The game began with quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs seeing something unusual: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were single-covering wide receiving Tyreek Hill early and often.
The Chiefs took advantage to the point that Hill had one of the best receiving games in NFL history before the Bucs adjusted and consistently sent safety help his way.
But by then, Hill was the fifth receiver ever to get 260 yards and three touchdowns and the Chiefs were well on their way to a 27-24 victory that pushed their record to 10-1.
Cornerback Carlton Davis was often the victim on Hill’s 13 catches, which gained 269 yards and included touchdowns of 75, 44 and 20 yards.
“I don’t think it was necessarily [about] a matchup,” Mahomes said. “It was man coverage with no one over the top. We don’t get that a lot, especially with [Hill] and his ability, and whenever we do, we try to take advantage of it.”
Mahomes had his fifth career 400-yard game, matching the total for all other Chiefs quarterbacks in the franchise’s 61-season history. Mahomes, who finished with 452 yards, had 359 in the first half, the most for the opening half in any NFL game in the past 20 years.
Hill had more than half of Mahomes’ yards. He leads the NFL with 1,021 yards and 13 receiving touchdowns.
“It feels good, but there’s still a lot of work for me to do,” Hill said. “I’m always looking to get better.
“Carlton Davis is definitely a good player. I’ve watched film of him throughout the whole season. He’s been a baller.”
Hill has been a prolific receiver for the Chiefs since he arrived in 2016 but is on pace for career highs in catches, yards and touchdowns.
“We feel like he’s a pretty good matchup with anybody,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “He’s strong, quick and fast, and the quarterback trusts him.
“I would put him against anybody. He’s been doing this all year.”
