Final2023 AFC Wild Card

Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO

Miami Dolphins vs Kansas City Chiefs, Wild Card 2023

Miami Dolphins

Away

7

Kansas City Chiefs

HomeWon, advanced

26

Scoring by quarter
TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
Dolphins07007
Chiefs793726

MIA 7KC 26 Final

  • Passing leader

    Patrick Mahomes

    KC · QB

    18.6PPR pts

    23/41, 262 YDS, 1 TD

  • Top fantasy scorer

    Rashee Rice

    KC · WR

    27.0PPR pts

    8 REC, 130 YDS, 1 TD

  • Dolphins leader

    Tyreek Hill

    MIA · WR

    17.2PPR pts

    5 REC, 62 YDS, 1 TD

  • Defensive playmaker

    Mike Edwards

    KC

    1 INT, 2 TKL

Chiefs 26, Dolphins 7: Kansas City controls the 2023 Wild Card from start to finish

Kansas City led 16–7 at halftime and outscored Miami 10–0 after the break to win 26–7. The Chiefs finished with a 409–264 edge in total offense and averaged 5.5 yards per play.

The Dolphins went 1-for-12 on third down and committed one turnover, while the Chiefs kept the ball for 34:05.

The win started the run that ended with the Chiefs winning Super Bowl LVIII.

Key advantages

  • +1.0 yards/play KC 5.5 · MIA 4.5
  • +145 total yards KC 409 · MIA 264
  • +32% third-down rate KC 40% · MIA 8%

Game Highlights

Official NFL highlights · Opens from YouTube

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Why the Chiefs Won

Kansas City won the efficiency, third-down, and time of possession battles.

Team stats comparison, Dolphins vs Chiefs
DolphinsStatChiefs
4.5Yards per play5.5
264Total yards409
8%Third-down conversion40%
Other team stats
59Plays75
1Turnovers1
25:55Time of possession34:05

Scoring Summary

The Chiefs scored two touchdowns and four field goals; the Dolphins scored one touchdown.

Scoring plays, Dolphins vs Chiefs
TimeTeamPlayMIAKC
1st quarter
11:05KCPatrick Mahomes → Rashee Rice, 11-yard TD Takes leadHarrison Butker XP07
2nd quarter
14:51KCHarrison Butker 28-yard FG Extends lead010
14:01MIATua Tagovailoa → Tyreek Hill, 53-yard TDJason Sanders XP710
7:36KCHarrison Butker 26-yard FG Extends lead713
0:18KCHarrison Butker 32-yard FG Extends lead716
3rd quarter
7:49KCHarrison Butker 21-yard FG Extends lead719
4th quarter
11:06KCIsiah Pacheco 3-yard TD run Extends leadHarrison Butker XP726

Playoff game: these points don't count in most season-long fantasy leagues.

Fantasy Points vs Expected

Expected points (xFP) are what a player's pass attempts, carries and targets are worth at the league's average rates; the difference is what the player made of them.

Usage and expected fantasy points
PlayerPTSxFPvs xFPSnap%UsageRte%Pass attCarCar%TgtTgt%
Rashee RiceKC · WR27.020.0+7.0—35% tgt—000%1235%
Patrick MahomesKC · QB18.618.5+0.1—41 att—4126%00%
Tua TagovailoaMIA · QB13.518.3−4.8—39 att—39317%00%
Travis KelceKC · TE14.116.7−2.6—29% tgt—000%1029%
Isiah PachecoKC · RB15.816.4−0.6—71% car—02471%13%
De'Von AchaneMIA · RB6.013.7−7.7—33% car—0633%616%
Tyreek HillMIA · WR17.213.4+3.8—21% tgt—000%821%
Cedrick Wilson Jr.MIA · WR6.711.7−5.0—18% tgt—000%718%
Jaylen WaddleMIA · WR6.09.0−3.0—13% tgt—016%513%
Raheem MostertMIA · RB4.08.2−4.2—44% car—0844%25%
Durham SmytheMIA · TE4.26.7−2.5—11% tgt—000%411%
Clyde Edwards-HelaireKC · RB1.66.0−4.4—21% car—0721%13%
Mecole Hardman Jr.KC · WR0.95.6−4.7—9% tgt—013%39%
River CracraftMIA · WR5.35.0+0.3—8% tgt—000%38%
Jeff Wilson Jr.MIA · RB1.63.3−1.7—5% tgt—000%25%
Justin WatsonKC · WR4.03.3+0.7—6% tgt—000%26%
Marquez Valdes-ScantlingKC · WR1.83.3−1.5—6% tgt—000%26%
Richie JamesKC · WR1.63.3−1.7—6% tgt—000%26%
Braxton BerriosMIA · WR0.01.7−1.7—3% tgt—000%13%
Noah GrayKC · TE3.01.7+1.3—3% tgt—000%13%

