Chiefs vs. Buccaneers: Kansas City and Tampa Bay Bring New Questions to Raymond James Stadium

The Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will meet at Raymond James Stadium on Saturday, August 22, in a preseason matchup that suddenly carries plenty of intrigue. Both teams entered the 2026 season looking to rebound from disappointing 2025 campaigns, and both have now completed their preseason openers, giving coaches a much clearer picture of which players are ready to make a push for roster spots.

The Chiefs arrive in Tampa after falling 20-12 to the Los Angeles Rams in their preseason opener at Arrowhead Stadium. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, enters the matchup with momentum after defeating the New York Jets 24-16 on the road.

The result is a second preseason game that should be less about the final score and more about development, roster competition and identifying players who can help once the regular season begins.

Chiefs Searching for Answers After Opening Loss

Kansas City’s 20-12 loss to Los Angeles was not necessarily a reason for panic, but it did expose several areas the coaching staff will want to evaluate before the Chiefs travel to Tampa.

With Patrick Mahomes unlikely to participate in the preseason as he continues his recovery from knee surgery, the Chiefs have turned the spotlight toward their quarterback depth. Head coach Andy Reid had already indicated that Mahomes was unlikely to play in the preseason, and the veteran quarterback ultimately did not take the field against the Rams.

That means the Chiefs’ preseason development is largely being driven by the players behind their franchise quarterback.

Justin Fields received an opportunity in the opener, while rookie Garrett Nussmeier also saw significant action. Nussmeier completed 13 of 19 passes for 98 yards, while rookie running back Emmett Johnson provided one of the more encouraging performances on the ground with 59 rushing yards.

Those performances could become particularly important in Tampa.

The Chiefs are not evaluating their backup quarterback situation simply for August. They are also preparing for the possibility that injuries could force a reserve quarterback onto the field during the regular season. Every preseason snap gives Kansas City more information about how its offense functions without Mahomes.

Against the Rams, Kansas City managed only 12 points, with Harrison Butker accounting for all four field goals. The offense moved the ball at times but struggled to finish drives, while penalties and stalled possessions limited its scoring opportunities.

That is one of the biggest areas to watch against Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay Enters With Confidence

The Buccaneers had a much more encouraging start to their preseason.

Tampa Bay defeated the New York Jets 24-16 on August 14, overcoming an early deficit and getting several strong performances from young players. The victory was particularly valuable because Tampa Bay’s established quarterbacks did not play, meaning the game became an important audition for the team’s younger signal-callers.

Rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels was one of the night’s standout performers. He completed 10 of 15 passes for 111 yards and added a rushing touchdown, giving the Buccaneers another intriguing option in their quarterback competition.

The defense also produced several encouraging moments.

Tampa Bay recorded four sacks against New York, with young pass rushers making an impact. Undrafted rookie Jack Pyburn recorded two sacks, while the secondary also produced a major play when rookie cornerback Ayden Garnes returned an interception for a touchdown.

Those performances matter because preseason games are often where undrafted players and late-round selections make their strongest cases for roster positions.

The Buccaneers now have another opportunity to test that depth against Kansas City.

Baker Mayfield Remains a Major Storyline

One of the biggest questions surrounding Tampa Bay entering the Chiefs game is how much work, if any, Baker Mayfield will receive.

Mayfield did not play against the Jets, allowing Tampa Bay to evaluate its younger quarterbacks instead.

That decision means the Chiefs matchup could provide another opportunity for the Buccaneers to determine how aggressively they want to use their established starters during the preseason.

The Buccaneers do not need to prove what Mayfield can do in August. They already know what he brings to the offense. The more pressing question is whether Tampa Bay can develop enough depth around him to withstand injuries and maintain offensive efficiency throughout the regular season.

That makes the quarterback rotation one of the most important things to monitor in Tampa.

If Mayfield again watches from the sideline, attention will shift toward the young quarterbacks and their ability to operate the offense under pressure.

The Chiefs’ Young Players Have Another Chance

For Kansas City, the loss to Los Angeles made the second preseason game even more useful.

