RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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The Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are set to face off in a highly anticipated preseason exhibition at Raymond James Stadium this evening as training camps across the NFL wind to a close.
After weeks of intense training, most players on both teams are vying for roster spots and chomping at the bit to make an impact in any way possible.
As such, fans should expect to see a hard-fought game between two teams that have a lot to prove entering their 2026 campaigns.
Here's a look at how Chiefs Wire's writers expect tonight's game to play out:
Ed Easton Jr.'s prediction
The Kansas City Chiefs return to action on the road for their second preseason matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Chiefs are still seeking their first preseason win in years.
The offense has another chance to fix last week's penalty issues. Another impressive performance from running back Emmitt Johnson could go a long way toward solidifying his role as Kenneth Walker's primary backup. Justin Fields and Garrett Nussmeier need to lead touchdown drives to send a message to the coaching staff.
Defensively, the mission remains the same for the rookie class to make an impact in their spots while gaining valuable experience. R Mason Thomas showed flashes of his pass-rushing ability but needs to secure a sack this week. Peter Woods is also due for a bounce-back effort after a relatively quiet home preseason debut.
Final score: Chiefs 24, Buccaneers 17
Samuel Teets' prediction
The Kansas City Chiefs have plenty of intriguing offensive line depth, and they’ll need to use it all against the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay’s roster features a plethora of young talent along its defensive front, including preseason Week 1 standout Jack Pyburn and training camp star David Walker.
After watching how the Chiefs leaned into Garrett Nussmeier in Week 1, it seems unlikely the offense will produce many fireworks against the Buccaneers. Kansas City’s best chance of winning rests on the defense finding advantages, but that became more difficult when Tampa Bay backup quarterback Jake Browning returned from injury earlier this week.
Kansas City’s defense needs a repeat performance from R Mason Thomas and big steps forward for Peter Woods, Jadon Canady and the remaining secondary depth. That’s a lot of improvement to expect in just one week. The Buccaneers enter preseason Week 2 with an advantage in depth and proven talent.
Final score: Chiefs 17, Buccaneers 27
Jon Ediger's prediction
This preseason tilt will be a key chance for rookie quarterback Garrett Nussmeier to separate himself in the competition to be Patrick Mahomes' backup. This key roster battle between Nussmeier — a seventh-round pick — and veteran Justin Fields is likely to dominate headlines after the game, as will the contributions of Kansas City's running backs, led by rookie Emmett Johnson.
Defensively, the Chiefs will just look to escape this game with valuable experience and a minimal number of injuries. Despite its somewhat unimpressive outing against the Rams, Kansas City's defense kept the game within arm's reach until the end with the help of Jaden Hicks, who made his case for a starting spot with seven tackles, including one for loss.
This game is likely to be uneventful, and fans shouldn't expect Andy Reid to burn any of his best plays in the preseason. For this reason, I'll predict a close loss that drops the Chiefs' preseason record to 0-2.
Final score: Chiefs 17, Buccaneers 21
John Dillon's prediction
I honestly think the Chiefs' coaching staff will do anything short of starting Patrick Mahomes to secure a win in this game. For as bad as Kansas City's 2025 campaign felt to all who witnessed it, the prospect of seeing the Chiefs' unquantifiable 'winning culture' crumble in a meaningful way is almost unthinkable.
Kansas City feels destined to get back on track, and I am officially predicting that the Chiefs will get their first win of the 2026 (pre)season at Raymond James Stadium. Veteran quarterback Justin Fields will put together an ultra-competent performance with the help of rookie running back Emmett Johnson to give Kansas City a 30-plus-point victory on the road to build momentum heading into the regular season.
Additionally, I expect that the Chiefs' pass rush will generate at least four sacks and that Kansas City will come away with at least two interceptions in the second half, one of which will be credited to Mansoor Delane.
Final score: Chiefs 41, Buccaneers 8
This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Predictions for Chiefs vs. Buccaneers in NFL preseason Week 2
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