Arrowheadlines: Kansas City Chiefs News 9/22

Alex Smith leads Chiefs past Dolphins 34-15 from The Associated Press via The Mothership

Smith led touchdown drives of 62, 76 and 66 yards in a span of four possessions as Kansas City took leads of 14-0 and 21-10. The defense protected the early lead, allowing only four third down conversions and sacking Ryan Tannehill four times.

The Chiefs improved to 1-2 and won for only the third time in their past 11 games, including postseason. The Dolphins fell to 1-2, another wobbly start for a team that hasn't won a postseason game since 2000.

Smith, who ranked 35th and last in the NFL in passing after two weeks, went 19 for 25 for 186 yards, with three of his incompletions dropped. He threw scoring passes of 11 and 4 yards to Joe McKnight, and 20 yards to Travis Kelce.

Chiefs vs. Dolphins: Game at a Glance from The Mothership

The Kansas City Chiefs managed to get over 200 yards and four touchdowns worth of production from the running back position in their victory over the Dolphins, and that was all without Jamaal Charles.

It was a toughness Chiefs coach Andy Reid was happy to see from this team.

"They showed great heart and desire today," Reid said. "So you develop character through the tough times and so this team is showing that and they showed it today."

KCChiefs.com Photo Gallery: Chiefs vs. Dolphins

KCChiefs.com Video: Chiefs Post Game Report: Week Three

KCChiefs.com Video: Andy Reid Post Game Press Conference

KCChiefs.com Video: Alex Smith Post Game Press Conference

KCChiefs.com Video: Locker Room Celebration: Miami

KCChiefs.com Video: Locker Room Sound: Week Three

KCChiefs.com Video: Chiefs vs. Dolphins Highlights

KCChiefs.com Video: Mic'd Up Moment

NFL.com Video: Most Surprising Week 3 Victory

Chiefs' ground game dominates high points from Chiefs Digest [formerly Chiefs Spin]

The Chiefs more than made up for the absence of running back Jamaal Charles (ankle) with a punishing ground attack against the Dolphins. Knile Davis, who started in place of Charles, anchored the effort with a career-high 132 yards and a touchdown on a career-high 32 carries. Davis now has three rushing touchdowns in the last two games. The Chiefs totaled 174 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 41 carries as a team, marking the most since totaling 192 yards rushing against Washington last season. Third-year running back Cyrus Gray chipped in with a 6-yard touchdown run late in the game.

Cute no more: Chiefs have found an identity again -- and a running game, to boot from FS Kansas City

In Week 1, coach Andy Reid got a little behind at home, two of his best defensive players were lost for the season with the same freaky injury within the same freaky hour, and he snapped. Or panicked. Or reverted back to Philly Andy.

To put it another way, you try to drive a monster truck like a Ferrari, eventually, the bleeping thing crashes. See: Titans 26, Chiefs 10.

And maybe that was, indeed, Reid's personal come-to-Earl-Campbell moment, the shame that finally stuck. Take Sunday. More often than not, the Chiefs ran out of a base of two tight ends in Miami -- and, occasionally, just for the hell of it, three. When 6-foot-6 Jeff Linkenbach came into the game, they would even line up with three tackles up front, pretty little elephants all in a row.

The end result: 41 carries, 174 rushing yards and a 34-15 victory at a place the franchise hadn't won since 2005.

Rapid Reaction: Kansas City Chiefs from ESPN

If the Chiefs didn't save their season by beating the Dolphins, they at least guaranteed they will stay relevant for a while longer. At 0-2 heading into the game, the Chiefs' season was rapidly heading for oblivion before they went on the road and picked up their first victory. They're still in dangerous territory with their next three games coming against the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and San Diego Chargers. But they now have reason to believe they can survive that gauntlet intact and with something still to play for.

Miami Dolphins fall 34-15 to Kansas City Chiefs, dropping to 1-2 from The Palm Beach Post

One team came in win less, with a struggling quarterback and without its star running back.

The other team came in with one win, a struggling quarterback and without its star running back.

While the Kansas City Chiefs found solutions for all that ailed them Sunday, the Miami Dolphins limped away from Sun Life Stadium 34-15 losers, looking nothing like the side that two weeks ago was celebrating a victory over New England.

Dee Ford hoping for more playing time with Kansas City Chiefs in third NFL game from AL.com

Ford said the holdup is his switch in positions. A 4-3 defensive end at Auburn, he's a 3-4 outside linebacker in Kansas City's defense, facing more complex and variable offenses than he saw in college.

"It's just the position itself," Ford said in a locker room interview with the Kansas City Star. "The game itself is still football, but you find out the NFL is a copycat league. They do what works. Some teams have their own identity, but at the end of the day you see all the same scenarios, but it's a lot of scenarios to learn. It's me making that transition as a true outside linebacker."

Chiefs operate smartly in Charles' absence from ESPN

But the best idea the Chiefs had was to get a little-used running back by the name of Joe McKnight involved. McKnight, playing mostly in passing situations, led the Chiefs in receptions (six), receiving yards (64) and touchdowns (two).

"He gives you a lot of options when he's back there," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. "You got to see that today. That's why we kept him."

The Chiefs kept McKnight as a fifth running back despite having Charles, who by himself figured to consume a huge portion of the playing time. The decision looks brilliant now. McKnight certainly didn't win the game by himself, but it's likely the Chiefs wouldn't have defeated the Dolphins without him.

McKnight had no idea he'd be the star from ESPN

Running back Joe McKnight, who wound up leading the Chiefs in receptions with six, receiving yards with 64 and touchdowns with two, said he had no idea he would be featured in the game plan. His involvement became necessary when the Chiefs deactivated the injured Jamaal Charles.