The Chiefs need to identify which young players can handle extended responsibilities. The preseason opener already provided positive signs from Johnson and Nussmeier, while safety Jaden Hicks stood out defensively with seven tackles and a key pass breakup.

Now those players have another chance to build momentum.

Johnson’s performance is especially interesting because running back depth can become crucial over a 17-game regular season. A rookie who consistently demonstrates vision, burst and ball security can quickly move up the depth chart.

The same applies to Nussmeier.

The rookie quarterback does not need to win games in August. He needs to show Reid and the coaching staff that he can make correct reads, deliver accurate throws and keep the offense moving when the pressure increases.

A strong performance in Tampa could make the quarterback competition even more interesting as Kansas City approaches its preseason finale.

Raymond James Stadium Adds History

There is also an unmistakable historical connection between these two organizations.

Kansas City and Tampa Bay previously met at Raymond James Stadium in Super Bowl LV following the 2020 season. The Buccaneers won that championship game 31-9, becoming the first team to win a Super Bowl in its home stadium.

This August meeting obviously carries nothing close to those stakes, but the venue still gives the matchup an interesting backdrop.

The Buccaneers will have the advantage of playing in their home stadium, while Kansas City will be trying to build on lessons learned from its opening loss.

For younger players, playing in an NFL stadium with a real crowd and game atmosphere is another important part of the evaluation process.

Jon Gruden Returns to the Broadcast Booth

The game will also feature a notable broadcasting storyline.

Former Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden is scheduled to join franchise legend Rondé Barber in the broadcast booth for the Chiefs-Buccaneers preseason game. Gruden’s return adds another layer of history to an already interesting matchup, particularly because he remains closely associated with Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl-winning era.

For Tampa Bay fans, hearing Gruden call a Buccaneers game again should provide a nostalgic element to the evening.

For the broadcast itself, his experience as both an NFL head coach and analyst could provide additional insight into the roster battles and preseason decisions unfolding on the field.

What to Watch When Chiefs and Buccaneers Meet

The scoreboard should be secondary on August 22.

For Kansas City, the primary questions involve quarterback depth, offensive consistency and the development of young players. The Chiefs need to see better execution after producing only 12 points against Los Angeles.

The offensive line will also deserve close attention. Protection and blocking assignments become particularly important when backup quarterbacks are playing, because younger quarterbacks need clean pockets to demonstrate what they can do.

On defense, Kansas City will want to see whether its younger players can generate pressure and create turnovers without relying heavily on the team’s established stars.

For Tampa Bay, the focus will be slightly different.

The Buccaneers already demonstrated against the Jets that their young depth can make plays. Now they need to determine whether those performances can be repeated against a more experienced Kansas City organization.

The quarterback position remains a major storyline, but Tampa Bay’s young defensive players could also attract significant attention. Pyburn, Garnes and the rest of the developing defensive group have an opportunity to strengthen their cases for regular-season roles.

A Preseason Game With Real Consequences

The Chiefs and Buccaneers are not playing for standings points on August 22.

But for dozens of players across both rosters, the game could represent one of their biggest opportunities of the summer.

Kansas City is trying to recover from a 6-11 season that ended its remarkable playoff streak. Tampa Bay is also attempting to return to postseason contention after missing the playoffs in 2025. Both organizations therefore have reasons to take the evaluation process seriously.

The Chiefs arrive after a disappointing opening performance, while Tampa Bay comes in after a convincing preseason victory. Yet neither result should be viewed as a prediction of what will happen in the regular season.

Instead, the real value of Saturday’s game will come from what coaches learn.

Can Kansas City’s young offense produce more consistently? Can Garrett Nussmeier continue building confidence? Can Emmett Johnson turn his first strong performance into a trend? Can Tampa Bay’s young defensive players repeat their impact? And will the Buccaneers give Baker Mayfield meaningful preseason work?

Those questions make the matchup worth watching.

When Kansas City and Tampa Bay meet at Raymond James Stadium, the spotlight will not simply be on which team scores more points. It will be on the players fighting to prove they belong when the games start counting.

For two franchises determined to write a different story in 2026, that evaluation could be just as important as the final score.