Mahomes powers NFL champion Chiefs over Brady-led Bucs

Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks to pass in the fourth quarter during their game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on November 29, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images/AFP

Patrick Mahomes threw for 462 yards and tossed three touchdowns to Tyreek Hill as reigning NFL champion Kansas City edged Tom Brady-led Tampa Bay 27-24 in a Sunday showdown.

Mahomes completed 37-of-49 passes while Hill caught 13 for 269 yards as the Chiefs improved to 10-1 while Brady, who went 27-of-41 for 345 and three touchdowns with two interceptions, saw the Buccaneers fall to 7-5.

“We have so many good weapons,” said Mahomes. “It’s hard to take away things when we have so many good guys. This week it was Tyreek’s week.”

Mahomes connected on touchdown passes of 75 and 44 yards to Hill in the first quarter as the Chiefs seized a 17-0 lead.

“I try to get the ball out of my hands quickly, get the ball to our playmakers in space,” Mahomes said. “I’m just taking what’s there.”

Brady threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Ronald Jones to answer but Harrison Butker kicked his second field goal, a 29-yarder, to lift Kansas City ahead 20-7 at halftime.

Mahomes was 25-of-33 for 359 yards in the first half, the most in any NFL opening half in 18 years.

After a Ryan Succop field goal for Tampa Bay, Mahomes found Hill again on a 20-yard touchdown connection for a 27-10 lead.

“Every week I try to set the example, working hard and giving my all,” said Hill, who seized the NFL reception yardage lead.

“That feels good but I still feel like there’s a lot of work for me to do. I’m always looking to get better. I want to be the best receiver in the game.”

Brady hit Mike Evans on touchdown throws of 31 and 7 yards, the shorter one coming with 4:10 remaining to lift the Buccaneers within the final margin, but the Chiefs took the ball and ran out the clock.

Tennessee’s Derrick Henry ran 27 times for 178 yards and scored three first-half touchdowns to power the Titans over host Indianapolis 45-26.

A.J. Brown scored on a 69-yard pass play from Ryan Tannehill and a 42-yard kickoff return for the Titans, who seized the AFC South division lead at 8-3 with the Colts second at 7-4.

Baker Mayfield threw for 258 yards and two touchdowns while Nick Chubb ran for 144 yards and a touchdown as the Cleveland Browns, who haven’t reached the playoffs since 2002, improved to 8-3 with a 27-25 victory at Jacksonville.

Shortly after the Jaguars lost their 10th straight game and fell to 1-10, owner Shad Khan fired general manager Dave Caldwell, saying, “Our football operation needs new leadership.” Caldwell had been in the post since 2013.

Josh Allen threw for one touchdown and ran for another as Buffalo (8-3) outlasted the Los Angeles Chargers 27-17 but Miami (7-4) stayed one game back in the AFC East by ripping the winless New York Jets 20-3.

Folk wins for Patriots

Nick Folk kicked a 50-yard field goal on the final play to give New England a 20-17 victory over visiting Arizona. James White ran for two touchdowns for the Patriots, who improved to 5-6, while the Cardinals fell to 6-5.

San Francisco also won on a last-play field goal as Robbie Gould kicked a 42-yard game winner to lift the 49ers over the Los Angeles Rams 23-20.

South Korean Koo Young-hoe kicked five field goals and Matt Ryan threw two touchdown passes to lead Atlanta over Las Vegas 43-6.

Graham Gano kicked field goals from 32, 39, 40 and 49 yards to lift the New York Giants over Cincinnati 19-17 and into a share of the NFC East division lead at 4-7.

Kirk Cousins threw his third touchdown pass, a 10-yarder to Chad Beebe, with 46 seconds remaining to lift the Minnesota Vikings over Carolina 28-27.

The Denver Broncos, forced to press a receiver into emergency quarterback duty after four signal callers were ruled out due to Covid-19 issues, were routed 31-3 by New Orleans (9-2).

Aaron Rodgers threw for 211 yards and four touchdowns to power host Green Bay (8-3) over Chicago 41-25 in the late game.