The Kansas City Chiefs required more effort than most fans expected to put away the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a memorable overtime game in Week 9 but a win is a win. The Chiefs are now 8-0 through 9 weeks and should be getting more help soon as some injured players get healthy and perhaps Brett Veach brings aboard new faces at the NFL”s trade deadline.

Under the bright lights of primetime TV on Monday Night Football, the Chiefs leaned heavily on some of those faces that Veach has already imported to stay unbeaten in Week 9.

There’s a lot to break down after a tough, physical battle like the one endured by Kansas City and Tampa Bay this week, but a handful of takeaways on the offensive side are what have us interested the most as we turn the page from another close victory for Andy Reid’s team.

We shouldn’t have to say this but we will because somehow Patrick Mahomes’ level of play or statistical production are beng questioned at this phase of his career and it’s all for nothing.

Yes, Mahomes was tied for the league lead in interceptions. Yes, the offense has struggled to put up points at times. Yes, Mahomes’ metrics don’t look as good as others and it seems he won’t be in the running for this year’s MVP award.

Forget all of that.

Mahomes’s stat line was magical once again on Monday night in primetime (116.8 rating, 3 touchdowns, zero interceptions), but it was more than that. It was the absolutely perfect placement of the football in DeAndre Hopkins’ hands in between multiple Buccaneers defenders to give the Chiefs a first down at the goal line. It was the smart, heady moves to consistently take what Tampa Bay was giving him. It was the soft touch pass to Samaje Perine and the laser strike to Hopkins for his second touchdown.

And of course there’s this bit of info:

No other quarterback can see and do the things that Mahomes sees and does and it’s a marvel to watch every week.

Can’t forget to feed Kareem Hunt

For an incomprehensible stretch in the third quarter, the Chiefs decided to abandon the running game and specifically the use of Kareem Hunt. It’s like he just wasn’t on the roster at all. Samaje Perine got some work during that time, but the Chiefs weren’t even leaning on him. Instead it was a weird mid-game abandon of the rushing attack.

Then, out of nowhere, Hunt was suddenly back and being featured regularly. The yards came quickly. Four. Fifteen. Nine. Seven. By the end of the night, Hunt looked downright gassed but still mustered enough energy to carry the game-winning touchdown across the goal line, giving the Chiefs their eighth win of the season in eight games.

By the end of the game, Hunt had 106 yards on 27 carries and 1 touchdown and helped the Chiefs deliver one long and successful drive after another—a pivotal turn of momentum in the fourth quarter that kept the Bucs offense on the sideline for several minutes at a time. A genius move. A heroic effort.

Does this sound like hyperbole? Perhaps it is but it also feels true.

Here’s the thing: the Chiefs have tried to add some significant help at pass catcher in the last year or more but nothing has really taken root. Some of it is no one’s fault. After all, Marquise Brown didn’t ask for a sternoclavicular injury. Some of it comes down to chances that were still worth taking (a trade for Kadarius Toney, the signing of Jawaan Taylor).

Watching a wide receiver with incredible hands like DeAndre Hopkins work his magic on offense was seeing the sport operate on another level, however. Hopkins might be past his prime, but he’s still one of the single best players at coming down with the football and he showed that on multiple plays on Monday night, including this one:

Not since the Chiefs drafted Rashee Rice in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft have they added such an important piece on offense.

Hopkins finished his night with 8 catches for 86 yards and 1 score and it’d be nearly impossible to find anyone who isn’t overly excited about the Chiefs’ new addition.

Wide receiver needs (more) help

There were a couple of moments during the Bucs-Chiefs game that really highlighted the issues at wide receiver for Kansas City. It’s also why it would be wise for general manager Brett Veach to keep shopping before the NFL’s trade deadline if he can.

First, Mecole Hardman left in the first quarter with a shoulder injury after a 33-yard punt return that gave the Chiefs solid field position. The Chiefs designated him as questionable to return. Although he came back one quarter later to resume his return duties, the absence highlighted the fact that the team is woefully thin on talent.

Second, Xavier Worthy, as gifted as he is, still is clearly a rookie who is learning the nuances of playing a clean game at the professional level. The missed touchdown on the opening drive is an ideal example of this, where the details of the game have to matter and mastery of his craft has to be in his sights. It didn’t help that he had -10 yards on the night.

If Worthy can’t make the leap, then the Chiefs are going to need someone else to step up because any further injuries are going to weaken this unit far too much.