Chiefs Win Against the Dolphins in Grueling Negative Temperature
At Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, the negative temperatures were absolutely grueling. The field a few hours before the game was a sheet of ice, and while crew members at Arrowhead tried to make the field’s conditions more bearable, it was still rough for both teams to come out and establish a dominating presence. Kansas City would come out on top in this matchup as the Chiefs defeated the Dolphins 26-7 to move on to the NFL Divisional Round. Let’s look into how the Chiefs were able to get this huge win in freezing temperatures.
Four minutes into the game Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Rashee Rice. Kansas City kicker Harrison Butker ripped in the extra point attempt to make it a 7-0 game. We wouldn’t see another score until we were five seconds into the second quarter. Butker kicked a 28-yard field goal to make it a 10-0 game for the Chiefs. In just two plays and 50 seconds, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa made this game interesting, as he threw a 53-yard pass to receiver Tyreek Hill. Miami’s kicker Jason Sanders made the extra point attempt to make it 10-7. This would be the only score for the Miami Dolphins the entire game. Butker would nail in two field goals before halftime, one from 26 yards and one 32 yards out. These two made field goals gave the Chiefs a 16-7 lead.
Harrison Butker would make his fourth field goal of the game with about 8 minutes remaining in the third quarter. The 21-yard field goal extended Kansas City’s lead to 19-7. The Chiefs' final score of the game came during the fourth quarter with 11 minutes left in the game. Running back Isiah Pacheco ran three yards for the touchdown, and with Butker’s extra point attempt successful, Kansas City had a 26-7 lead and eventually the win. For most of the season, the Miami Dolphins proved that they were one of the best football teams in the NFL, but they are notable for struggling in December as they 0-4 last December to miss the playoffs, and this season they went 3-3 during their final six games, which pushed them out of being AFC champs, and into the fifth seed within the AFC’s playoff picture. Now, next season Miami will legitimately have to prove why they can be a better football team than most of their AFC rivals, especially the Buffalo Bills.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes went 23 for 41 flinging 261 passing yards and a touchdown. Kansas City’s running back Isiah Pacheco had 24 carries for 89 yards and a touchdown. Chiefs’ wide receiver Rashee Rice had eight catches for 130 yards and a touchdown during the win. Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa went 20 for 39 with 199 passing yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Miami’s running back Raheem Mostert had eight carries for 33 yards, while receiver Tyreek Hill had five catches for 63 yards and a touchdown.
