Kansas City Chiefs Secure the AFC West Title Defeating the Dolphins in Miami, 33-27

The Kansas City Chiefs secured the AFC West title, defeating the Miami Dolphins on the road, 33-27.

Over the opening few drives, the Chiefs weren’t looking like a team that could win tonight. Patrick Mahomes experienced all sorts of troubles, with the league’s best player throwing two interceptions and suffering a 30-yard sack, the longest one in the previous five seasons.

“Let’s learn from it, and let’s go,” that is how Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid described Mahomes’ mindset after the picks.

The 2018 NFL MVP quickly recovered from a terrible start and got his team moving. He had one more interception by the end of the match but eventually ending the night with 393 yards, and two touchdown tosses.

After allowing the Dolphins to score first, and take a 10-0 lead, Mahomes and the crew delivered 30 unanswered points in a little bit more than 17 minutes throughout the second and third periods.

“You get angry, but at the same time you have confidence in the guys around…. Feels like this team gets better when we’re down,” Mahomes said about his poor start and what followed the same.

Tyreek Hill had two explosions, one for a 32-yard run, and the second for a 44-yard reception; Travis Kelce put his name on the scoresheet as usual, while Mecole Hardman returned the punt for 67 yards. Kelce’s score was 37 seconds before the halftime, Hill took it home with 1:10 inside the second, and Hardman’s punt return took place 62 seconds later.

This short stretch was a display of Kansas City’s monstrous abilities.

Miami was shocked by the intensity coming from the other side, and the injury-shredded hosts had no chance against the champions. Tua Tagovailoa threw more than 300 yards for the first time in his career, but he would also toss the first interception.

The rookie had 316 yards, with two TDs and one pick, suffering four sacks. He added one rushing TD adn 24 yards on the ground.

Both of his scoring passes went towards Mike Gesicki, who had to go out later due to a shoulder injury. If the too needs to skip a game or few in the next couple of weeks, that would be another devastating blow for this unit, which already has numerous big-time players absent because of their health issues.

“He’s really hurting, My thoughts and prayers are with him,” said Tagovailoa on Gesicki. “You hate to see that for someone like him.”

Lynn Bowden had seven catches for 82 yards, Mack Collins added 66 on five receptions. Their rushing was poor, with 80 yards generated by the entire team.

The Chiefs were a little better with 94 yards on the ground. Travis Kelce, meanwhile, received the football on 8 occasions for 136 yards, Hill had 79, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire 59. The latter two yielded 32 rushing yards each.

Chiefs are 12-1 so far and are stalking the Steelers, waiting for their mistake to take over the AFC’s top and the No.1 position in the league. KC has a big game coming up next Sunday, against the New Orleans Saints, in Louisiana. After that, they host the Atlanta Falcons, and end the regular part of the campaign at Arrowhead vs. Los Angeles Chargers.

The Dolphins, 8-5, are still in a good situation when talking about the playoffs. They need to defeat the Patriots, who are coming to Hard Rock Stadium the following weekend. After that, Tagovailoa and his teammates will have two very tough road challenges. The first in Las Vegas against the Raiders and in the final round against the Buffalo Bills.