The Chiefs beat the Dolphins 21-14 in Frankfurt, Germany. Follow along with The Athletic's NFL experts and insiders.
Zak Keefer, Nate Taylor and The Athletic NFL staff
November 5, 2023 at 7:15 PM EST
Mario Hommes / DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Chiefs defense steals the show — and the ball — from Tyreek Hill, Dolphins in Germany
With each large stride he took near the sideline, Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook heard the diverse crowd roar, the volume rising and rising and rising as he sprinted toward his destination. The crescendo Cook heard matched the dazzling performance of the moment and the play’s significance in the outcome of the NFL’s first game in this city.
Cook held the ball in his left and raised his right hand to the crowd when he reached the end zone. The exhilarated crowd of 50,023 fans at Deutsche Bank Park — a gathering of Germans, Kansas Citians and other Europeans — saw Cook’s gesture and were thrilled to grant his request: They produced an even louder ovation.
The best international matchup in NFL history — featuring two teams that entered four games over .500, the Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins — proved to be a showcase of one of the league’s best defensive units.
Cook’s touchdown before halftime was the difference-making highlight that propelled the Chiefs to an entertaining 21-14 victory.
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Chiefs defense steals the show — and the ball — from Tyreek Hill, Dolphins in Germany
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Travis Kelce passes Tony Gonzalez
Travis Kelce had a quiet day by his standards in Sunday’s win over the Dolphins, but he still set a record in the process.
Kelce’s 14 receiving yards gave him 10,941 for his career, one more than Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez (10,940) for the most in Chiefs franchise history.
Dolphins have been at their best vs. bad teams
A telling stat about the 6-3 Dolphins: the six teams they’ve beaten are a combined 11-27 this season (.289 winning percentage) while the three teams they’ve lost to are a combined 19-6 (.760 winning percentage).
Chiefs leave Germany with important win, but work remains on offense
Although the Chiefs enter their bye week with a 7-2 record, the best in the AFC, their offense still needs to improve to have more consistency.
The Chiefs scored just 14 points on offense, all of which occurred before halftime. Mahomes’ collection of receivers — rookie Rashee Rice, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Skyy Moore, Justin Watson and Mecole Hardman — were productive in the first half, producing 90 yards and a touchdown. But Mahomes didn’t have many open receivers downfield in the second half. Such an issue led to him fumbling while being sacked, the same turnover he had the previous week in the Chiefs’ loss to the Broncos.
The Chiefs could’ve finished the game on offense with a successful four-minute drive. Instead, Mahomes didn’t have an open receiver on third-and-1, an incompletion that gave the Dolphins another chance to rally.
Chiefs defense makes statement in closing out win vs. Dolphins
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The Chiefs, halfway through the season, might have a special defense. The Chiefs, led by their exceptional secondary — with players such as cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and L’Jarius Sneed and safeties Justin Reid, Bryan Cook and Mike Edwards — and blitzes from coordinator Spagnuolo, held the Dolphins scoreless in the first half. The game’s most pivotal play occurred just before halftime, when McDuffie forced receiver Tyreek Hill to fumble the ball near midfield. Edwards recovered the ball and made one of the smartest decisions in the middle of a play from any defender in the league this season: he lateralled the ball to Cook, who scored on a thrilling 59-yard touchdown.
Even when the Chiefs’ offense sputtered in the second half, their defense made two stops to secure the victory. The Dolphins had a chance to tie the game following the two-minute warning — or even taking a one-point lead had they successfully converted on a two-point conversion — but Spagnuolo unleashed a Cover 0 blitz on a fourth-and-10 play. Tagovailoa fumbled the snap and never attempted a pass, ending the game.
Dolphins come up short again in search for signature win
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For a team still searching for a signature win this season — a win that tells the rest of the NFL they belong in the Super Bowl conversation — the Dolphins again fell short.
In a game that, at least early on, mirrored their 48-20 humiliation in Buffalo in Week 4, the Dolphins’ high-powered offense — which ranked first in the league entering Sunday, averaging nearly 34 points per game — opened with six punts on their first seven possessions. The lone exception was a costly fumble from former Chief Tyreek Hill, which Kansas City returned for a touchdown to push the lead to 21-0 at the break. It was the Dolphins’ first scoreless half in 10 games this season.
But a 14-0 third quarter pulled Miami back in it, keyed by a Patrick Mahomes fumble forced by Bradley Chubb the Dolphins turned into touchdown five plays later. Miami’s rally stalled in the fourth quarter despite two chances to tie it up. After miscommunicating with wideout Cedric Wilson Jr. on 3rd down, Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa fumbled the snap on 4th and 10 with the game on the line, killing the Dolphins’ chances. It was a brutal finish to an electric second half inside a stadium that was raucous throughout, and on the edge of its seat as the game was decided in the closing moments.
