Chiefs picked good time to play one of season’s best games: Our Wild Card grades
The Chiefs put together one of their best games of the season, earning a 26-7 victory over the Miami Dolphins in an AFC Wild Card Round game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday night.
The Chiefs have now advanced to the NFL Playoffs’ Division Round, and won a playoff game, for the sixth straight season.
It was minus-4 degrees with a wind chill of minus-27 when the game kicked off, making it the coldest game in Chiefs history and fourth coldest in NFL history. By game’s end, it was minus-8.
KC STAR OF THE GAME
Quite a playoff debut for rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice. He finished with eight receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown. The Dolphins blitzed often, and Rice was on the receiving end of several quick Patrick Mahomes throws.
Next: The Chiefs will meet either the Buffalo Bills or the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round next weekend. It will be the Bills in Buffalo if they defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Buffalo on Monday. If Pittsburgh pulls the upset, the Chiefs will take on the Houston Texans at Arrowhead on Saturday.
REPORT CARD
Passing offense: B
Playoff Patrick showed up. He was on the mark most of the bone-chilling night and would have had a better completion percentage if not for drops. There were three by Travis Kelce in the first half alone.
But Mahomes’ connection with Rice continued. There should have been a second score in the first half, but Jawaan Taylor committed an unnecessary block in the back penalty.
Throw in Mecole Hardman losing track of a deep ball, Creed Humphrey with a bad snap on third-and-goal and a couple more drops, and the Chiefs made things difficult on themselves.
But in the end, Mahomes and the passing game was good enough. Mahomes improved his playoff record to a remarkable 12-3.
Rushing offense: B
Isiah Pacheco came up big once again. He was likely to get a heavy workload, given the miserably frigid conditions, and he was a workhorse. His fourth-quarter 3-yard touchdown run off a direct snap was a highlight play.
Mahomes’ 28-yard scramble on fourth-and-4 in the second quarter was one of the biggest plays of the first half. He did it again in the third quarter, this time motoring 13 yards. (This was the play that ended with his helmet broken, a hole gashed into it by a collision with a Miami defender.)
How about Clyde Edwards-Helaire? The backup running back kept his legs churning on a pair of plays that resulted in first downs.
Red zone touchdowns were a challenge throughout the regular season — the Chiefs ranked 17th in this stat — and KC settled for field goals four times Saturday.
Passing defense: A
Takeaways aren’t always about being aggressive. Sometimes it’s about begin in the right place at the right time, like safety Mike Edwards.
He was perfectly positioned to pick up Tua Tagovailoa’s overthrown pass late in the first quarter. The Chiefs turned the takeaway into a field goal.
It took three series for the Dolphins to find Tyreek Hill. When they did, the Chiefs were quickly reminded of his ability. Hill hauled in a 53-yard touchdown over Trent McDuffie for Miami’s only touchdown, and points, in the game.
George Karlaftis came up with his first multiple-sack playoff game, recording 1 1/2, with Chris Jones getting a half sack.
Rushing defense: A
The Chiefs didn’t go up against the fleet De’Von Achane in their regular-season game against Miami, and the defense made sure he didn’t make a difference Saturday. Neither did Raheem Mostert, the Dolphins’ rushing leader, who finished with 33 yards on eight carries.
Special teams: A
Leo Chanel fielded a pair of kickoffs as the Dolphins squibbed their kickoffs. Both teams did.
The Chiefs could have gotten more from their punt returns had Richie James elected to catch the ball instead of letting it bounce in front of him. The good news: No fumbles.
Harrison Butker’s big regular-season carried into the postseason, with four field goals in as many attempts.
This story was originally published January 13, 2024 at 10:19 PM.