Team totals: Dolphins 38 targets and 18 carries; Chiefs 34 targets and 34 carries. Shares are from the box score. Snap counts aren't available for this game. Route counts, air yards and red-zone touches appear when the tracking feed is connected. League-average rates from the 2023 season: 1.67 PPR points per target (67% catch rate), 0.61 per carry and 0.42 per pass attempt. They don't adjust for field position or target depth.

Fantasy Verdicts

Tua Tagovailoa

MIA · QB · 13.5 pts on 18.3 expected

20 of 39 passing for 199 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception; 3 carries for 25 yards.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 18.3 expected.

Start/Sit: Tua Tagovailoa →

Patrick Mahomes

KC · QB · 18.6 pts on 18.5 expected

23 of 41 passing for 262 yards, 1 touchdown; 2 carries for 41 yards.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 18.5 expected.

Start/Sit: Patrick Mahomes →

De'Von Achane Unlucky

MIA · RB · 6.0 pts on 13.7 expected

6 targets (16% of the team's), 3 catches for 21 yards; 6 carries (33% of the team's) for 9 yards.

Verdict: The role was there, worth 13.7 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't.

Tyreek Hill

MIA · WR · 17.2 pts on 13.4 expected

8 targets (21% of the team's), 5 catches for 62 yards and 1 touchdown.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 13.4 expected.

Rashee Rice Ran hot

KC · WR · 27.0 pts on 20.0 expected

12 targets (35% of the team's), 8 catches for 130 yards and 1 touchdown.

Verdict: The opportunities were worth 20.0 points; the touchdowns supplied the rest, and they are the part least likely to repeat.

Start/Sit: Rashee Rice →

Travis Kelce

KC · TE · 14.1 pts on 16.7 expected

10 targets (29% of the team's), 7 catches for 71 yards.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 16.7 expected.

Start/Sit: Travis Kelce →

Fantasy Matchups

Fantasy points allowed per game by position, 2023 through Week 18.

Fantasy points allowed per game by position, Dolphins defense and Chiefs defense
Points allowed toDolphins DChiefs D
QBs17.914.8
RBs19.219.2
WRs34.127.5
TEs13.210.6

Regular season, summed from each game's box score and scored with this page's rules.

How the Game Swung

Kansas City opened at 50% win probability and passed 98% in the fourth quarter on the way to the win.

Chiefs win probability

Chiefs win probability by game minuteChiefs started at 50%, stood at 83% at halftime and finished at 100%, across 7 scoring plays.Q1Q2Q3Q4100%50%0%

Key Swings

  1. +20Mahomes → Rice, 11-yd TD50% → 70%Q1 11:05
  2. +8Butker 28-yd FG73% → 80%Q2 14:51
  3. −20Tagovailoa → Hill, 53-yd TD81% → 60%Q2 14:01
  4. +10Butker 26-yd FG61% → 71%Q2 7:36
  5. +9Butker 32-yd FG73% → 83%Q2 0:18

Swing in Chiefs win probability, in points

Play Calling and Possessions

Play calling, Dolphins vs Chiefs
Miami DolphinsMeasureKansas City Chiefs
59Plays75
69%Pass rate55%
4.6Yds / dropback6.4
4.2Yds / carry4.3
1/12Third downs6/15

Efficiency edge Kansas City ran 16 more plays and gained 1.8 more yards per dropback.

