Chiefs reach 8-0 with nail-biter against the Bucs, a game neatly summing up a season of close wins

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The entirety of the Kansas City Chiefs' season at the midway point could be summed up by their performance Monday night against Tampa Bay.

They had their miscues, their turnovers, their blown tackles on defense, and they allowed a team they were expected to beat easily hang around to the end of regulation.

Then they won anyway.

The Buccaneers gave Patrick Mahomes and Co. one more chance in overtime, after they elected to kick the PAT and tie the game after their touchdown with 27 seconds left, and the Chiefs promptly scored a TD of their own for a 30-24 victory.

That improved the Chiefs to 8-0, making them just the sixth defending Super Bowl champion to reach that mark unbeaten, and they have done it by the slimmest of margins. Kansas City is winning by an average of 7.0 points per game, the smallest margin of victory by nearly half a point of the 41 teams in NFL history that have won their first eight games.

The previous low was 7.4 points, set by the Colts in 2006. They went on to win the Super Bowl.

“Against a team with an offense like that,” Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield said, “you can only give them so many chances.”

More specifically, you can only give Mahomes so many chances.

The two-time NFL MVP had played a pedestrian first seven games, throwing a pick in each of them. But with three-time All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins suddenly at his disposal, courtesy of a trade with the Titans, Mahomes was back to slinging the ball all over the field. He threw for 291 yards and three TDs against the Bucs, with Hopkins getting two of them.

“Pat and I just out there making plays,” Hopkins said afterward.

Just as he's done so many times with so many wide receivers.

Indeed, Mahomes looked like his vintage self against Tampa Bay, rallying the Chiefs on two long fourth-quarter TD drives to take the lead with 4:17 to go, despite playing on a sore ankle. And when Mayfield and the Bucs forced overtime with their touchdown in the final minute, Mahomes was 5 for 5 in the extra session, setting up Kareem Hunt's winning touchdown plunge.

Mahomes improved to 47-19 in games decided by a touchdown or less, including playoffs. The only QB better with at least 30 games on his resume is Daryle Lamonica, who went 24-5-6 during a 12-year career with Buffalo and Oakland.

Yet Mahomes is the first to point out that all those wins are a team effort. The Chiefs defense continues to be one of the best in the NFL, especially against the run, while Hunt's arrival has allowed them to keep some semblance of offensive balance.

The result has been a perfect start to their pursuit of an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl title.

The Chiefs' passing game has finally hit its stride, thanks largely to Hopkins, who had eight catches for 86 yards in only his second game with Kansas City. Even when he wasn't catching passes Monday night, the Buccaneers were forced to pay attention to him, and that freed up Travis Kelce to catch 14 passes — his most in a regular-season game — for 100 yards.

The Chiefs have struggled all season to cover tight ends, beginning in Week 1 with Baltimore's Isaiah Likely right through Tampa Bay's Cade Otton on Monday night. Otton finished with eight catches for 77 yards and a touchdown.

Chiefs cornerback Chris Roland-Wallace has quietly excelled when pressed into duty following an injury to Jaylen Watson that will sideline him for the rest of the season. Nazeeh Johnson also has been missing while in the concussion protocol.

The Chiefs expected first-round pick Xavier Worthy to be a bit boom-or-bust as a rookie, and lately the speedster has been more bust than boom. He carried twice for minus-10 yards and failed to catch either of his targets against Tampa Bay. Worthy has only had more than three catches or eclipsed 47 yards receiving once through the first eight games.

Mahomes tweaked his ankle against Tampa Bay but finished the game, and WR Mecole Hardman (shoulder), DE George Karlaftis (hip) and DE Turk Wharton (right knee) also played through minor injuries. The Chiefs hope to get Johnson back this week, while it is beginning to look promising that RB Isiah Pacheco (fractured fibulas) could return at some point this season.

30 — The Chiefs, once known for their prolific offense, scored 30 points on Monday night — albeit needing overtime to do it — for the first time since beating the Raiders 31-17 on Nov. 26, 2023.

The Chiefs get a rare noon kickoff at Arrowhead Stadium when they play the AFC West-rival Denver Broncos next Sunday.

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Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill (23) celebrates a defensive play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) celebrates a first down reception against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during overtime of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

The Kansas City Chiefs celebrate a touchdown and win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during overtime of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt (29) celebrates a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in overtime of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) walks off the field after a win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in overtime of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rico is holding elections that will be historic regardless of which of the top two gubernatorial candidates wins.

If Jenniffer González of the pro-statehood New Progressive Party wins Tuesday's election, it will mark the first time in the island’s history that the party secures three consecutive terms.

