• March 28, 2024 7:15 am

Chiefs survive rough start to beat Dolphins, 33-27

ByTravis Forsyth

Dec 13, 2020

The Kansas City Chiefs advance to 12-1 on the season after they hold off the Miami Dolphins late in the fourth to preserve a 5-point lead for the win. 

The 33-27 victory over Miami locks up the AFC West division for a fifth consecutive season for Kansas City. This will be Head Coach Andy Reid’s eleventh career division championship.

The first eight minutes of the first quarter weren’t pretty against the Miami defense. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw two interceptions, had a bad snap from center, and was sacked 30 yards behind the line of scrimmage.

Mahomes went into today’s game with only two picks on the season. He exits Hard Rock Stadium with 24 completions out of 34 throwing attempts for 393 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. 

Travis Kelce leaves Miami as the league’s top receiving tight end. No other player at the tight end position has more receiving yards than number 87 for Kansas City. Kelce finished today with eight catches for 136 yards and a TD.

Wide receiver Tyreek Hill also took part in the offensive scoring. Hill had two scores on the day, one through the air, and another on the ground. He finished with three grabs for 79 yards and one rushing attempt that he took 32 yards to the house.

The Chiefs got some extra help from their special teams unit in the third quarter. After Mahomes delivered a 44-yard bomb to Tyreek Hill in the end zone, the Dolphins’ offense went a quick three-and-out and were forced to punt.

Miami punter Matt Haack’s 37-yard punt was caught by returner Mecole Hardman, who raced up the sideline from the K.C. 33-yard line to the crib for a 67-yard score. 

Kansas City’s defense also got on the score sheet, as defensive tackle Chris Jones was able to tackle Miami QB Tue Tagovailoa in the end zone for a two-point safety. 

The defensive play made up for one of Kansas City’s four turnovers. On the previous play, WR Mecole Hardman fumbled on Miami’s 16-yard line. The ball was recovered by the Dolphins at their own 7, which was how the Chiefs had the opportunity to get the safety.

On the other sideline, Tue Tagovailoa had a good day, completing 28 of 48 passes for 316 yards, two touchdowns, and his first career interception by way of Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu.

Tagovailoa also had a rushing TD on the day, a one-yard score on a QB sneak. The rookie from the University of Alabama finished for six carries for 24 yards.

Tight end Matt Gesicki was on the receiving end of both of Miami’s touchdowns that were through the air. Gesicki finished with five catches for 65 yards. 

After falling behind 10-0 in the first quarter, the Chiefs jumped out to a 14-10 lead at halftime. Kansas City’s scoring assault began at the top of the second quarter, as Tyreek Hill took a handoff up the right sideline for a 32-yard rushing TD to bring the Chiefs to within three points. 

Two possessions later, on third-and-seven, Tagovailoa hit receiver Jakeem Grant in the hands, but the ball deflected off them into the arms of safety Tyrann Mathieu. 

From his own 26 yard line, Patrick Mahomes led a nine-play, 59-yard drive in two minutes and fifteen seconds to take the lead by rolling to his right and finding an open Travis Kelce by the right-front-pylon for the score. 

To avoid another slow start going into the second half, Kansas City opened up their offensive playbook and struck big right out of the gate.

The Chiefs roared 75 yards up the field as Mahomes dropped back and floated a deep pass for Tyreek Hill that landed in his receiver’s arm for the 44-yard TD that pushed Kansas City out in front, 21-10.

Two possessions later, Kansas City was on a would-be scoring drive, but the Dolphins got the ball back off a Mecole Hardman fumble. However, the fumble recovery placed Miami deep in their own territory, setting up DT Chris Jones to make a big play.

Backed up in his own end zone, Tagovailoa took the snap, but before he could make a decision with the football, the protection broke down, and Jones was there to bring him down for the sack and a two-point safety.

At the end of the third quarter, Kansas City was on another would-be scoring drive. In eight plays, Mahomes had led his offense 68 yards from his own 8-yard line, to the Miami 24. On first-and-ten, Mahomes threw a deep pass for Tyreek Hill in the end zone, but the pass was picked off by defensive back Xavier Howard to give the Dolphins the ball back going into the fourth quarter. 

That was Mahomes’ third interception of the day. 

Following the takeaway, Miami’s offense went 80 yards in eight plays, the other way as Tagovailoa hit Matt Gesicki for a 24-yard touchdown to bring K.C.’s lead down to 13 points. 

After forcing Mahomes and Co. to go three and out, Miami went on another scoring drive. In 14 plays, the Dolphins casually went up the field, taking nearly six minutes off the game clock, as Tagovailoa reached the end zone via a QB sneak to make it a 30-24 ball game.

On their next possession, Kansas City wound the clock down to a minute and twelve seconds with a methodical 10-play, 32-yard drive that set up kicker Harrison Butker to drive home a 46-yard field goal to extend the lead to 33-24.

With under a minute left, Miami was able to get 31 yards down the field in order to get in range for a 44-yard field goal to come within six points. However, they failed on the onside kick attempt and Kansas City leaves with a 33-27 victory.

For the fifth consecutive season, the Chiefs have clinched the AFC West division and will be keeping an eye on tonight’s matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers. If Buffalo can get the victory, it will make Kansas City the front runners to take the top seed in the AFC.

The Chiefs will play the New Orleans Saints next Sunday.

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