Chiefs' Butker kicks 69-yard field goal, but has late misses as Daniels rallies Bucs to 16-15 win

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A stellar night for Harrison Butker soured in a hurry.

Kansas City's kicker booted three long field goals, including a 69-yarder on the final play of the first half, yet left Raymond James Stadium dissatisfied with his performance after missing an extra point and a potential winning 43-yard field goal during the second half of the Chiefs' 16-15 preseason loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday night.

“You've got to make your kicks. Miss an extra point, miss a game-winner. That's what I care about, not the 69-yarder or whatever it was,” Butker said.

"I feel like throughout my career when I've had big kicks, it's been a struggle to finish the game or the next game," Butker added. “I feel like mentally I was good on that 43-yarder. It felt good off my foot. Maybe I need some more caffeine for the second half or something.”

Rookie Jalon Daniels led three second-half scoring drives for Tampa Bay (2-0), which trailed 9-0 at halftime. Daniels threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Ko Kieft, Sean Tucker scored on a 1-yard run and B.T. Potter kicked a 46-yard field goal on the drives directed by the undrafted free agent out of Kansas.

Baker Mayfield, entering a contract year after leading the Bucs to the playoffs two of the past three seasons, started and played two series in his first preseason action since 2024. He was 2 of 4 for 10 yards before being replaced by backup Jake Browning late in the first quarter.

With three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes sitting out, Justin Fields opened at quarterback for the Chiefs, who have not said whether Mahomes will play in next week's preseason finale against Seattle. The two-time league MVP is coming back from a knee injury suffered last December and has been a full participant in training camp practices.

Fields departed in the second quarter, replaced by rookie Garrett Nussmeier after leading a drive that produced the first of Butker's three first-half field goals. Nussmeier's first series led to a 58-yard field goal and Butker added his 69-yarder after Tampa Bay turned the ball over on at the Kansas City 49 with 3 seconds remaining before halftime.

Most of Tampa Bay’s starters only played a couple of series. Browning was 9 of 12 for 84 yards, but was also sacked three times before giving way to Daniels, who finished 9 of 14 for 71 yards and his TD throw to Kieft.

A penalty nullified Butker's successful extra point after Emmett Johnson's 1-yard TD run hiked Kansas City's lead to 15-7. The re-try hit the right upright and bounced away.

“Butker, until the last field goal, had a heck of a day. But he'll be the first to tell you that's the one he'll remember,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “He'll learn from it and move on. He's made enough of those big ones for us that we know what he can do.”

Chiefs: Close the preseason at home against the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks next Friday.

Buccaneers: Travel to Jacksonville for joint practices against Jaguars, followed by a preseason finale Friday night.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Jalon Daniels (10) runs against the Kansas City Chiefs in the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Anthony Nelson (98) hits Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Justin Fields (6) in the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) watches play against the Kansas City Chiefs in the first half an NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Justin Fields (6) runs in the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Jalon Daniels (10) passes in the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

PHOENIX (AP) — JJ Bleday knew he needed a home run to complete a cycle Saturday night. But he wasn't sure how to approach that at-bat.

“I just thought, keep doing what I’ve been doing the first three at-bats and I was able to put a good swing on it," the Cincinnati Reds left fielder said after hitting a line drive homer to right on the first pitch of the sixth inning in a 11-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Bleday doubled in the first inning, tripled in the third and singled in the fourth as the Reds built an early lead and kept up the pressure. The first two hits were off Arizona starter Michael Soroka, the last two off reliever Zack Littell.

For Bleday, who struck out three times in Friday's 9-0 loss and entered the game hitting .217, it was much needed. The 28-year-old was the fourth overall pick in the 2019 draft, but it has taken awhile to gain traction.

“Things haven’t been going that well for me as of late, so I’m just trying to persevere," Bleday said. "This organization has really welcomed me and my family, and they’ve been giving me opportunities.”

“When you have a lead, you can enjoy it a little bit," Reds manager Terry Francona said. “That was special.”

It was the eighth cycle in franchise history dating to 1890. Bleday is the first Cincinnati player to hit for a cycle since Elly De La Cruz on June 23, 2023, against Atlanta.

“It's always cool seeing someone hit for the cycle,” said De La Cruz, who had four hits himself Saturday and lacked just the triple for what would have been the first twin cycle game in MLB history.

“I didn't know until he hit the homer, but that was pretty cool.”

Both players went 4 for 6, accounting for half the Reds' 16 hits.

There were three previous cycles in the majors this year — Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Cubs, the Phillies’ Bryce Harper and the most recent one, by Tristan Peters of the White Sox on July 10.

The home run was Bleday’s 21st of the season, topping his previous career high of 20 with the Athletics in 2024.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz, center right, hugs JJ Bleday, after Bleday hit for the cycle during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Cincinnati Reds' JJ Bleday, is all smiles after hitting a home run to complete hitting for the cycle during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)