If Juan Dalmau, who is running for Puerto Rico’s Independence Party and Citizen Victory Movement, wins, it will be the first win for a candidate outside of the two main parties that have dominated the island’s politics for decades.

Trailing González and Dalmau in polls is Jesús Manuel Ortiz of the Popular Democratic Party, which supports the island’s territorial status. Also running is Javier Jiménez of Project Dignity, a conservative party created in 2019.

Thousands of voters across the U.S. territory stood in long lines clutching umbrellas, undeterred by heavy rain.

“I feel that for the first time, there is an opportunity for change,” said Jorge Hernández, a 24-year-old arts student as he waited to cast his vote. “The bipartisanship is losing strength. I have faith that there can be real change.”

For decades, the New Progressive Party and the Popular Democratic Party would receive at least 90% of all votes, but that began to change in 2016. Newer parties are attracting more voters given Puerto Rico's economic and political turmoil while a younger generation is decrying corruption, persistent power outages and a lack of affordable housing, among other things.

Education, health and public safety also were on voters' minds as they marveled at the long lines despite the rain.

“I've never seen it like this,” said Nadja Oquendo, a 62-year-old retiree.

Faviola Alcalá, a pro surfer, said she was voting for the first time and was thrilled to see the line at her polling station.

“I love it,” she said, adding that she wants a break from Puerto Rico's two main parties and more opportunities for young people.

Among the voters who stepped out despite the rain was reggaetón superstar Bad Bunny, who has derided the pro-statehood party and made a brief appearance at Dalmau's campaign closer.

“I trust that we the people of Puerto Rico will make the right decision for the future of our people,” he told reporters.

Long lines were reported at several polling stations given malfunctioning voting machines and other issues, including power outages.

Some voters turned on their phone's timers to see how long they stood in line while others munched on snacks as a street vendor cried out, "Cold water! Cold water!"

Ommy González, a 25-year-old bartender who was voting for the first time, carried a fold-out chair and a water bottle.

“I'm very excited,” he said. “Obviously we want something different for the people.”

González said he wants a stronger economy and education system and denounced persistent political corruption: “Stop taking money and misspending it.”

Several voters said they were surprised at how quickly minority and new parties have become serious threats to the stronghold the two main parties have had on Puerto Rico's politics.

“I didn't see this happening so early on, but I'm glad,” said Giulianna Abreu, a 33-year-old publicist.

Although polling stations close late Tuesday afternoon, results could take a couple of days. In 2020, it took officials four days to release preliminary results.

Dalmau, however, said he believed results for the governorship would be ready by late Tuesday.: “We are hopeful that this country will take a historic step."

Puerto Rico’s State Elections Commission is still counting more than 220,000 early and absentee votes, with counting starting more than two weeks later than usual. Jessika Padilla, the commission’s alternate president, said some 40% of those votes had been counted as of Monday.

“This validation process is one that we are not going to take lightly,” she said.

More than 5,000 inmates out of some 7,400 total also have voted, although it’s unclear how many of those votes have been counted.

Officials also are still receiving allegations about electoral crimes, including from people who said they received confirmations for early voting when they made no such request.

On Tuesday, voters also will be asked for a seventh time about Puerto Rico’s political status. The nonbinding referendum offers three options: statehood, independence and independence with free association, under which issues like foreign affairs, U.S. citizenship and use of the U.S. dollar would be negotiated.

“We're going to work to give our people equality,” said Jenniffer González of the pro-statehood party.

Party officials have long noted that despite being a U.S. territory, Puerto Rico receives unequal treatment when it comes to Medicaid, Medicare and other federal programs.

Regardless of the referendum's outcome, a change in status requires approval from the U.S. Congress.

Some voters on Monday said that statehood is the only thing that will help pull Puerto Rico out of its slump.

In addition, Puerto Ricans on Tuesday can support Kamala Harris or Donald Trump in a symbolic vote if they wish. While Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, those on the island are not allowed to vote in U.S. presidential elections.

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

Supporters carry the Puerto Rican flag before Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris arrives to speak at a campaign rally, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

A campaign poster promotes New Progressive Party gubernatorial candidate and Puerto Rico’s representative in Congress Jenniffer González, above a campaign poster of resident commissioner candidate Luis Villafañe, defaced with the Spanish words for corrupt and rogue, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Alejandro Granadillo)

A view of La Perla neighborhood in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (AP Photo by Alejandro Granadillo)

A billboard promoting Puerto Rico’s Independence Party and the Citizen Victory Movement gubernatorial candidate Juan Dalmau towers over a highway, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.(AP Photo/Alejandro Granadillo)

A supporter waves a Puerto Rican Independence Party flag while holding a campaign poster promoting the Citizens' Victory Movement mayoral candidate Manuel Natal, during a caravan in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Alejandro Granadillo)