Chiefs vs Dolphins final score: KC beats Miami 34-15 in another ugly performance from The Phinsider

At the end of the day, the Dolphins simply were out played by the Chiefs. The team continues to open the game flat, then try to make something happen in the second half, and it kills them. Tannehill was inconsistent again, completing less than 50-percent of his passes. The wide receivers continue to have problems holding on to the balls he is able to get to him. The offensive line allowed pressure all day, including four allowed sacks.

If there was a highlight on offense, it was Miller, who ran for 108 yards on 15 carries, giving him a 7.2 yards per carry average.

Keys to the Miami Dolphins loss to Kansas City Chiefs from The Miami Herald

Every Ryan Tannehill dropback should have been accompanied by the dramatic music played in horror films whenever the heroine opens the door to a dark room. The Chiefs rampaged the Dolphins pass protection for four sacks - not including six quarterback hits - and created countless other moments of peril. That is how Dontari Poe, Tamba Hali, Justin Houston and the rest of the Kansas City front seven protected a secondary missing strong safety Eric Berry and seemingly ripe for the kind of deep crosses and fly patterns that rarely had time to develop.

Offense, defense share blame in Dolphins' loss to Chiefs from FS Florida

There's no question that the Chiefs earned their first victory of the season, but there is also an overwhelming sense among the Dolphins players that they beat themselves. They had several opportunities to turn the tide, especially in the second half, and also were dealt avoidable penalties that killed their momentum. In the first half they were hit with a 15-yard unsportmanlike conduct penalty when a game official ran into a coach near the sideline and Hartline's excessive celebration after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter also set them back 15 yards on the ensuing kickoff.

It all adds up to a disappointing loss, and a hard pill to swallow for head coach Joe Philbin, who must find a way for the team to reverse the tide and even their record to 2-2 with their next game against the Oakland Raiders in London.

Team Grades: Short-Handed Chiefs Torch Dolphins Defense from CBS Miami

Behind a stellar performance by Chiefs signal-caller, Alex Smith, Kansas City stunned the Miami Dolphins at home, 34-15, earning a subpar letter grade for the second consecutive week. The offensive line's inability to protect Ryan Tannehill, combined with the defense's struggles against the rush and on third down proved to be too much to overcome.

In the end, Miami had 18 first downs compared to Kansas City's 22, tallied 332 yards to the visitor's 342, and were severely outplayed in the time-of-possession battle, 33:42 to 26:18.

Dolphins get booed twice during 34-15 loss to Chiefs from The South Florida Sun Sentinel

Dolphins fans streamed out of Sun Life Stadium booing Sunday. It's the same way they went to the concession stands at halftime.

And who could blame them?

The Dolphins for the second consecutive week lost by 19 but this time it was at home against the winless Kansas City Chiefs, falling 34-15.

"I'm definitely pissed off," safety Louis Delmas said. "I can only speak for myself, but 1-2 is definitely not the way to start off a successful season."

The Dolphins' lack of fire, and lack of attention to detail, showed with missed tackles, dropped passes and shoddy special teams play.

Chiefs earn first win, knock off Miami 34-15 from ProFootballTalk

Smith, meanwhile, was tough and sharp, completing 19-of-25 passes for 186 yards. He was sacked five times, including once on a safety, and the Chiefs' ability to protect him over the course of the season is something to watch.

But on Sunday, Smith came up big for his team, which notched its first win of the season.

Santos, Chiefs top Sturgis, Dolphins from The St. Augustine Record

At one point, an hour before kickoff, the two friends and St. Augustinians were less than 15 feet away from each other kicking off toward the south end zone. As kickoff approached, it was all business from there.

AC in the AM: Need To Get Back On Track In A Hurry from Miami Dolphins.com

There are no easy explanations, no one glaring negative that overshadows everything else. The Miami Dolphins are 1-2 right now and that's exactly where they deserve to be. If there is another gear - and let's hope there is - it is time to find it.

It is as baffling as it is disappointing. The first-half doldrums. The missed tackles. The dropped passes. The inconsistencies in so many areas. You see promise. You see poise. You see proficiency. And then it's gone, replaced instead by a laundry list of concerns.

Week 3 fantasy football notebook from NFL.com

Joe McKnight was Kansas City's leading receiver today with six catches for 64 yards and two touchdowns. McKnight is owned in zero percent of NFL.com leagues, so clearly, #ThatHelpsNoOne. Another takeaway from this game is the fact that both Lamar Miller and Knile Davis collected over 100 yards rushing in Week 3. Miller was much more efficient with his touches, taking 14 carries for 108 yards while Davis had 132 yards on 32 carries (and a touchdown).

Riders pull out wild 35-32 overtime win over RedBlacks from CKOM

Sure, Dressler returned another punt for a touchdown, but it was his 60-yard touchdown run that had everyone talking. Sunseri got the ball to Dressler and he did the rest, shedding a number of tackles and managing to stay in bounds all the way down field for the major.

"It was just one of those plays where things go your way and you kind of get lucky sometimes," said Dressler.

Not everyone saw it as luck though.

"Weston Dressler made the Kansas City Chiefs look bad because they could use him right now," said Foley. "I think that got us going."

First Real-Time Athlete Brand Index Captures Sports Industry's Attention In 2014 from Forbes

Additionally, sports teams cannot only utilize the index to decipher which athletes are faring best online but also determine what content to post across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social channels.

"MVPindex helps us monitor and report on the latest social media trends across sports so that our digital content can be as relevant and impactful as possible," said Jeremy Zimmer, Kansas City Chiefs Director of Digital Media & Strategy.