Visitor: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Home:  Kansas City Chiefs

Date:  August 12, 2011

Preseason Week 1

 

Scoring:

Team               1          2          3          4          Final

TB                   10        5          7          3            25

KC                  0          0          0          0             0

 

Visitor playmakers:

QB Josh Freeman, LB Dekoda Watson, RB Michael Bennett, WR Michael Spurlock

 

Home playmakers:

LB Eric Bakhtiari, LB Justin Cole, DL Allen Bailey

 

Network:  Fox (WDAF Kansas City)

Announcers:  Thom Brennaman, Brian Billick

 

Pregame:  Yes

Halftime:  Yes

Postgame:  Yes

Commercials:  No

 

Grade:  9/10

 

Notes:  Josh Freeman put points on the board three of the four series he played, finishing nine of 13 passing for 73 yards with a touchdown rushing. Backup quarterback Josh Johnson was just as efficient, going seven of 12 passing for 108 yards and a touchdown while also running for 57 yards.

 

The Tampa Bay offense piled up 353 yards, while a young and rapidly improving defense held the explosive Kansas City offense to just 137 -- 86 on the ground and 51 through the air.

 

It figured to be a sloppy game after the NFL lockout wiped away the offseason. Teams have only been together for about a dozen practices, and veteran free agents couldn't even join their teammates until last Thursday because of new language in the collective bargaining agreement.

 

Kansas City had barely worked out in pads, and coach Todd Haley decided not to scrimmage during camp, wary that too much hitting too early might result in unnecessary injuries.

 

Running time:  2:27 (2 DVDs)