  • Top targets
  • MIA Hill 21% · Wilson 18% · Achane 16%
  • KC Rice 35% · Kelce 29% · Hardman 9%

Possession Results

How each possession ended, Dolphins vs Chiefs
ResultMIAKC
Touchdowns12
Field goals04
Punts43
Turnovers11
Turnovers on downs30
  • The Chiefs opened the scoring on their first possession, a 9-play, 69-yard drive that ended in a touchdown.
  • The Chiefs drained the clock with two second-half drives of five to eight minutes.
All 21 possessions, drive by drive
Drive chart
TeamStartPlaysYardsTimeResult
KCQ1 15:009693:55Touchdown
MIAQ1 11:05332:30Punt
KCQ1 8:35341:28Punt
MIAQ1 7:077294:04Interception
KCQ1 3:0310483:12Field goal
MIAQ2 14:512620:50Touchdown
KCQ2 14:0112726:25Field goal
MIAQ2 7:366213:05Downs
KCQ2 4:31371:29Punt
MIAQ2 3:023-101:19Punt
KCQ2 1:437471:25Field goal
MIAQ2 0:18270:18End of half
MIAQ3 15:00361:39Punt
KCQ3 13:2113695:32Field goal
MIAQ3 7:49794:42Punt
KCQ3 3:0714727:01Touchdown
MIAQ4 11:0610534:44Downs
KCQ4 6:22351:02Punt
MIAQ4 5:2012271:36Downs
KCQ4 3:445142:36Fumble
MIAQ4 1:084281:08End of game
About these numbers

Possessions that ended with the clock running out at the half or the end of the game aren't counted.

Personnel groupings, average depth of target and pass rate over expected appear when the tracking feed is connected.

Dolphins vs Chiefs Head-to-Head

The Dolphins and Chiefs first met in 1966 and have played 34 times since.

All-time series
18–16Chiefs lead, 34 meetings since 1966
Postseason
3–1Split 3–1
Largest Dolphins win
42–01987
Largest Chiefs win
48–31968

Since 2021

3–0 Chiefs lead

3 meetings since the 2021 season, regular season and playoffs.

Oldest to newest. C = Chiefs win, D = Dolphins win, outlined = this game.

Recent Meetings

Season to Date (Through Week 18)

The 2023 regular season, from each game's box score.

Season to date, Dolphins vs Chiefs
DolphinsStatChiefs
11-6Record11-6
29.2Points per game21.8
401.3Yards per game351.3
6.5Yards per play5.5
23.0Points allowed per game17.3
318.3Yards allowed per game289.8

Dolphins and Chiefs in Fantasy

The two teams don't meet again this season. If you roster a Dolphin or a Chief, these answer the week-to-week question.

Keep Exploring

2023 Game Logs for Players in This Game

Dolphins vs Chiefs Game FAQ

Who won the 2023 Dolphins vs Chiefs Wild Card game?

The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Miami Dolphins 26–7 in the Wild Card round of the 2023 playoffs. The game was played at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO, on January 13, 2024. See the Chiefs' 2023 schedule.

What was the final score of Dolphins vs Chiefs?

The final score was Chiefs 26, Dolphins 7. The Chiefs led 16–7 at halftime, and the second half went Dolphins 0, Chiefs 10.

What happened in the Dolphins vs Chiefs game?

Kansas City led 16–7 at halftime and outscored Miami 10–0 after the break to win 26–7. The Chiefs finished with a 409–264 edge in total offense and averaged 5.5 yards per play.

How did the Chiefs beat the Dolphins?

The Chiefs beat the Dolphins 26–7 because they averaged 5.5 yards per play to 4.5 and outgained them 409–264.

What is the all-time Dolphins vs Chiefs record?

The Chiefs lead the all-time series 18–16 across 34 meetings since 1966, including a 1–3 record in the postseason.

When did the Dolphins and Chiefs last play before this game?

Before the 2023 Wild Card round, they last met in the 2023 season on November 5, 2023, when the Chiefs beat the Dolphins 21–14.

Have the Dolphins and Chiefs met in the playoffs?

Yes, 4 times, most recently in the 2023 playoffs. The Dolphins are 3–1 against the Chiefs in the postseason.

What is the Dolphins vs Chiefs record since 2021?

The Chiefs lead 3–0 across 3 meetings since the 2021 season, including this game.