The Chiefs are rolling early, and the next test comes in Miami with a chance to move to 3-0. Kansas City has opened the year with two straight wins, and the offense already looks like it has found a groove.
Kenneth Walker leads the NFL in rushing yards, Patrick Mahomes is sitting in the top five in passing yards and touchdowns, and Travis Kelce has looked like himself again. Just as important, the Chiefs have put up 30-plus points in back-to-back games against quality defenses.
Miami is headed the other direction. The Dolphins are 0-2 after ugly losses to the Raiders and 49ers, and the problems have been obvious up front. Their offensive line has struggled, their defensive line has been hit hard by injuries, and now they’re trying to get their first win under new quarterback Malik Willis and new coach Jeff Hafley.
For Kansas City, the formula starts with leaning into what’s already working. The running game has been a real weapon, and there’s no reason to dial it back against a Dolphins front that has already shown cracks. Kenneth Walker should have room to work, and the Chiefs should be aiming for 200 total rushing yards while finding even more ways to involve Emmett Johnson.
The matchup through the air will be a little trickier because Hafley knows how to mix things up. He made his name with the Packers by disguising coverages and changing them from snap to snap, and the Chiefs have to be ready for that without getting cautious.
If Kansas City can keep the ground game moving, it should force Miami into more man coverage as the Dolphins try to crowd the box. That could open the door for Tyquan Thornton, who has been one of the NFL’s best receivers early in the year against man.
Kansas City also has a chance to attack the Dolphins where they’ve been vulnerable on the edge. The Chiefs used a premium top-50 pick on R Mason Thomas for exactly this kind of moment, and Austin Jackson has had a rough time, especially when isolated against quicker pass rushers. The Chiefs should try to manipulate protection toward Jackson and let Thomas hunt Malik Willis.
And while Miami may not have a long list of big-name playmakers, the run game is dangerous. Willis and De’Von Achane give the Dolphins one of the NFL’s best quarterback-running back rushing combinations, so Kansas City can’t get sloppy there. The Chiefs should be comfortable with their cornerbacks handling Miami’s wide receivers in man coverage, but they’ll need discipline in the run game and against Willis as a runner, whether it’s designed carries or scrambles.
In Other News...
Chiefs Suddenly Have Real Stakes At Left Tackle Against Miami
Kansas City heads into its matchup with Miami with one of its most important protection questions still hanging over the week. Josh Simmons will not be available at left tackle, which leaves the Chiefs to sort out how they want to handle Patrick Mahomes blind side against a Dolphins defense that has given them plenty to think about before kickoff. There is some relief elsewhere on the roster, though, with cornerback Mansoor Delane set to be available and several key players, including Mahomes, officially cleared from the injury report.
The broader injury picture tilts more in Kansas Citys favor than Miamis, with the Dolphins set to be without wide receiver Caleb Douglas because of an ankle injury and running back Jaylen Wright also doubtful. Even so, the Chiefs attention is likely to stay on the tackle spot, where the absence of Simmons turns a routine week into a test of depth and flexibility. For a team built around Mahomes, the line in front of him often shapes the whole game, and this one has suddenly become a real storyline. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Receiver Search Starts With 5 Names Fans Should Track Now
The Chiefs receiver hunt is already underway, and it is happening well before the usual draft chatter really takes hold. Kansas City scouts are evaluating a small group of college pass catchers during the 2026 season, with Texas wideout Ryan Wingo, Clemsons Bryant Wesco Jr. and TJ Moore, Cals Ian Strong, and Illinois receiver Collin Dixon all on the radar as the team keeps searching for more stability on the perimeter.
There is obvious urgency behind the work. The Chiefs have dealt with inconsistencies at wide receiver, and Rashee Rices looming free agency only sharpens the need to find another reliable option in the passing game. For now, the job is simple enough: keep watching these names week after week and see which one looks like the best fit for a team that may need help there sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Are Asking Rashee Rice To Do Something Risky
The Chiefs have been using Rashee Rice in a new offensive wrinkle that borrows from a Los Angeles Rams concept, one that asks the receiver to do more than just get open. Its a physical job built around blocking and a C-Gap insert route, and Rice has already been working it into games as Kansas City looks to create more play-action chances and keep defenses guessing.
Its a fitting showcase for Rice, who has earned praise from offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy for the way hes handled the assignment. Still, the role comes with a built-in concern for Kansas City, since Rices smaller frame and the teams thin wide receiver depth make every extra collision feel a little more consequential, especially with his contract situation still unsettled. [Read more 🡒]