Final score: Chiefs outlast Dolphins, win 33-27 in dogfight

The Kansas City Chiefs won a game of runs on Sunday in Miami, defeating the Dolphins 33-27 and clinching their fifth straight AFC West title. With the win, the Chiefs improved to 12-1 on the season as the Dolphins dropped to 8-5.

Kansas City found itself in a rather memorable scenario early in Sunday’s game. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes had thrown more than one interception for the first time since Super Bowl LIV, and once again, his Chiefs faced a 10-point deficit. On this occasion, the Chiefs were fortunate to have more than six minutes; it would take all 60.

The league’s MVP frontrunner had a rather uncharacteristic start to the game in Miami. Dolphins cornerback Byron Jones intercepted Mahomes on the Chiefs’ first possession, Mahomes took a 30-yard sack on the second possession and safety Eric Bowe intercepted Mahomes on the third possession.

Dolphins rookie Tua Tagovailoa struck first on a 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Mike Gesicki, followed by a 31-yard field goal by Jason Sanders to make it 10-0 Dolphins early in the second quarter.

After being blanked in the first quarter, the Chiefs responded in the second. A 32-yard sweep to wide receiver Tyreek Hill cut the Dolphins’ lead to three, and safety Tyrann Mathieu intercepted Tagovailoa on the next possession — his fourth pick in three games.

With less than three minutes left in the second quarter following the interception, Mahomes quickly pushed the offense down the field, finishing the drive with a 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Travis Kelce to take a 14-10 lead at the half.

Mahomes picked up right where he left off in the third quarter, launching a 44-yard touchdown pass in stride to Hill. After a three-and-out, Mecole Hardman returned a punt 67 yards for a 28-10 lead. Hardman fumbled the ball to the Dolphins near the goal line on the next Chiefs’ possession, but that put defensive tackle Chris Jones in prime position for a sack of Tagovailoa for a safety.

The Dolphins finally ended Kansas City’s 30-point run in the fourth quarter. Cornerback intercepted Mahomes in the end zone, and Tagovailoa hit Gesicki on a 29-yard touchdown pass — their second connection of the game. A 1-yard touchdown run by Tagovailoa cut the Chiefs’ lead to 30-24.

With less than five minutes to go, the Dolphins needed a stop, but Mahomes found Hill for a first down on fourth-and-1, and kicker Harrison Butker iced the game with a 46-yard field goal. Sanders managed a 44-yarder to draw the Dolphins to 33-27, but they could not recover an onside kick to get the ball back.

Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark notched his fifth sack of the season to close the first half, snapping a three-game streak without a sack. Rookie defensive linemen Mike Danna and Tershawn Wharton each had a sack.

Mahomes finished the game 24 of 34 for 393 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Mahomes hadn’t thrown more than one interception in a regular-season game since Monday Night Football against the Rams back on November 19, 2018.

Injuries

• Running back Clyde Edward-Helaire (illness) returned to the lineup, taking the first snaps at running back for Kansas City.
• Right tackle Mike Remmers left the game midway through the third quarter with a back injury.
• Cornerback Charvarius Ward spent some time off the field in the second half in the concussion protocol, but he was cleared during the game.

Special teams

• Hardman’s punt-return touchdown was the second of his career.

Rapid reaction

The game’s rapid reaction will be posted to our homepage shortly