The second place Tampa Bay Buccaneers are one game back in their division and bring their 5-3 record to Arrowhead Sunday, looking to keep pace with the Carolina Panthers. The Chiefs on the other hand are just trying to gain some traction to their season . In the Chiefs defense, they have played maybe the toughest schedule in the NFL. Only Oakland has a losing record, and of those six teams with a winning record four of them are division leaders. At 1-6 the bleeding looks like it may stop soon , the Chiefs finally showed some progress last week against the Jets after some forgettable performances against the Titans and Panthers in which the Chiefs were beaten soundly.

Familiarity with the Bucs defense might not be a problem for the Chiefs as they employee the same version of the cover two defense, going back to Herm Edwards days in Tampa. Making just his third career start Tyler Thigpen will need to find a way to use this to his advantage after coming of a very strong performance against the Jets. Building on his performance however may prove to be challenging Monte Kiffin is one of the best defensive coordinators in NFL history.

Herm Edwards even conceded this week during Q&A with the media that Kiffin may be “licking his chops” just thinking of a game plan to stop Thigpen who looked like a deer in the headlights during his first two contests.

Last week the Chiefs lost because they could not get a first down with five minutes left, this week will not get any easier the Buccaneers are giving up fifteen points per game ranking second in the NFL and are led on defense by life long Bucs Derrick Brooks and Ronde Barber. Injuries may be a factor for the Bucs and Chiefs as the Bucs have eight players who will be game time decisions and the Chiefs have key contributors punter Dustin Colquitt and cornerback Pat Surtain listed as questionable. Larry Johnson will once again be out for the fourth strait game as league commissioner Roger Goodell handed down a one game suspension to the troubled running back.

For all that is said about the Bucs defense their offense is not too shabby either. After some early season squabbling with head coach Jon Gruden quarterback Jeff Garcia has settled back into the starting spot and is one again showing his precision in the west coast offense completing 67% of his passes. The Chiefs have struggled the most on run defense and once again will face a very competent rushing attack, as the Bucs rank in the top ten in rushing yards going for over a 120 yards a game. Both Warrick Dunn and Earnest Graham are on pace to go over 900 yards rushing. Coach Jon Gruden is to smart of a offensive mind not to try to exploit the Chiefs rush defense.

Keys to the Game

Get the ground game going: Kolby Smith went for 15 yards on 11 carries last week if the Chiefs want any kind of success against this defense they will have to run the ball better. Jamal Charles could factor into the Chiefs plans as well after going for 45 yards on nine carries last week but with a defense as fast as Tampa’s you have to run over them not around them. Kolby Smith has the ability to run over defenders but the Chiefs line will have to open bigger holes than what they gave Smith last week. No one can be certain the Chiefs will play Larry Johnson after his one game suspension is up, the Chiefs must find a way to run the ball without him.

Help Thigpen help himself: Last week Thigpen found success as the Chiefs went to a hurry up spread kind of offense. With a week to study it Monte Kiffin’s defense wont be caught off guard by that, so if the Chiefs roll out the same offense they will need to add some new wrinkles. He will also need the help of a strong running game to keep the Tampa defenders honest and keep the blitzes at bay. All season the receivers have struggled to get separation , last week they seemed to excel and get into some space in the new Chiefs spread offense. The Chiefs need another big game from the receivers, Thigpen does not yet have the confidence to consistently throw into tight spaces.

Don’t get burned for the big play: The Chiefs played one of their better defensive games last week, three interceptions and they got pressure on the quarterback but the Chiefs still gave up the big play when Leon Washington took a Brett Favre handoff 60 yards to the house. That score turned out to be the difference in the game. In almost every contest this season the Chiefs have given up big plays rarely being able to bounce back from it, Jeff Garcia and Jon Gruden form one of the smartest coach quarterback tandems in the league, if the defense lets it’s guard down Gruden and Garcia will be all over it.

Injury Report

Dustin Colquitt P Groin- Questionable

Weston Dacus LB Groin- Questionable

Patrick Surtain CB Quadricep- Questionable

Brandon Flowers CB Foot- Probable

Jamaal Charles RB Ankle- Probable

Jarrad Page S Groin- Probable

Bucs Report

Jermaine Phillips S Forearm- Out

Warrick Dunn RB Back- Questionable

Arron Sears G Back- Questionable

Michael Clayton WR Knee- Questionable

B.J. Askew RB Hamstring- Questionable

Brian Griese QB Right Elbow- Questionable

Jovan Haye DT Foot- Questionable

Ike Hilliard WR Shoulder- Questionable

Maurice Stovall WR Hamstring- Questionable

Weather Report: Weather for kickoff will be 71 degrees and sunny with 11 MPH south south westerly breeze.

Final Score: Chiefs 10 Bucs 24

The Bucs just have too many things that the Chiefs can’t stop, a smart quarterback, a two headed beast at running back and a good defense. The Chiefs showed growth last week but this maybe a week in which the Chiefs take a step back as the Chiefs have struggled against similarly built teams such as the Titans, and Panthers. The only way for the Chiefs to win this game is to hit the Bucs in the mouth and out physical them something easier said than done.