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Jenna Laine, ESPN Staff Writer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles defended his decision to kick the extra point and not attempt the two-point conversion after his team scored with 30 seconds left in regulation in Monday night’s 30-24 overtime loss. to the Chief of Kansas City.
“We wanted to go to overtime with the rain on the field, we thought we should go to overtime instead of going to two. We had our shots. We lost the game,” Bowles said.
The Bucs gave up a 5-yard touchdown to DeAndre Hopkins with 4:20 to go in regulation that, with a point after, gave the Chiefs a 24-17 lead. After the teams traded quick three-and-outs, Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield led an 11-play drive that culminated in a 1-yard touchdown pass to receiver Ryan Miller.
But instead of going for two, which could put Tampa Bay ahead by one point with 27 seconds left, out Bucs kicker Chase McLaughlin.
“We went one,” Bowles said. “We took our shots. We had chances all game. We just lost the game. It didn’t come down to that.”
In Week 9, the four teams that scored in the final two minutes of regulation decided to kick the extra point to tie the game. ESPN Analytics modeling agreed with the decision to kick the extra point in all four cases, but all four teams lost.
The Miami Dolphins tied it with 1:38 left and then lost on a 61-yard field goal in regulation to the Buffalo Bills. The New England Patriots tied the game with no time left and then lost on a 25-yard field goal in overtime to the Tennessee Titans. The Seattle Seahawks tied it with 0:51 left and then lost on a 39-yard touchdown pass in overtime against the Los Angeles Rams. Then the Bucs lost on a 2-yard touchdown by Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt.
Asked about putting the ball in the hands of the defense, Bowles said, “We’ll take our shots. We played OK defensively. We thought we moved the ball offensively. We thought we had a good shot in overtime. We didn’t make plays.”
The Chiefs improved to 8-2 in overtime games, including playoffs, since 2018 when Patrick Mahomes was the full-time starter, which is the best record of any team in that span.
For the Bucs, it was the second overtime loss in prime time on the road this season when the defense gave up their first offense. The Bucs also lost to the Atlanta Falcons 36-30 in overtime on Thursday night in Week 5. Since 2012, when the NFL adopted its current regular-season overtime rule, only four teams have lost multiple prime-time games in overtime. in the same season, according to ESPN Research: 2015 Cowboys, 2021 Chargers, 2022 Broncos and 2024 Buccaneers (all 0-2).
“It’s hard. You don’t take anything from it, but the loss,” Bowles said. “And we’re not used to losing, and that’s the biggest thing. We’re not going to get used to losing. We had some good plays. We took some swings. They connected more than us. We fought, but it wasn’t good enough, so we have to get ready next week for another one.”
The Bucs have won the NFC South title three seasons ago, and before that, they defeated the Chiefs in Super Bowl LV as a wild card, but now they have lost three straight games, slipping to 4-5 and below .500 to. first time this season.
It started with a 41-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens two weeks ago when receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin were both injured. Miller was recalled from the practice squad shortly after, and the touchdown on Saturday night was the first of his NFL career. However, Mayfield was without a third receiver against the Chiefs in rookie Jalen McMillan, who was deemed not healthy enough to play due to a hamstring injury.
Mayfield showed some frustration when the Bucs lost a coin toss in overtime.
“Against a team with an offense like that, you can only give them so many opportunities,” Mayfield said. “They won the coin toss, and what happened. I’m proud of our people in the offense that stepped up. The coach has a good message … ‘We are close. Don’t get used to losing but just turn around. This thing is around. We have a home game next week against an NFC opponent, and we have to find a way to win.
Mayfield said nearly beating an undefeated team in the NFL on the road was no consolation prize.
“Right now, it’s about us,” Mayfield said. “It doesn’t matter who we play. We have to focus on doing our job and find a way to win. That’s all that matters. We just have to stop the skid. We have to see why we lost when we look at the tape and go from there.”
