The 9-1 Kansas City Chiefs will travel to Raymond James Stadium in Week 12 to take on the 7-4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a battle between two elite quarterbacks.
Chiefs superstar gunslinger Patrick Mahomes and Buccaneers signal-caller Tom Brady will meet down in Florida on Sunday afternoon in a matchup that will surely have a lot of eyes on it. Both quarterbacks are putting up stellar numbers on the season and eager to get the win in Week 12.
Mahomes and the Chiefs are on a five-game winning streak heading into Week 12. They have defeated the Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, New York Jets, Carolina Panthers and Las Vegas Raiders. Kansas City's only loss of the season came in Week 5 against the Raiders, but Mahomes and Co. got revenge on Las Vegas in Week 11.
The Buccaneers, meanwhile, are 1-2 in their last two games. They lost to the New Orleans Saints in Week 9, defeated the Panthers in Week 10 and fell to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 11.
With the Chiefs-Buccaneers game almost here for our viewing pleasure, let's take a look at four bold predictions for the game from a Kansas City point of view.
1. Patrick Mahomes throws for over 300 yards, tosses three touchdowns
The best quarterback in the NFL, Mahomes could very well win his second MVP award this season. The one-time Super Bowl champion has thrown for 3,035 yards and 27 touchdowns while completing 67.9 percent of his passes. Mahomes led the Chiefs on a game-winning TD drive in Week 11 against the Raiders, throwing a touchdown pass to Travis Kelce with just 28 seconds left to seal the win for KC.
Against the Buccaneers, we have Mahomes throwing for over 300 yards and tossing three touchdowns. Tampa Bay's defense got torched in Week 9 against Drew Brees and the Saints, so we can assume Chiefs head coach Andy Reid–one of the brightest offensive minds in NFL history–watched a ton of film from that game to see how New Orleans exploited the Buccaneers' defense.
Week 12 will be the first time Mahomes will face the Buccaneers. Knowing the type of competitor he is, Mahomes is probably looking forward to putting on a show in Tampa Bay against Brady and Co.
2. Travis Kelce records fourth straight 100-yard game
Not only do the Chiefs have the best quarterback in the NFL in Mahomes, but they also have the top tight end in Kelce, who has 66 catches on the season for 896 yards and seven touchdowns.
Entering Week 12, Kelce has recorded three straight 100-yard games. We have the Pro Bowler racking up 100 yards again against the Buccaneers to increase his streak to four.
There's no defense in the NFL which can stop Kelce, who has an incredible rapport with Mahomes.
Kelce has faced the Buccaneers once before and he went off against Tampa Bay. During the 2016 season, the Chiefs star had seven catches for 108 yards. Look for Kelce to have another monster game this time around with Mahomes as his QB instead of Alex Smith.
3. Clyde Edwards-Helaire rushes for 100 yards, scores one TD
Chiefs rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire is having a tremendous first season in the NFL. The former LSU workhorse has carried the ball 140 times for 655 yards and four touchdowns.
Kansas City is so thankful Edwards-Helaire fell to them in the 2020 draft.
Against the Buccaneers, we have Edwards-Helaire rushing for over 100 yards and scoring a rushing touchdown as well. While the Buccaneers have a physical defensive line led by Ndamukong Suh and Jason Pierre-Paul, Edwards-Helaire and the Chiefs' offensive line have shown time and time again there is no defense that can stop them from running it down people's throats.
Edwards-Helaire has two 100-yard rushing games on the season. His fantasy owners should see that number rise to three after Week 12 passes.
4. Chiefs defeat Buccaneers to improve to 10-1
We have the Chiefs beating the Buccaneers in Week 12 to improve to 10-1 on the season. Not only is Kansas City going to win the AFC West division, but they could win the Super Bowl again.
Mahomes is making playing quarterback look way too easy right now. His new record contract clearly hasn't prevented him from taking his game to new heights. As long as he stays healthy, Mahomes will likely hold the NFL in the palm of his hands for his entire career.
No one in NFL history has started their career as Mahomes has. In his first year as a starter in 2018, Mahomes won MVP and took the Chiefs to the AFC championship game. In Year 2, the Chiefs' franchise player won the Super Bowl and was named Super Bowl MVP.
Now in Year 3, Mahomes is trying to become the first quarterback since Brady to win back-to-back Super Bowls.
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