In the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 30-24 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, head coach Todd Bowles defended his choice to kick an extra point rather than go for a 2-point conversion that could have secured a late lead. With just 30 seconds left in regulation, the Buccaneers scored a touchdown, but Bowles opted for the safer route, favoring overtime due to the field’s wet conditions. He explained that while his team had chances throughout the game, they ultimately didn’t execute well enough to win. This decision, while questioned by some, reflects Bowles’ strategy to avoid risking the game in such circumstances.
Late in the game, the Chiefs took a 24-17 lead after a touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins. Tampa Bay responded with an 11-play drive capped by a Baker Mayfield touchdown pass to Ryan Miller. Bowles, however, chose to kick the extra point, tying the game rather than going for a two-point play that might have given them a one-point lead. After the game, Bowles reiterated his belief that they made the right call to extend the game, though they ultimately lost in overtime when the Chiefs scored a quick touchdown.
Bowles’ choice was consistent with a trend seen in other Week 9 games, where four teams that scored late touchdowns also chose to kick extra points to tie rather than risk a two-point attempt, only to end up losing. The Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, and the Buccaneers all made similar calls to extend their games but were defeated either in the final moments of regulation or in overtime. ESPN Analytics had backed the decision to kick, though the results didn’t favor any of these teams.
For the Chiefs, the win marked their impressive record of 8-2 in overtime games since 2018 under quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the best in the league over that period. The Buccaneers, however, recorded their second road loss in prime-time overtime this season, with their defense unable to stop the opposition on the opening drive. The Bucs had previously lost a similar game to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 5, highlighting their difficulties in closing games under pressure.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield expressed disappointment over the loss, particularly after losing the coin toss in overtime against a strong Chiefs offense. He praised his teammates’ efforts and Bowles’ encouragement but emphasized the need to break their current losing streak. Having recently dropped to 4-5, the Bucs have faced multiple challenges, including key injuries and losses to strong opponents, and are now focused on improving execution to stop their slide and rebound in the upcoming games.
