You’re welcome, people of Germany. The NFL did you a solid.
The Miami Dolphins vs. Kansas City Chiefs delivered. Final score: Chiefs 21, Dolphins 14. It was a good one — if not necessarily a satisfying one for Miami fans.
Miami Dolphins vs. Kansas City Chiefs Instant Observations
Dolphins Implode on Final Drive
The game was right there for the Dolphins to take. They had the ball, down a touchdown and deep in Chiefs territory, in the final moments.
Here’s how they finished:
Incompletion into coverage to Raheem Mostert short.
Incompletion to Jaylen Waddle across the middle (he fell down).
Incompletion to Cedrick Wilson Jr. on a clear miscommunication (Wilson was wide open for a touchdown).
Bad snap by Connor Williams, dooming the fourth-down play.
Yeesh.
Tyreek Hill’s Nightmare, Realized
The difference in the game? When the Chiefs returned a Tyreek Hill fumble 59 yards for a touchdown late in the first half.
The Dolphins were driving with a chance to go into halftime down just a touchdown when Tua Tagovailoa threw a doomed screen to Hill in the flat.
Trent McDuffie was on it immediately and not only stopped Hill in his tracks but stripped it. Mike Edwards recovered the ball and then lateralled it to Bryan Cook, who was off to the races.
Earlier in the half, Hill couldn’t pull in a deep pass that glanced off his fingertips. He finished the game with eight catches for 62 yards.
Dolphins Show Heart
How do you flip a 21-point halftime deficit into a close game down the stretch?
By showing an incredible spirit.
The Dolphins did that Sunday, and the defense set the tone. The Chiefs’ first three possessions in the second half?
Punt.
Fumble.
Punt.
Credit Bradley Chubb for making the biggest play, stripping Patrick Mahomes on third-and-long that Zach Sieler recovered on the plus side of the 50.
MORE: NFL Standings Week 9
Raheem Mostert rewarded that effort with a 13-yard touchdown run that cut the lead to seven.
And with the game in the balance, they got a massive three-and-out late in the fourth quarter when they desperately needed a stop.
Travel Plans Are Overrated
There was a thought locally that Mike McDaniel’s decision to leave for Germany six days before the game would be a big factor.
Dolphins players had nearly a full week to adjust to the time change, while the Chiefs would be exhausted by arriving early Friday morning.
Yeah, about that.
The Chiefs were the fresher, crisper, and mentally sharper team in the first half from the opening kick.
Penalties Remain a Problem
In the Dolphins’ Week 4 loss to the Buffalo Bills, the Dolphins converted 3 of 10 third downs and committed eight penalties for 98 yards.
In Miami’s Week 7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Dolphins converted 4 of 11 third downs and committed 10 penalties for 70 yards.
Now, in their Week 9 loss to the Chiefs, Miami converted 3 of 12 third downs and committed six penalties for 45 yards.
It’s causation, not correlation.
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