Chiefs Improve to 3-0 With 24-10 Win Over Dolphins as Miami Falls to 0-3

Kansas City Pulls Away Late to Hand Miami Another Loss

Patrick Mahomes arrived in South Florida this weekend and noticed a fun coincidence. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback was staying in the same hotel room he occupied when he won his first Super Bowl title. This time, there was no Lombardi Trophy waiting at the end of the trip, but Mahomes and the Chiefs left Miami with something nearly as valuable in September: a 3-0 record.

Mahomes threw for 246 yards and two touchdowns, Kenneth Walker III scored through the air and on the ground, and the Chiefs pulled away late to defeat the Miami Dolphins 24-10 on Sunday in Week 3.

Kansas City entered the game averaging more than 450 yards and 32 points per game, but the Dolphins’ young defense settled in after a difficult start and kept the game competitive into the fourth quarter. Miami, however, struggled to generate enough offense after losing Pro Bowl running back De’Von Achane to a knee injury on the opening drive.

Mahomes completed 20 of 24 passes with one interception and consistently made enough plays to keep Kansas City in control. His biggest throw came late in the fourth quarter when he connected with Travis Kelce for an 11-yard touchdown with 2:55 remaining, putting the Chiefs ahead by two scores.

The touchdown came after Miami stopped Kansas City on fourth down at the Dolphins’ 48-yard line. The Chiefs defense then intercepted Miami quarterback Malik Willis on the ensuing possession, allowing Kansas City to move into scoring position and essentially put the game away. Harrison Butker missed a 50-yard field-goal attempt on the possession, but the Chiefs had already done enough to secure their third consecutive victory.

Chiefs Offense Starts Fast Before Miami Settles In

Kansas City scored touchdowns on its first two possessions, making it appear as though Miami could be in for another long afternoon. The Dolphins were coming off a game in which San Francisco scored touchdowns on its first five possessions, but Miami’s defense responded differently against Mahomes and the Chiefs.

The Dolphins forced a turnover on downs on Kansas City’s third drive, and rookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez made one of the biggest defensive plays of the afternoon when he came up with a diving interception of Mahomes before halftime. Kansas City’s offense ultimately finished below its season averages, but the Chiefs had enough production to control the game.

Rashee Rice led Kansas City with seven receptions for 88 yards. Two of his biggest catches came on the Chiefs’ final scoring drive, when he hauled in passes of 15 and 34 yards to help set up Kelce’s touchdown.

Kelce opened the game with a spectacular 48-yard catch-and-run, but he was quiet for most of the afternoon afterward. He didn’t record another catch or receive another target until Mahomes found him in the end zone in the fourth quarter.

Walker also provided a consistent presence in his first season with Kansas City. He finished with 18 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown while adding a touchdown reception, although it marked the first time this season he was held below 100 rushing yards.

Dolphins Lose Achane Early

Miami’s offense took a major hit on its opening possession when Achane suffered a knee injury while running for 11 yards. Achane’s departure was especially significant for a Dolphins offense already dealing with limited depth at running back.

Backup Jaylen Wright was inactive because of a stinger, forcing Miami to turn to third-stringer Ollie Gordon. Gordon finished with 17 carries for 41 yards and scored Miami’s only touchdown on a 3-yard run.The Dolphins eventually found some rhythm in the third quarter and cut Kansas City’s lead to 14-10.

The nine-play scoring drive featured a 42-yard reception by tight end Greg Dulcich and ended with Riley Patterson’s 37-yard field goal. Miami’s defense then gave the offense an opportunity to take control, but the Dolphins couldn’t capitalize.

Willis Makes Plays but Miami Can’t Finish

Willis finished 20 of 36 for 210 yards with one interception and a lost fumble. He also rushed for 56 yards, providing Miami with another dimension on the ground. Despite those contributions, the Dolphins couldn’t consistently sustain drives against Kansas City’s defense.

Miami had chances late, including the fourth-down stop that gave the offense possession at Kansas City’s 48-yard line. But Willis was intercepted on the ensuing drive, ending the Dolphins’ opportunity to pull even.

The loss dropped Miami to 0-3, leaving the Dolphins still searching for their first victory of the season. For Kansas City, the 3-0 start continues a strong opening stretch despite an offense that hasn’t consistently matched the explosive production it showed entering the season. The Chiefs don’t have another trophy to show for their South Florida trip, but Mahomes leaves with another win in a familiar place and Kansas City remains unbeaten through three weeks.

Next Sunday Football Game 

The Chiefs will return to action next Sunday when they travel to face the Las Vegas Raiders. The Dolphins will look for their first win of the season on the road against the Minnesota Vikings next Sunday.