Kansas City Chiefs vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers Picks and Prediction for Saturday August 22 2026

On Saturday, the Kansas City Chiefs (0-1) face off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0) at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida in Week 2 of the preseason. Get involved in the action with our free NFL picks.

Kansas City vs. Tampa Bay Game Information

• August 22, 2026
• 7:30 PM EST
• Raymond James Stadium
• ESPN Unlimited/KSHB

Tampa Bay Form & Recent Results

Tampa Bay comes into this preseason matchup with some confidence after winning its first preseason game, beating the Jets 24-16 in East Rutherford. The Buccaneers put together a steady performance on both sides of the ball, and quarterback Jalon Daniels played efficiently by completing 10 of his 15 pass attempts. One of the biggest positives for Tampa Bay was that the offense avoided mistakes, finishing the game with no turnovers. The Buccaneers also moved the chains well, recording 17 first downs, converting their only fourth-down attempt, and going 2-for-3 inside the red zone. That kind of execution is encouraging in the preseason, especially as the team continues to evaluate players and build rhythm before the regular season begins.

During the 2025 season, quarterback Baker Mayfield gave Tampa Bay solid production in the passing game, throwing for 3,693 yards while completing 63.2% of his passes. Running back Bucky Irving led the Buccaneers on the ground with 588 rushing yards, while wide receiver Emeka Egbuka was the team’s top option through the air with 938 receiving yards. On defense, Tampa Bay gave up an average of 22 points per game over its final five games, which is an area the team will want to improve as the new season approaches. After finishing with an 8-9 record last year, the Buccaneers will be aiming to show more consistency, clean up their weaknesses, and make a stronger push toward earning a playoff spot.

Kansas City Form & Recent Results

Kansas City enters this week two preseason matchup looking to regroup after dropping its preseason opener, a 20-12 loss to the Rams at home. Even though the Chiefs did not come away with the win, there were still some positives to take from the game, especially from quarterback Ty Simpson. Simpson was very efficient, completing 21 of his 25 pass attempts and throwing two touchdowns, giving Kansas City a productive performance through the air. The Chiefs also avoided giving the ball away, finishing the game with no turnovers, which is always an encouraging sign in preseason action as teams work through rotations and evaluate depth across the roster.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw for 3,587 yards while completing 62.7% of his passes last season as a whole. Running back Kareem Hunt led Kansas City’s rushing attack with 611 yards on the ground, while tight end Travis Kelce remained the team’s top receiving option with 851 receiving yards. Defensively, the Chiefs allowed an average of 19.2 points per game over their final five games, showing some stability on that side of the ball despite the team’s overall struggles. Kansas City finished with a disappointing 6-11 record, marking its worst season in thirteen years, so this year will be all about responding in a major way. The Chiefs will be focused on improving their consistency, getting back to their usual standard, and leaving last season’s frustrations behind as they try to return to playoff contention.

Key Stats

• Kansas City’s Kareem Hunt last season: 611 rushing yards, 8 TDs
• Tampa Bay’s Emeka Egbuka last season: 938 rushing yards, 6 TDs

Betting Odds & Market Overview:

• TB -5.5; O/U 36.5

Kansas City vs. Tampa Bay Picks and Prediction

The Chiefs are coming off a disappointing 6-11 season, which was very unusual for a team that has been known for winning at a high level in recent years. Kansas City will be looking to reset, regain confidence, and show signs of improvement as they head into the new season. In Week 2 of the preseason, they will travel to Tampa to take on the Buccaneers, who are also trying to clean up issues from last year and build more consistency. Even though it is only a preseason matchup, a win over the Chiefs could still give Tampa Bay a nice boost and help the team create some positive momentum before the regular season begins. Final Score Prediction, Tampa Bay Buccaneers win but fail to cover the spread, 24-21.