Chiefs use 80-yard march to put away Dolphins

The march that broke it open

Kansas City’s 14-play, 80-yard march from its own 4 turned a one-score game into a 17-10 cushion early in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs went on to beat the Miami Dolphins 24-10 on Sunday, September 27, using a field goal on that 6:36 possession and a later touchdown to finish the job.

Miami still had a route back after that field goal, but its nine-play series from its own 16 ended on downs with 5:56 remaining. Kansas City took over at the Miami 48 and covered those 48 yards in six plays. Patrick Mahomes then found an open receiver for an 11-yard touchdown at 2:55, pushing the score to 24-10.

The decisive drive had its defining snap at 5:16. Mahomes hit Rashee Rice for 34 yards to the Miami 15, a play that moved Kansas City’s win probability from 94.1% to 98.5%. Rice finished with seven catches for 88 yards, providing the explosive gain that Miami could not afford to concede at that stage.

Miami could not finish its chances

The game began with more balance than the final score suggests. Kansas City needed four plays and 2:01 to go 67 yards on its first possession, helped by a 48-yard completion, before Kenneth Walker III ran in from 10 yards for a 7-0 lead. Miami answered with a 19-play, 91-yard possession that consumed 9:20 and ended with a three-yard rushing touchdown to tie it 7-7.

Mahomes and Walker restored the lead early in the second quarter. Their 11-play, 65-yard drive lasted 5:29, and Mahomes found Walker for a five-yard touchdown to make it 14-7. Miami had opportunities to answer before halftime, but a 57-yard possession ended with a fumble after a 44-yard completion to Chris Bell, and Kansas City carried its seven-point lead into the break.

Miami opened the second half with its most threatening stretch. Malik Willis moved the Dolphins 56 yards in 10 plays, including a 19-yard completion to the Kansas City 11 that raised Miami’s win probability from 12.9% to 17.8%, before a 37-yard field goal cut the score to 14-10. The Dolphins followed with another 10-play possession but got only 38 yards and punted, then their fourth-quarter push ended on downs.

A passing edge with fewer chances

The Chiefs ran only 47 plays to Miami’s 63, yet they found the more valuable offense. EPA per play, which measures the expected points a team adds on each snap, was 0.03 for Kansas City and minus-0.16 for Miami. Kansas City’s success rate was 57%, meaning 57% of its plays produced positive EPA, while Miami reached 40%.

Mahomes completed 20 of 24 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns, though his lone interception kept the game from becoming lopsided sooner. Kansas City’s passing EPA per play was 0.66, while its rushing figure was minus-0.57; Walker nevertheless supplied 70 yards on 18 carries and both his rushing and receiving touchdown gave the Chiefs needed finishing plays. Willis completed 20 of 36 for 210 yards with an interception, added 56 yards on nine carries, and Bell led Miami with 67 receiving yards on four catches.

Next up

Kansas City leaves Hard Rock Stadium at 3-0 and will visit the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, October 4. Miami falls to 0-3 and will travel to face the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, October 4.