DOLPHINS GAMEDAY

KEYS TO THE GAME

Five things the Miami Dolphins (8-4) need to do to secure a victory at home against the Kansas City Chiefs (11-1):

Find a way to rattle Mahomes

The one major limitation of coach Brian Flores’ hybrid defense is they’ve struggled against mobile and athletic quarterbacks. Patrick Mahomes fits that mold, but most of the time he’s scrambling to buy time to throw a pass. It would be ideal for the Dolphins to find a way to make him uncomfortable in the pocket and disguise their coverages so he ends up throwing into traffic.

Contain Kansas City’s tailbacks

Clyde Edwards-Helaire is 74 yards shy of producing 1,000 all-purpose yards as a rookie, and Le’Veon Bell is just as talented as he was in his Steelers days. He’s just playing a smaller role because he’s chasing a ring with Kansas City. Together they’ve helped the Chiefs average 123 rushing yards per game. The Dolphins have struggled stopping the run most of the season, but Miami’s front seven has tightened up a bit since its poor performance in Denver.

Defense must create turnovers

Xavien Howard has been delivering a turnover just about every week, leading the NFL with eight interceptions. Nik Needham has pulled down picks in two straight games, and is beginning to blossom into a reliable nickel cornerback. Byron Jones hasn’t gotten into the turnover-creating act, and that’s the missing element for the Dolphins secondary.

Execute on third downs, and in the red zone

Last week the Dolphins kicked four field goals because the offense kept stalling in scoring territory and only converted 1-of-10 third downs. That level of inefficiency might have worked against a talent-starved Bengals team last Sunday, but it will get the Dolphins slaughtered against a high-octane scoring attack like the Chiefs. Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey needs to do a better job calling red-zone plays for Tua Tagovailoa.

Limit Travis Kelce’s impact

Eric Rowe has done a dynamic job containing the NFL’s best tight ends the past two seasons, but he’s never faced a player like Travis Kelce. It’s unlikely that Rowe can cover Kelce on his own the whole game, so it will be interesting to see how Miami brackets him in with a linebacker or another safety. That’s the only way to neutralize the best tight end in the NFL.

STAFF PREDICTIONS

Latest line: Chiefs are favored by 7 ½ points. Over/under: 50.

Dave Hyde, Sports Columnist (Season record: 6 -6 ): Chiefs 3 0 , Dolphins 2 0

Kansas City returns to the good vibes of its Super Bowl as the class of the AFC. The Dolphins will have chances — and you can make the case for an upset with Miami’s stellar defense against Patrick Mahomes. It’s just not the way you pick, considering the high-powered Chiefs have won 11 straight games and are poised for another Super Bowl run.

Omar Kelly, Dolphins Columnist (Season record: 6 -6 ): Chiefs 3 0 , Dolphins 24

The Chiefs have too much weaponry and firepower for the Dolphins — unless the defense and special teams chip in and provide points. The Dolphins’ blitz-happy, ball-hawking scheme has produced at least one takeaway in 18 straight games — the longest such streak in the NFL. This should be a good gauge for the Dolphins to see where they are, and what is needed to continue this rebuild.

Safid Deen, Dolphins Writer (Season record: 8 -4 ): Chiefs 3 4 , Dolphins 2 4

Rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is finding his groove, but is clearly not as accomplished as Kansas City star Patrick Mahomes. The Dolphins defense has developed into one of the NFL’s best, allowing the second-fewest points in the league. Miami also has allowed 10 points or fewer in consecutive games for the first time since 2002. But the Chiefs have a superior offense and are the most formidable opponent the Dolphins will face all season.

Kathy Laughlin, Sports Editor (Season record: 6 -6 ): Chiefs 3 1 , Dolphins 2 0

The Dolphins have taken a leap forward this season, but they are not in the same league as Kansas City. The Dolphins are allowing an average of just 17.6 points, but the Super Bowl champion Chiefs are scoring an average of 30.8 points. Something’s gotta give, and I doubt Patrick Mahomes and the high-flying Chiefs are going to be the ones to blink.

Keven Lerner, Assistant Sports Editor (Season record: 7 -5 ): Chiefs 2 7, Dolphins 1 7

The Dolphins, led by a stingy defense, could prove they are legitimate playoff contenders by pulling off the upset. Miami has already exceeded expectations, but it has only one victory (the Los Angeles Rams) against a team currently above .500. With a win, Kansas City will clinch the AFC West and would have the best 13-game record in franchise history at 12-1. The Dolphins’ 9-3 record against the spread leads the NFL, but they will be hard-pressed to cover the 7 ½-point spread against the defending Super Bowl champs.

Steve Svekis, Assistant Sports Editor (Season record: 7 -5 ): Chiefs 2 9 , Dolphins 1 7

On an offense that has averaged an astounding 427 yards per game, the Chiefs have the 2020 league Most Valuable Player in Patrick Mahomes. Kansas City also boasts Tyreek Hill, who makes a ton of huge-YAC (yards after the catch) plays on short passes. The Chiefs also have the NFL’s best tight end in Travis Kelce. Kelce and Hill have a combined 2,283 yards this season. On top of that, you have running backs Clyde Edwards-Helaire and LeVeon Bell leading a run game with 1,358 yards on the ground at a 4.5-yard-per-carry average. So, it is pick-your-poison time for the Dolphins defensive coaches: let Mahomes have all day in the pocket, or expose areas of the field vacated by blitzing back-seven personnel.