The Kansas City Chiefs held on to beat the Miami Dolphins 34-15 on Sunday afternoon. It's the Chiefs first win of the season and puts them at 1-2.
The Chiefs won the game behind a breakout game from Joe McKnight, who came out of nowhere to catch six passes, two of which went for touchdowns (his only two offensive touchdowns of his career). Knile Davis was the bell cow with Jamaal Charles' injury keeping him out. Davis carried the ball over 30 times in the game and rushed for 132 yards. Travis Kelce also snagged his first NFL touchdown with a 20-yard catch and run. Cyrus Gray added a touchdown late in the game. The Chiefs also had a terrific pair of touchdown dances.
The Chiefs defense gave up some chunk plays in the game but did a nice job of stopping the Dolphins when it counted. The Chiefs defense still has yet to create a turnover though. The Chiefs did pick up five sacks in the game.
The Chiefs special teams was so-so with one big return but a handful of other mistakes. The story line here though is that the Chiefs won the game and increase their confidence entering a Monday night game with New England next week.
Stats
OFFENSE
Knile Davis started the game for Jamaal Charles and had 32 carries for 132 yards.
Chiefs first drive started at their own 2-yard line. The drive was killed when Frankie Hammond fumbled a toss on a reverse from AJ Jenkins, losing the Chiefs 15 yards.
Because they are the Chiefs. https://t.co/OWO134wsp2
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The Chiefs went for it on 4th-and-1 from the 46-yard line and picked up five yards for the conversion. Good decision, Andy!
Dwayne Bowe used his size nicely in order to pick up the YAC on a catch up the right sideline. Bowe did not make a 3rd-and-2 catch he needed to make later in the game though. It was a slant pass he should have caught for the first but missed it. He had catches for 32 yards on the day.
Knile Davis had a great touchdown run in the second quarter (video here). AJ Jenkins lined up in the backfield with Davis. Alex Smith faked the pitch to Jenkins and quickly handed off to Davis, who scampered up the gut 21 yards for the touchdown.
Travis Kelce had a great 20-yard touchdown catch and run. Smith found him on a crossing pattern and Kelce used his speed and athleticism to dive to the pylon for the touchdown. Also, his touchdown dance was excellent.
Travis Kelce TD https://t.co/9TC1F4258v
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On 3rd-and-8, the Dolphins blitzed Smith, who stepped up in the pocket and fumbled the ball. The Dolphins recovered at the Chiefs 19-yard line and went down to score a touchdown on the next drive. I would pin that fumble on Smith as he stepped up in the pocket ... not that he had a lot of time to work with.
Smith didn't rush as much this game but he had a nice 14-yard run on third and long. He is the No. 1 rushing quarterback in the NFL.
The Dolphins had a safety by sacking Smith in the end zone. The Chiefs line just imploded on the play. Smith should have known he needs to get that out quicker, too. Again, though, he wasn't working with much time. The blame can be shared on the pass protection.
Travis Kelce tried to hurdle a defender. Problem is, the defender stood up. Check it out here.
The Chiefs offense did a great job with a 9-play drive late in the fourth quarter while nursing a six-point lead. The Chiefs went all the way down the field and punched it in to take their 27-15 lead with 4:35 left.
DEFENSE
Must Reads
Must Reads
Ron Parker started for Eric Berry at safety.
The Chiefs defense repeatedly gave up chunk plays to the Dolphins but held strong on third downs and forced punts. Giving up just 15 points is a solid game.
The Chiefs defense had five sacks on the day.
Dontari Poe picked up a sack on the Dolphins first drive. He had 1.5 sacks on the day.
Defensive captain Sean Smith made pass breakups on two consecutive plays on a first quarter Dolphins drive. He has had a nice couple of weeks.
Dee Ford did a nice job pressuring Tannehill on a third and long to force the punt.
Justin Houston had one sack on the day. He would have had another sack if not for an incredible pass by Tannehill on one play.
The Chiefs defense did a nice job with multiple batted down balls against the Dolphins.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Frankie Hammond took the spot of De'Anthony Thomas at punt returner. It did not go very well outside of one very good return.
Jarvis Landry trucked a couple of Chiefs players, including kicker Cairo Santos, with a return to the 40-yard line to start the game.
Dustin Colquitt had an excellent 64-yard punt that was inexplicably caught inside the 5-yard line by the Dolphins Jarvis Landry. Colquitt had two punts over 60 yards in the game.
The Dolphins missed a field goal attempt.
Frankie Hammond had a 48-yard punt return wiped out due to a penalty. Later he had a 47-yard return that did count.
Frankie Hammond did not fair catch a punt which resulted in the Dolphins downing it at the 3-yard line.
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