Countdown to Kickoff: Chiefs-Buccaneers, Week 4 2022

The rematch of Super Bowl LV has arrived, garnering league-wide attention. Over 19 months after hoisting the Lombardi Trophy inside Raymond James Stadium – making history under a cloud of confetti – the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will host Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, October 2 at 8:20 p.m. ET. Considered consensus conference contenders with well-rounded rosters, the Bucs and Chiefs will take center stage in the prime-time spotlight. This marquee matchup features two prolific passers: a mature legend in Tom Brady and a young generational talent in Patrick Mahomes. In 2020, Todd Bowles’ masterful scheme and the defensive production was largely responsible for sealing the club’s victory on the biggest stage. The unit harassed Mahomes and took away the deep pass, while taking advantage of two missing offensive tackles by attacking the edges. Once again in 2022, the Buccaneers’ defense is a main attributing factor to the team’s 2-1 record and top-spot in the NFC South. After a week of preparation, here is what it comes down to:

• 112.1. Even without big-play threat Tyreek Hill (Miami), Mahomes has a 112.1 passer rating and an 8-1 touchdown-interception ratio through the first three games of the season. The Chiefs’ high-powered offense is scoring 29.3 points per game on average, headlined by the best receiving tight end in the league, Travis Kelce.
• 9.0, or the number of points per game that the Buccaneers defense is allowing – best in the NFL. Todd Bowles’ unit also grades among league leaders in sacks, takeaways and third-down defense. The attack-styled, aggressive defense has started off slow against opponent’s opening scripts, but the unit has been impenetrable throughout the remainder of games in the 2022 slate.
• 125.1, or Mahomes’ passer rating against the blitz since 2021, which ranks second among quarterbacks on 250 total attempts. When opposing teams send blitzes, Mahomes is able to evade pressure with his elusiveness, making sensational throws while scrambling. However, when the Bucs’ utilized a four-man rush in Super Bowl LV, Mahomes had a 15.1 passer rating when under pressure – the second-lowest mark he has ever had in a game.
• 2.40. Brady has been releasing the ball quicker in 2022, with an average throw time of 2.40 seconds (league-high). With a revamped offensive line and a depleted receiver corps, the Buccaneers have employed a short passing attack to try and mitigate the opposition’s pass rush.