TAMPA — Defensive end Anthony Nelson recorded 1.5 sacks, including a strip sack of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Justin Fields, and cornerback Roman Parodie’s fourth-quarter interception set up the go-ahead score as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers edged the Chiefs 16-15 in preseason Week 2.
Nelson’s biggest play came late in the first quarter when he beat tackle Kahlil Benson off the edge and knocked the ball loose with his left hand. Benson recovered the fumble but was stopped short of the line to gain, forcing a fourth down. Nelson added a half sack alongside outside linebacker Mohamed Kamara in the second quarter, dropping Fields on third down from inside the Bucs’ 10-yard line and pushing Kansas City back 20 yards into a longer field-goal attempt.
Parodie, who rejoined the Buccaneers two weeks ago after originally signing as an undrafted free agent out of Ohio University in 2025, delivered the game’s turning point. With Tampa Bay trailing 15-10, Parodie picked off a bobbled pass and gave the offense the ball in excellent field position. Last preseason, Parodie returned an interception for a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans.
The Bucs capitalized immediately. Sean Tucker powered in from the 1-yard line with 10:08 left in the game to put Tampa Bay ahead 16-15. The two-point conversion attempt failed, but the one-point margin held as the final score. Tucker, who led the team last season with seven rushing and one receiving touchdown, finished as the Bucs’ leading rusher against the Chiefs with 23 yards on five carries.
Quarterback Jalon Daniels leaned heavily on rookie undrafted free agent and Tampa native Dean Patterson IV, connecting with him five times for 47 yards. Patterson’s best catch came on a toe-tap grab in the middle of the third quarter — a 24-yard gain on a first-and-10 rollout throw from Daniels in which Patterson hauled in the pass and got both feet down. Patterson and receiver Kam Johnson tied for the game lead in receiving yards with 56 yards apiece.
The Buccaneers close out the preseason schedule next week as roster cuts approach ahead of the regular season.