Chiefs have converted at least 40 percent of their third-down attempts in six of seven games this year. . No team has done that in more games this season.
When it comes to the red zone, Kansas City won 3 of 4 in terms of red zone efficiency last week after winning 4 of 5 the week before. During that stretch, the Chiefs have seven red zone touchdowns, trailing only Baltimore (eight). That efficiency on third down and in the red zone has proven to be a winning formula as he has scored at least 27 points over the past two weeks.
In fact, the Chiefs rank third in the NFL in average time of possession (32:20), fifth in total 10-play drives (17), and sixth in rushing attempts per game (31.1). In other words, the Chiefs have mastered the art of ball control, and when combined with an efficient offense on third down and in the red zone, not to mention a great defense, this team could prove extremely difficult to beat. I did.
Kansas City will look to implement that formula on Monday against a Buccaneers defense that ranks 19th on third downs (38.8%) and 13th in the red zone (54.8%).
