Justin Fields: 9 of 12 for 64 as KC Leads 9-0

Justin Fields started for the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday night at Raymond James Stadium, with Patrick Mahomes out, and ESPN's box at halftime had him 9 of 12 for 64 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions, sacked twice for 23 yards, and 1 rush for 15. Kansas City led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-0 at the half. Garrett Nussmeier was already in at 5 of 10 for 45 yards. Fields' night was done.

That line is not last week's 4-of-4 for 41 yards against the Rams. ESPN gameId 401873296 is this preseason game. Harrison Butker made all the points: a 45-yard field goal at 10:18 of the second, a 58-yarder at 1:41, and a 69-yarder as time expired in the half. Chiefs 9, Bucs 0. Fields did not throw a touchdown. He did not turn it over through the air. He did fumble once. Kahlil Benson recovered it.

Justin Fields box: 9 of 12, 64 yards, two sacks

ESPN's passing table listed Fields first at 9 of 12, 64 yards, 5.3 per attempt, 0 TD, 0 INT, 2 sacks for minus-23, passer rating 86.8. Nussmeier, marked as the backup, was 5 of 10 for 45. Team passing sat at 14 of 22 for 86 net after the sacks. Fields' rushing line was 1 carry, 15 yards, long of 15. Emari Demercado had 4 for 17. Kenneth Walker III had 2 for 4.

Tampa Bay split the first-half snaps too. Baker Mayfield went 2 of 4 for 10 yards. Jake Browning was 6 of 8 for 50 with two sacks. Jalon Daniels had 1 of 1 for 6. The Bucs had 83 yards and no points at the break. Kansas City had 134 yards, 18:15 of possession, and three Butker makes. No red-zone touchdown for either side while Fields was in.

The Chiefs needed a starter because Patrick Mahomes sat with a knee injury. ESPN's injury report on the gamecast still listed Mahomes as questionable (knee, ACL) with an Aug. 28 estimate. Fields got the first-team reps. He was efficient enough on 12 attempts and never put the ball in the other team's hands. The sacks and the short field-goal drives are the other half of the card.

9-0 at half, and what the night is

This is a live preseason box, not a final. Fields is out of it. Nussmeier has the second half. Butker's 69-yarder at the horn is the headline kick. The 58-yarder was the middle one. The 45-yarder opened the scoring after an 11-play, 43-yard drive. Fields started. Mahomes did not dress for it. That is the Saturday fact from ESPN's gamecast, not a projection for Week 1.

Kansas City entered 0-1 in the preseason. Tampa Bay entered 1-0. The only points through two quarters were three Chiefs field goals. Fields' night: 9 of 12, 64 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 2 sacks, 15 rush yards, one fumble recovered by a teammate. Write it down from the ESPN box. Do not mix it with the Rams line.

Justin Fields FAQ

What are Justin Fields' stats vs the Buccaneers? ESPN's halftime box (gameId 401873296) had Fields 9 of 12 for 64 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, sacked twice for 23 yards, and 1 rush for 15. Nussmeier took over at 5 of 10 for 45.

Why is Justin Fields starting for the Chiefs? Patrick Mahomes is out with a knee injury. ESPN listed him questionable (knee, ACL). Fields started the Saturday preseason game at Tampa Bay.

What is the Chiefs vs Buccaneers score? Kansas City 9, Tampa Bay 0 at halftime, per ESPN. Harrison Butker hit from 45, 58, and 69 yards. No touchdowns in the first half.