A telling stat about the 6-3 Dolphins: the six teams they’ve beaten are a combined 11-27 this season (28.9 winning percentage) while the three teams they’ve lost to are a combined 19-6 (76 winning percentage).
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Chiefs escape following fourth-down stop
The Chiefs escape after Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa mishandles the snap on fourth-and-10 and Miami turns the ball over on downs.
Kansas City improves to an NFL-best 16-3 in games following a loss since Patrick Mahomes became the full-time starter in 2018.
Twenty-one seems to be magic number for Dolphins this season
Miami has one of the best offenses in the NFL, but they still have problems winning games when the other team puts up three touchdowns.
The Dolphins are 4-0 when allowing fewer than 21 points and 2-2 when giving up 21 or more. With Kansas City ahead 21-14 late in the game, the Dolphins may be trending towards a 2-3 record when allowing 21-plus points.
Dolphins have scored quickly
Dolphins take over with 2:27 to play needing a touchdown to tie the game (or take the lead with a two-point conversion).
Miami has scored six touchdowns on drives lasting 2:27 or shorter this season, most in the NFL.
Can the Dolphins get the ball back?
The Dolphins need a quick stop and they have only forced one three-and-out in eight non-kneeldown drives for the Chiefs today.
Miami entered Week 9 having forced three-and-outs on 34.5% of opponent drives this season, 12th in the NFL.
Sixth-worst fantasy point total of Travis Kelce’s career so far
Travis Kelce has posted a double-digit PPR point total in every game he's played this season (DNP Week 1 when he was out of the lineup due to an injury). That trend may come to an end today, as Kelce has only 2.7 PPR points as this contest nears the middle of the fourth quarter.
To put that number into perspective, it is the sixth-worst PPR point total of Kelce’s career. To be fair, the game isn’t over and he could still post a much higher number by the end of the contest, but his fantasy managers still probably have headaches right about now.
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Dolphins turnaround sets up potentially wild fourth quarter
Dolphins' first seven drives today: Six punts, one fumble.
Dolphins' last two drives: two touchdowns.
Got us a game in Germany. KC 21, Miami 14 in the fourth quarter.
Chiefs haven't blown 21-point lead since 2008
The Chiefs led this game 21-0 at halftime but were outscored by the Dolphins 14-0 in the third quarter, Kansas City’s worst third-quarter scoring margin in any game this season.
Per TruMedia, the Chiefs entered the day having won 41 straight games in which they led by at least 21 points. KC’s last loss in such a game came in Week 9 of 2008 against the Buccaneers (led 24-3, lost 30-27 in OT).
Dolphins convert takeaway into score
Just what the Dolphins needed — a turnover in Kansas City territory.
Miami forces a Patrick Mahomes fumble on the Chiefs' 20, and thanks to a Chris Jones' unnecessary roughness penalty on 3rd-and-20, Miami capitalizes. Raheem Mostert's 13-yard touchdown run cuts Kansas City's lead to 21-14 late in the third quarter.
Patrick Mahomes stripped for second straight week
In consecutive weeks, Patrick Mahomes losses the ball while being sacked.
Dolphins pass rusher Bradley Chubb forced the fumble and defensive tackle Zach Sieler recovered the ball at the Chiefs' 27-yard line. If the Dolphins score a touchdown, they'll trim their deficit to a one-score game.
Here come the Dolphins
Momentum is starting to turn the Dolphins way following a long touchdown pass and now Bradley Chubb’s strip-sack gives Miami the ball in Kansas City territory.
The Chiefs have now committed 17 turnovers this season, tied for most in the NFL with the Browns.
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Dolphins on the board as Tua Tagovailoa finds Cedrick Wilson Jr.
The Miami Dolphins won't be shut out.
Moments after converting their first third down of the game, the Dolphins cracked the scoreboard as Tua Tagovailoa found Cedrick Wilson Jr. for a 31-yard touchdown.
The pass completed an eight-play, 80-yard drive. Prior to the possession, Miami had 115 yards of offense for the game.
Tagovailoa now has seven touchdown passes of 30-plus yards this season, most in the NFL.
Chiefs CB L'Jarius Sneed (concussion protocol) returns to game
Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed is back on the field to start the second half after clearing concussion protocol.
Dolphins struggling on second down
Game analyst Dan Orlovsky mentioned on the NFL Network broadcast the impact of the Dolphins’ early-down struggles on offense and the numbers bear it out, especially on second down.
Miami is averaging what would be a season-low 2.1 yards per play on second down today. Dolphins entered the game averaging an NFL-high 7.3 yards per play on second down this season.
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