Published by: AK98
The Kansas City Chiefs have successfully advanced to the AFC Divisional Round in what was the fourth-coldest game in NFL Playoffs’ history, kicking off their journey to a Super Bowl defense.
In freezing temperatures at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, the KC Chiefs (seeded third in the AFC) secured a convincing 26-7 victory over the Miami Dolphins (seeded sixth in the AFC), helping kick off the Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs on Saturday.
The Miami Dolphin is known more for its migration patterns near the tropical waters of southern Florida, and showed on Saturday, once again, that it is unable to survive anywhere outside of Miami.
Freezing Temperatures Benefited the Chiefs
Kickoff was at 7:10 p.m. EST on Saturday, in challenging sub-zero conditions. It also marked the highly anticipated return of ex-Chief Tyreek Hill to Kansas City. The match lived up to the expectations of the Chiefs’ fans, and not so much for the Dolphins (although Reek did make one “highlight reel” play).
The freezing temperatures aided the Chiefs in their 26-7 routing of the Dolphins, ushering Kansas City into the next playoff round.
The Chiefs’ next opponent in the Divisional Round will be determined based on the outcome of the Buffalo Bills’ game against the Pittsburgh Steelers (a game which has been postponed due to their own freezing temperatures issues). A Bills victory would mean a showdown in New York for the Chiefs, marking Patrick Mahomes’ first playoff game on the road. Alternatively, a Steelers win would see the Chiefs hosting the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium.
Kansas City’s rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice was melting the frozen field last night, recording eight receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown. He joins Elmo Wright as the only other Chiefs rookie to achieve over 100 yards in a playoff game. Rice’s critical receptions were instrumental in the Chiefs’ progression into the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs.
Second-year defensive end George Karlaftis, another rising star in the KC ranks, also made his presence known. Karlaftis, known for his relentless energy, accumulated 1.5 sacks during the game, sharing one of these with his Pro Bowl teammate, Chris Jones.
The Chiefs’ defense shined throughout a wintery evening, as the Dolphins struggled to put a mere seven points on the jumbotron. KC successfully contained the NFL’s top wideout in Tyreek Hill to 62 receiving yards and restricted the NFL’s top quarterback in yardage, Miami’s quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (4,624), to a measly 199 passing yards.
Patrick Mahomes had a decent game, but nothing to write home about. Despite some offensive challenges, Mahomes was precise, throwing for 262 yards and a touchdown and adding 41 yards on the ground through key scrambles.
Tight end Travis Kelce got back to form (somewhat), making seven catches for 71 yards. I say “somewhat” because he is not making even the most basic of plays, let alone going into “superhero mode”. He keeps dropping easy balls, even missing a potential touchdown early in the game. And yes, Taylor Ono was in the skybox. The Chiefs also benefited from effective running by Isiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire, collectively gaining 147 rushing yards.
Post-game, Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid praised his team’s performance in the freezing temperatures. Despite some ongoing issues, such as penalties in the offensive line and a thinner receiver squad, Kansas City played one of its most comprehensive games of the season.
Can the Chiefs protect their crown as Kings of the NFL, or will they be unseated before the Super Bowl?
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