Dolphins-Chiefs predictions: Will Miami finally beat a top team when it faces defending Super Bowl champs in Germany?
Dolphins (6-2) vs. Chiefs (6-2) in Germany, Sunday, 9:30 a.m., NFL Network, NBC6 in Broward and Palm Beach counties
Latest line: Chiefs are favored by 2 1/2 points.
Dave Hyde, Sports Columnist (Season record 6-2): Dolphins 27, Chiefs 23
The Dolphins get the big-game breakthrough everyone is waiting on as Tyreek Hill welcomes his former team in style. The real question here is one of injury. Does Miami’s secondary and offensive line get some players back healthy to help match up with the high-powered Chiefs?
Chris Perkins, Dolphins Columnist (Season record 5-3): Dolphins 28, Chiefs 24
I think the Dolphins get it done and finally beat a high-quality team on the road. Well, away from Hard Rock Stadium. I’m thinking Miami’s defense makes plays throughout, but the offense comes through late to snatch the win. The Dolphins, however, will have to hold onto the ball after committing turnovers in five straight games.
David Furones, Dolphins Writer (Season record 7-1): Dolphins 27, Chiefs 24
My initial thought is that the Chiefs are in the same position the Eagles were two games ago, coming off a disappointing loss and that they wouldn’t let it happen again. But I also think Miami will be better equipped to handle this challenge, now having Jalen Ramsey in the lineup and possibly getting Xavien Howard and Jevon Holland back. It’s also a plus that this game is at a neutral site and not Arrowhead.
Kathy Laughlin, Sports Editor (Season record 6-2): Chiefs 38, Dolphins 34
Kansas City’s offense looked dismal last week in a loss to the lowly Broncos. You remember Denver, right? That’s the team the Dolphins scored 70 points against in September. However, it’s highly doubtful the stomach flu — or whatever it was against the Broncos — will still be bothering star quarterback Patrick Mahomes when he takes the field in Germany. The Dolphins won’t go easily and it will be close, but no way Kansas City loses again after that embarrassment. Kansas City knows how dangerous Miami’s offense can be, and the Chiefs will be ready.
Keven Lerner, Assistant Sports Editor (Season record 7-1): Chiefs 27, Dolphins 24
Will the Dolphins finally beat a quality team in Kansas City after playing some of the NFL’s worst teams in building a 6-2 record? The only tough teams Miami played resulted in losses against the Bills and Eagles. The combined records of teams Miami has beaten is 11-27. The Dolphins caught a huge break by having the game played in Germany as opposed to Arrowhead Stadium, where the Chiefs are 23-6 since 2020. The defending Super Bowl champs won’t turn the ball over five times like they did in last week’s loss at Denver.
Steve Svekis, Assistant Sports Editor (Season record 5-3): Dolphins 24, Chiefs 23
It is dicey making predictions regarding how teams may react to playing on a neutral field on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, but here we go. The Chiefs offense is a two-man game, certainly in big moments, between Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. The Dolphins need to double Kelce and make someone else, anyone else beat them. Mahomes has a career-worst-for-the-first-eight-games-of-a-season 95.8 passer rating. The Dolphins, meanwhile, have seen their defense become a sieve against top-shelf quarterbacks, allowing 6.27 yards per non-kneeldown play (1,210 yards in 193 plays) in games against Justin Herbert, Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts. On offense, the run game needs to get off its two-game slide, where Miami has run 38 times for 123 yards (3.24 yards a carry). Otherwise, the dominant Kansas City pass rush can take over. The Chiefs are 2nd in the NFL in sacks (28) and in the top-5 in most other pass-pressure categories.
