The Kansas City Chiefs looked like they finally had their first preseason win since 2023 locked up, dominating for long stretches against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday. Then, with three minutes left, kicker Harrison Butker pushed a go-ahead 43-yard field goal far right, sealing a bitter 16-15 exhibition loss on the road. Man, talk about a gut punch. While the results in preseason don’t officially count, this game sure gave Chiefs fans plenty to chew on as the real action draws closer.
Butker’s Rollercoaster Ride Continues to Give Chiefs Fans Whilplash
We all know Harrison Butker has a leg, but dude, which Harrison Butker are we going to get this season? Saturday night was a perfect example of his human yin-yang act. One moment, he is a demigod, performing near-immortal feats like that insane 69-yard field goal to end the half. The next, he looks like Edgar from “Men in Black,” shanking a makeable 43-yarder to lose the game. It’s truly a wild ride. One kick gives you faith we are going to win the Super Bowl, and the very next has you terrified of missing the playoffs. Chiefs fans deserve some consistency from their kicker, especially when the stakes get real. This early showing just reinforces that we never know which Butker will show up.
Right Tackle Is Still The Abyss Chiefs Fans Feared
Hello darkness, my old friend. It feels like another season is just around the corner and the right tackle position is still a giant question mark. Defenders were blowing around the right edge like they were slingshotting around the sun in a stolen Klingon Bird-of-Prey. It did not matter who Andy Reid put in at offensive tackle on Saturday night; Jaylon Moore, Kahlil Benson, Esa Pole, they were all ineffective, and at times, downright horrible. It is becoming clearer and clearer that Benson getting first-team reps is less about him being a diamond in the rough, and more about there simply being a lack of better options. This is a massive problem that has to get fixed, and fast, before the regular season starts.
FAU Delivers a Much-Needed Boom!
On the brighter side, Chiefs edge rusher Felix Anudike-Uzomah came to play, and he made some noise. Did you see him flying around the edge and just obliterating Buccaneers quarterback Jake Browning in the first half? It was a highlight reel moment, a serious “Here comes the BOOM” kind of hit. For a fourth-year pass rusher who is fighting for his career, that is exactly the sort of play Chiefs fans need to see from Anudike-Uzomah. If the Chiefs can consistently rely on that kind of energy and impact, their pass rush starts to look a lot more daunting for opposing offenses. It’s one bright spot among some early concerns.
It is only preseason, sure, and the results do not officially matter. But these early showings highlight real challenges the Chiefs face heading into the season, especially at right tackle and with Butker’s consistency. Felix Anudike-Uzomah’s game-changing play offers a defensive spark that could be massive, though. Chiefs fans will be watching closely to see if these critical issues get sorted before the games truly matter, or if the early season stakes will be even higher than they hoped.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Arrowhead Pride.
Leave a Reply