TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A stellar night for Harrison Butker soured in a hurry.
Kansas City's kicker booted three long field goals, including a 69-yarder on the final play of the first half, yet left Raymond James Stadium dissatisfied with his performance after missing an extra point and a potential winning 43-yard field goal during the second half of the Chiefs' 16-15 preseason loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday night.
“You've got to make your
kicks. Miss an extra point, miss a game-winner. That's what I care about, not the 69-yarder or whatever it was,” Butker said.
"I feel like throughout my career when I've had big kicks, it's been a struggle to finish the game or the next game," Butker added. “I feel like mentally I was good on that 43-yarder. It felt good off my foot. Maybe I need some more caffeine for the second half or something.”
Rookie Jalon Daniels led three second-half scoring drives for Tampa Bay (2-0), which trailed 9-0 at halftime. Daniels threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Ko Kieft, Sean Tucker scored on a 1-yard run and B.T. Potter kicked a 46-yard field goal on the drives directed by the undrafted free agent out of Kansas.
Baker Mayfield, entering a contract year after leading the Bucs to the playoffs two of the past three seasons, started and played two series in his first preseason action since 2024. He was 2 of 4 for 10 yards before being replaced by backup Jake Browning late in the first quarter.
With three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes sitting out, Justin Fields opened at quarterback for the Chiefs, who have not said whether Mahomes will play in next week's preseason finale against Seattle. The two-time league MVP is coming back from a knee injury suffered last December and has been a full participant in training camp practices.
Fields departed in the second quarter, replaced by rookie Garrett Nussmeier after leading a drive that produced the first of Butker's three first-half field goals. Nussmeier's first series led to a 58-yard field goal and Butker added his 69-yarder after Tampa Bay turned the ball over on at the Kansas City 49 with 3 seconds remaining before halftime.
Most of Tampa Bay’s starters only played a couple of series. Browning was 9 of 12 for 84 yards, but was also sacked three times before giving way to Daniels, who finished 9 of 14 for 71 yards and his TD throw to Kieft.
A penalty nullified Butker's successful extra point after Emmett Johnson's 1-yard TD run hiked Kansas City's lead to 15-7. The re-try hit the right upright and bounced away.
“Butker, until the last field goal, had a heck of a day. But he'll be the first to tell you that's the one he'll remember,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “He'll learn from it and move on. He's made enough of those big ones for us that we know what he can do.”
Chiefs: Close the preseason at home against the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks next Friday.
Buccaneers: Travel to Jacksonville for joint practices against Jaguars, followed by a preseason finale Friday night.
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