The Miami Dolphins were dismantled on defense by Kirk Cousins and Brock Purdy in the first two games of the season.
asserted
Dolphins → dismantle → season
Next up: another tough challenge Sunday when three-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs visit.
asserted
Mahomes → visit → ?
Cousins and Purdy completed more than 70% of their passes against the Dolphins’ young defense, which will need to brace for another veteran quarterback known for his ability to put a strain on opposing secondaries.
asserted
which → complete → secondaries
“Very difficult to prepare for, but I think we’re all excited for the challenge,” Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley said.
asserted
Hafley → prepare → challenge
“I think everybody has a lot of respect for what he’s done in this league.
asserted
he → think → league
I have a ton of respect for how he’s come back from his injury and seems to have not missed a step.”
asserted
he → have → step
The Dolphins may have found a recipe for success to avoid a third straight double-digit loss: lean on the run game and speedy back De’Von Achane, while keeping the ball out of the hands of Mahomes and All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce.
uncertain
Dolphins → find → Mahomes
It worked in the first half against San Francisco.
asserted
It → work → Francisco
Before unraveling in the second half of an eventual 35-13 loss, Miami rushed for 84 yards while limiting the 49ers to just two possessions.
asserted
Miami → unravel → possessions
“De’Von’s a great player, we lean on him,” wide receiver Malik Washington said.
asserted
Washington → ’ → him
“And as that continues to get going, the pass game will get going and we’ll just feed off of each other.
asserted
we → continue → other
But I think that right there up front, just running the ball is going to be us.”
asserted
running → think → ball
None of Miami’s first-half drives ended in touchdowns.
asserted
None → end → touchdowns
That certainly won’t work against the Chiefs, who are averaging 32 points.
asserted
who → work → points
Kansas City is off to a 2-0 start thanks largely to a balanced offense bolstered by former Seattle running back Kenneth Walker III.
asserted
City → bolster → III
The reigning Super Bowl MVP began the season with consecutive games of more than 175 scrimmage yards, creating room for Mahomes to have more success through the air.
asserted
Mahomes → reign → air
The Chiefs are averaging an NFL-best 457.5 yards through two games, which is about 137 more than their per-game average last season.
asserted
which → average → average
It’ll be the third straight game the Dolphins — whose only Pro Bowler on the roster is Achane — are going up against a team with multiple All-Pros.
asserted
Bowler → go → Pros
Lopsided roster matchups aside, Andy Reid has coached long enough in the NFL to never underestimate an opponent.
asserted
Reid → coach → opponent
“You’ve got to focus on getting better,” Reid said.
asserted
Reid → get → ?
“There’s too much parity in this league — that’s what our focus is.
asserted
focus → ’ → league
All the outside noise and that, I’ve just got to get better, and the rest of the guys have to get better.
asserted
rest → get → guys
That’s where we’re at.”
asserted
we → ’ → where
Need to know
Kansas City (2-0) at Miami (0-2)
When/where to watch: Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, CBS.
Latest odds: Chiefs by 11 1/2.
Against the spread: Chiefs 1-1, Dolphins 0-2.
asserted
City → need → Chiefs
Last week: Chiefs beat Colts 33-30 in OT; Dolphins lost to 49ers 35-13.
asserted
Dolphins → beat → 49ers
Last meeting: Chiefs beat Dolphins 33-27 on Dec. 13, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Florida.
asserted
Chiefs → beat → Gardens
Series record: Chiefs lead 17-16.
asserted
Chiefs → lead → ?
Miami’s young secondary allowed Purdy to complete 20 of 22 passes for three touchdowns last week, in part because of communication issues that led to explosive plays.
asserted
that → allow → plays
They’ll have a tough challenge against Mahomes, who can extend plays and force defensive backs to cover longer than usual.
asserted
who → have → backs
Another matchup to watch will be Walker against the Dolphins’ run defense, which showed improvement last week after struggling against Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty in Week 1.
asserted
which → watch → Week
Stats and stuff
— Walker is the first Chiefs player with at least 175 yards from scrimmage in back-to-back games since Larry Johnson did it over the final three games of the 2005 season.
asserted
Johnson → do → season
— Walker leads the NFL in yards rushing (369) and yards from scrimmage (369) through the first two weeks.
asserted
Walker → lead → weeks
— Kansas City eclipsed 350 yards passing and 150 yards rushing against the Colts, the first time doing that since the 2018 season.
asserted
City → eclipse → season
The Chiefs also had more than 500 yards total offense for the first time since 2022.
asserted
Chiefs → have → 2022
— Mahomes threw for 382 yards and three TDs last week against Indianapolis.
asserted
Mahomes → throw → Indianapolis
— Kelce had nine catches for 101 yards and a score against Indianapolis.
asserted
Kelce → have → Indianapolis
He also broke Marshall Faulk’s record for yards after the catch (6,287) since the stat was counted in the league record book starting in 1992.
asserted
stat → break → 1992
— Chiefs first-round pick Mansoor Delane is expected to play against Miami.
asserted
Delane → expect → Miami
The cornerback hurt his shoulder on an interception in the first quarter of his debut against Denver.
asserted
cornerback → hurt → Denver
He suited up against Indianapolis as an emergency, but did not play.
asserted
He → suit → emergency
…and 8 more, not listed.
The Aporia
