The Kansas City Chiefs are waiting to hear who they’ll face in the Divisional round of the AFC playoffs after sending the Miami Dolphins back to South Beach, handing them a 26-7 loss at frigid GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday evening.
Fans braved the -30 wind chill to cheer on the Chiefs as they faced the Dolphins. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was unphased, however. The reigning Super Bowl MVP finished 23/41 for 262 yards passing and a touchdown.
Mahomes’ touchdown pass came on the Chiefs’ opening drive in the first quarter. Kansas City drove 69 yards in 11 plays and finished with a short pass over the middle to Rashee Rice, who dashed 11 yards for the score.
Kansas City’s defense was also on a mission to shut down Miami’s fire-powered offense and make Tyreek Hill’s return to Kansas City as miserable as possible. The Dolphins were shut out after six plays on their first drive. On 3rd and 13, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa completed a short pass to receiver Jeff Wilson that only gained six yards, falling short of moving the chains.
After the Dolphins forced Kansas City to punt, Miami took over at their 11-yard line with 7:07 remaining in the first quarter. Tua began moving the Dolphin offense down the field, coming to a 3rd and 5 on the 40 after eight plays. Trying to convert, Tua took a deep shot for receiver Jaylen Waddle, but his throw was intercepted by safety Mike Edwards and downed at the Chiefs’ 42-yard line.
The takeaway translated into three points when the Chiefs fizzled out at Miami’s 10-yard line after ten plays and failed to convert on 3rd and 6. Harrison Butker’s 26-yard field goal try extended the Chiefs’ lead to 10 unanswered points.
On their next possession, however, Miami answered. After a nine-yard connection from Tua to Tyreek Hill. The former Crimson Tide looked Hill’s way again, and it paid off as the Cheetah sprinted off for a 53-yard touchdown. Kansas City countered with another long drive that lasted eleven plays and traveled 82 yards to set up Butker to drive in another 26-yard field goal.
With 1:14 remaining in the second quarter, Mahomes’ 39-yard pass to Rice moved Kansas City up to Miami’s 14-yard line. Four plays later, Butker was sent to kick in a 32-yard field goal. Kansas City rolled into halftime with a 16-7 lead.
Kansas City ate up most of the third quarter, only allowing the Dolphins offense to be on the field for 6:42 on two possessions combined. The Chiefs’ 13-play drive started with a 20-yard completion to tight end Noah Gray. Two plays later, Mahomes completed on to Travis Kelce for a 13-yard gain to the 46. After throwing incomplete, Mahomes hit Rice for 10 yards and running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire for 12.
A three-yard completion to Kelce and a 13-yard scramble by Mahomes moved the Chiefs to the three-yard line. However, the Dolphin defense kept Kansas City from crossing the goal line, and the Chiefs settled for another Butker field goal from 21 yards.
Kansas City got the ball back to begin the fourth quarter after their defense forced Miami to punt. At the 14:40 mark, Mahomes converted 2nd and 16 with a 28-yard pass to Rice to advance to the Miami 17-yard line. Seven plays later, running back Isiah Pacheco took a handoff and pounded his way into the end zone for a three-yard touchdown.
Miami was held scoreless through their next three possessions as Kansas City’s defense preserved their 26-7 lead to force the Dolphins to go one-and-done in the postseason. The Chiefs will either host the Houston Texans or visit the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional round, depending on what happens between the Steelers and Bills on Monday afternoon.
