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Tampa Bay Buccaneers

3 Keys to Defeating the Kansas City Chiefs

A few points of emphasis for the Buccaneers when they take on the Chiefs in Week 11.

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Pictures of the Top 10 Chiefs in Week 10, according to their Pro Football Focus player grade.

  1. Don't get beat on offense.**
    There's no question that the strength of this Chiefs team is on the defensive side of the ball. Kansas City has the NFL's No. 26 offense, but has earned an 7-2 record behind the league's No. 11 defense. The Chiefs lead the league in interceptions, picking off opposing quarterbacks 13 times. Marcus Peters have five of those interceptions, while Eric Berry and Daniel Sorenson each have two. They've also recovered nine fumbles, which are the second-most in the league. For Tampa Bay to defeat Kansas City, who many analysts believe to be a top-five team in the NFL, it's important they limit turnovers, as well as three-and-outs. 

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Pictures of the Chiefs' starting offense and defense, according to the team's depth chart.

  1. Defend the middle of the field.**
    While the Chiefs have struggled on offense, they have one of the NFL's most productive kicking games. Kansas City kicker Cairo Santos has converted on 22 field goals this year, the second most of any player in the league. He's connected on 88 percent of his attempts, which placed him in the top third of the NFL. Santos also has a long of 54 yards. It is critical that the Buccaneers play their best defense before Kansas City crosses the 50-yard line, because the Chiefs have proven capable of generating points regularly when they enter the red zone.

3. Get Doug some room.
Doug Martin returned to the lineup in Week 10, but played the majority of the game behind an offensive line missing three starters. The injury status of the Bucs' missing starters – Evan Smith, Kevin Pamphile and Joe Hawley – will be determined as the week carries on, but in order for the Buccaneers to control the clock and wear down the Chiefs' dangerous defense, the Bucs must get Martin, and the run game, rolling. In his return last week, Martin carried the ball 16 times for just 33 yards, though he did find the end zone once.

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