The Miami Dolphins enter Week 3 in a spot they’d rather not be in: 0-2, outscored by an average of 18 points in losses to the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Rams, and now staring at a Kansas City Chiefs team that has looked every bit like an AFC heavyweight.
Miami has had moments, but not enough of them. The offense showed some life in the first half against the Rams before the game slipped away in the second.
The defense hasn’t been able to slow down opponents consistently, and special teams have continued to be a problem. That’s the backdrop for Sunday’s matchup, and it’s a tough one.
Kansas City comes in at 2-0 with Patrick Mahomes back under center after missing the end of last year. The Chiefs opened with prime time wins over the Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts, and now they head to Miami as road favorites.
FanDuel Sportsbook has Kansas City favored by 10.5 points.
Elsewhere, The Phinsider’s weekly picks pool is back for the full slate of Week 3 games, including tonight’s Thursday Night Football matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers. Here’s how the contributors and the community are picking every game.
Thursday Night Football Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers (-4.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. Eastern
Los Angeles Chargers at Buffalo Bills (-7.5) Carolina Panthers (-2.5) at Cleveland Browns
New York Jets at Detroit Lions (-6.5) Houston Texans (-1.5) at Indianapolis Colts
New England Patriots at Jacksonville Jaguars (-2.5) Tennessee Titans at New York Giants (-2.5)
Cincinnati Bengals (-3.5) at Pittsburgh Steelers Seattle Seahawks (-7.5) at Washington Commanders
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. Eastern
Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers (-8.5) Minnesota Vikings (-1.5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Las Vegas Raiders at New Orleans Saints (-3) Baltimore Ravens (-3.5) vs.
Dallas Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Sunday Night Football Los Angeles Rams (-2.5) at Denver Broncos
Monday Night Football Philadelphia Eagles (-4.5) at Chicago Bears
Week 2 Results Marek Brave: 11-5
James McKinney: 11-5 Kevin Nogle: 10-6
The Phinsider Community: 9-7 Sumeet Jena: 6-1
2026 Overall Standings Through Week 2 James McKinney: 23-9
Marek Brave: 21-11 The Phinsider Community: 19-13
Kevin Nogle: 19-13 Sumeet Jena: 16-16*
In Other News...
Tua Tagovailoa's Chance To Prove Dolphins Wrong Is Fading Fast
Tua Tagovailoas time with the Falcons has taken an odd turn, and it has left his next chance to get on the field looking less secure than it once did. Atlanta has already named Michael Penix Jr. its starter for Week 3, with Tagovailoa now working as the backup while he recovers from an oblique injury, a shift that came after he had been expected to take the job and start throwing passes for the team.
For Miami fans still tracking the quarterbacks path, the bigger issue is not just the injury, but the reality that the Falcons could keep rolling with Penix if he plays well. Tagovailoa has yet to throw a pass for Atlanta, and every week that passes without him in the lineup makes this situation feel less like a temporary detour and more like a decision the Falcons may not be eager to revisit. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Suddenly Have A Receiver Problem Before Chiefs Game
The Dolphins made a small roster tweak this week, but it speaks to a bigger concern heading into their Week 3 meeting with the Chiefs. Miami released long snapper Luke Basso and added wide receiver A.J. Henning to the practice squad, a move designed to shore up a position group that is suddenly looking thinner than expected.
With injury concerns surrounding Caleb Douglas and Chris Bell, the Dolphins are trying to protect themselves with more receiver depth before Sunday. Miami now has three receivers on the practice squad and only a limited number of healthy wideouts on the active roster, which leaves the team monitoring a situation that could shape how it approaches the game plan against Kansas City. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Veterans Are Being Tested By A Reset Already Raising Questions
The Dolphins offseason has brought a clear reset, with a new front office and coaching staff steering the roster toward a younger core and a different direction. For veterans like defensive tackle Zach Sieler, that means more than just adjusting to new voices in the building. It means helping set the tone while a team in transition sorts through its next identity.
Miami has already been defined by the kind of churn that usually comes with change, and the early reports around performance, injuries and draft considerations only add to the sense that this is more than a simple tune-up. The veterans are being asked to steady things through a period that could test patience as much as production, and the bigger question is how quickly the roster can settle before the uncertainty starts to show. [Read more 🡒]