How Chiefs defense dominated Dolphins in AFC wild-card playoffs and why it can do the same to Texans or Bills
It’s not been a typical stellar season for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense. But in relation to their loaded defense continuing to dominate into the AFC playoffs, it looks downright spectacular.
The Chiefs did score plenty enough overall in their 26-7 home rout of the Dolphins in Saturday night’s wild-card game, but the defense is what it made it look so easy for the reigning Super Bowl champions
Kansas City played like the No. 2 scoring defense (17.3 points per game allowed) in the NFL behind only AFC top seed Baltimore in the regular season. It also played like the No. 2 team in total defense (289.8 yards per game allowed) behind only AFC No. 5 seed Cleveland.
Despite that, the talk going into the playoffs was whether Mahomes could deliver passing again with only two reliable targets. While Mahomes did prove just that with rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice and go-to tight end Travis Kelce, he already provided enough points to win once spotting the Chiefs a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter.
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Yes, the defense was facing a slumping Dolphins’ offense, but stopping former Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill and the speedy attack around Tua Tagovailoa still was a good opening playoff challenge. The Chiefs met it by allowing just one TD on a big-play lapse vs. Hill, along with only 264 total yards, a mere 188 passing and just 76 rushing.
The Chiefs’ defense had two sacks to show for its consistent pressure on Tagovailoa, led by the inside-outside front four push by Chris Jones and George Karlaftis. They added an interception on top of holding the Dolphins to 1-of-10 on third down. Hill had 53 yards on his scoring catch but only 4 catches for 9 yards on his 6 other targets from Tagovailoa.
By every metric, the Chiefs’ defense owned the Dolphins. But it might not get the respect it deserves as a playoff force right up there with the Ravens’ and 49ers’ until it has Mahomes’ back all the way through the Super Bowl.
Why the Chiefs defense can continue to dominate
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As the No. 3 seed, the Chiefs will have a greater defensive task in the divisional round. Kansas City will either need to travel to Josh Allen and No. 2 Buffalo or host C.J. Stroud and No. 4 Houston. Allen and the Bills pose a familiar passing threat, now boosted more dedicated running game. Stroud got into the zone with offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik to rip a strong Browns defense to shreds with big pass plays on Saturday.
The Chiefs’ defense should feel undaunted and confident going into either matchup, however. Steve Spagnuolo is on fire with his young group with the best combination of pressure and coverage he’s had in Kansas City. When Jones and Karlaftis are not winning, “Spags” continues to be the master of getting free blitzers on quarterbacks at the right times.
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Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed has been huge in that plan, given he can be trusted to come up big in single shutdown coverage much of the time, including when seeing Hill with a little help. Spagnuolo has excelled with the freedom to move the Chiefs’ eight defenders around how he pleases, as he knows Jones, Karlaftis and Sneed will keep coming through in their roles.
With Stroud, the Chiefs will deliver consistent pressure and with Sneed battling wide receiver Nico Collins, they should be fine by making sure they don’t get out of position to give up big pass plays like the Browns did on Saturday. Karlaftis will again be monstrous, this time working on shaky replacement right tackle Charlie Heck vs. the solid Austin Jackson.
The Chiefs know the drill with the Bills. They can’t expect to rattle or bring down Allen much. That said, they sacked him three times and got one of his 18 interceptions in Week 14’s 20-17 defeat in Kansas City. They lost because Mahomes had an equally ugly and inefficient passing performance. That’s unlikely to happen a second time. Defense travels well in the playoffs, a good thing for Mahomes’ looming first playoff road game in Buffalo.
Not surprisingly, Mahomes and Rice were their headliners for their prolific connection (8 catches on 12 targets for 130 yards and a TD) that helped take down the Dolphins. They got the post-game interview glory as expected, instead of Jones, Karlaftis and Sneed. But it was just about padding the stats and lead for much of the game because there was a sole crack in the defense all game long.
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For some, knowing the Dolphins did score 70 points in a game, Chiefs holding the Dolphins to 7 points is shocking. Really, it’s routine and ho-hum for this best-ever version of Spagnuolo’s crew.
No one outside of Kansas City should be surprised now if that youthful domination is what really can lead them right back to AFC title glory.