Chiefs vs. Dolphins: Game and score predictions

In Week 13, Arrowhead Pride contributors were united in their belief that the Kansas City Chiefs would win their 11th-straight game against the Denver Broncos, but were a little too confident in a big margin of victory. No one predicted a spread of fewer than 11 points — and the composite prediction of 33.9-16.9 included 13 points of scoring that never happened. Our readers were a little more cautious. 96% thought the Chiefs would win, but 23% thought it would be a close victory.

So let’s see how our writers — and our readers — see Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins.

Tom Childs (@tomchilds56)

I’ve been really bad at this recently, so you’d expect for me to play it a bit safe this time around. Well... not today, folks. The Chiefs return to the stage of the greatest day in franchise history and pick up from where they left off in February. The Chiefs offense will look to right their red zone wrongs from last week — and they will do so in emphatic fashion, scoring over 35 points in the first 3 quarters. Chiefs 38, Dolphins 17

John Dixon (@Arrowheadphones)

I’m not worried about the ultimate result of this game; I think the Chiefs will win it. But I am not convinced they’re going to win it by a large margin. I think the Dolphins are a better team than their record reflects — and like every team Kansas City has faced this season, they’ll be leaving everything on the field. It’s become common for people to say that the Chiefs play down to their opponents. I think the opposite is true: opponents play up to the Chiefs. Chiefs 28, Dolphins 24

Ron Kopp Jr. (@Ron_Kopp)

It will be a fun trip back to the site where the Chiefs won a Super Bowl less than a year ago. The memories will spark a focused mindset from all phases of the team, and we’ll see one of the more complete victories of the season. Chiefs’ pass-catchers take advantage of Miami’s man-heavy scheme, Spagnuolo dials up a game plan that stumps rookie Tua Tagovailoa, and Kansas City finishes with a familiar score at Hard Rock Stadium. Chiefs 31, Dolphins 20.

Matt Lane (@ChiefinCarolina)

In this game between two playoff teams, I expect both to come with their A games. This game should really come down to the Chiefs' offense against the Dolphins’ defense, a true battle of a top O and top D. When the Chiefs have the ball, it will be a battle between Miami’s aggressive, man-to-man defense against the Chiefs’ dominating receivers — and whoever blinks first. The Dolphins' offense is still a few pieces away and the Chiefs’ front seven should easily win in the trenches. I do think this can be a fun matchup — and the Dolphins are on the come-up — but the Chiefs will counter how the Dolphins usually find success. Chiefs 31, Dolphins 20

Matt Stagner (@stagdsp)

This game is the opposite of last week’s Broncos game. Division games are generally a tough slog; stats and matchups matter less, the score is closer than it should be. The Dolphins are an improved opponent with good coaching and talent — and likely a playoff team. This is the type of contest that brings out the best in a competitive Chiefs team, and I see them rising to the occasion. The Fins can throw the ball and rush the passer, but they’re a bit softer up the middle on offense and defense. This could be another Clyde Edwards-Helaire breakout week, with some wins for secondary targets like Mecole Hardman and Sammy Watkins. Tua will make a few plays — but in the end, the Kansas City offense will be too much. Chiefs 42, Dolphins 24

Craig Stout (@barleyhop)

The Dolphins are an ascending football team that’s starting to find their groove — especially on defense. That said, they haven’t come up against an offense like the Chiefs — and head coach Brian Flores will have a dilemma on Sunday. Does he line up and play defense the way he wants to, or does he try to take everything away deep and force the Chiefs to drive the length of the field? Either way, I expect Sammy Watkins to draw single coverage and the Chiefs offense to methodically move the ball. The Chiefs defense should be able to pressure Tua Tagovailoa all day against a shaky interior offensive line — but if they’re missing both Damien Wilson and Tyrann Mathieu, they could find themselves susceptible to passes in the middle of the field. A game with a limited number of drives results in a lower-than-expected offensive output, but still a comfortable victory. Chiefs 27, Dolphins 17

Kent Swanson (@kent_swanson)

The Chiefs can't overlook a good Dolphins team. Yes... a big game with the Saints looms, but they have to make sure to take care of business every single week. The Steelers are starting to show signs of fading and now is the time for the Chiefs to make their move for the one seed; the path to back-to-back Super Bowl championships is much easier if they have that advantage. It's close, but the Chiefs hold off the Dolphins. Chiefs 27, Dolphins 20

Pete Sweeney (@pgsween)

The Chiefs revisit the site of last season’s Super Bowl win as they play an up-and-coming Dolphins team in Miami. My feelings on the game this week are simple: the Dolphins have the defense to hang with the Chiefs, but not the offense — especially if Tyrann Mathieu (announced as questionable Friday due to a hip issue) is able to play. I see Miami having at least a little success curbing Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce due to its talented secondary, so look out for one of those rare Sammy Watkins days. Chiefs 34, Dolphins 21

Ties in the standings are broken with prediction points error — how much each prediction misses the actual point spread and the number of points scored by each team.

Matt Lane, John Dixon and Ron Kopp Jr. tied for the best predictions in Week 13. Their picks of 31-20, 31-17 and 28-13 each had 18 points of error. Matt Stagner’s 35-24 call was off by 26 points, but was good for second place. There was no movement in the standings.