TAMPA — Undrafted rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels led three consecutive scoring drives to rally the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from a 9-0 deficit to a 16-15 preseason victory over the Kansas City Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium.
Daniels completed nine of 14 attempts for 71 yards and a 100.6 quarterback rating while rushing seven times for 19 yards, including a 10-yard scramble to move the chains. He connected with Ko Kieft on a two-yard touchdown in the back of the end zone to cap a seven-play, 49-yard drive in the third quarter, then set up a B.T. Potter 46-yard field goal on the next possession before his improvisation in the fourth quarter led to Sean Tucker’s one-yard touchdown rush.
“He did a good job closing out the game for the second week in a row,” said Head Coach Todd Bowles. “He made some plays, some clutch plays. Obviously, there are a lot of things that he has to learn but at the same time, he goes out there and he makes things happen and he gives us a chance to win.”
Daniels, who entered in the third quarter after Jake Browning played the majority of the first half, has now ignited the offense in back-to-back preseason games. Baker Mayfield started and completed two of four attempts for 10 yards before exiting, while Browning completed eight of 11 attempts for 84 yards across his action.
“I think I am very confident with everything that I do within the game of football,” Daniels said. “I have been playing since I was seven years old … Every single opportunity that comes my way and my number is called, I am going to go out there and do it 100 percent confidently and do it with a smile and go out there and play 100 percent hard.”
Tampa Bay’s defense set the tone early, forcing two straight three-and-outs against Justin Fields with Rueben Bain Jr. and Yaya Diaby generating consistent pressure. Anthony Nelson sacked Fields in the first quarter and stripped the ball, stalling Kansas City’s momentum. Mohamed Kamara and Nelson combined to drop Fields for a loss of 20 yards on a third-down play in the second quarter, holding the Chiefs to a Harrison Butker 45-yard field goal. Butker also connected from 58 yards on a 50-yard, 13-play drive before halftime to give Kansas City its 9-0 lead.
Undrafted rookie Roman Parodie sealed the comeback with a fourth-quarter interception of Chris Oladokun at the Kansas City 37-yard line, returning it 15 yards to the 22 to set up Tucker’s go-ahead score. “We called a play where I knew that I had inside help and I was slow to jump it inside and then I played my receiver’s back hip and then the ball got thrown somewhere else,” Parodie said. “I was in the right place at the right time. The ball came out, found my hands and I had to get sticky.”
The Buccaneers close their preseason schedule in Week Three, when roster decisions will determine whether Daniels earns a spot behind Mayfield heading into the regular season.