Chiefs Visit Winless Dolphins in Week 3 With Mahomes Trending Up
The short version
- The 2-0 Chiefs visit the 0-2 Dolphins in Week 3 on Sunday.
- Eric Bieniemy returned as Chiefs offensive coordinator after one-year stints with Washington, UCLA and the Chicago Bears.
- Patrick Mahomes is trending toward top form as he trusts his repaired ACL, but is not fully back yet.
- Miami's offense centers on De'Von Achane; the Chiefs allow just 90 rushing yards per game.
- Chiefs at Dolphins kicks off Sunday at 1:00 PM EDT on CBS from Hard Rock Stadium.
Kansas City arrives in Miami at 2-0 behind a resurgent Patrick Mahomes, while the 0-2 Dolphins look for answers on both sides of the ball.
The NFL's Week 3 slate includes an AFC matchup in South Florida, where the Kansas City Chiefs travel to face the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. The two teams arrive in very different positions, with Kansas City sitting at 2-0 and Miami still searching for its first win at 0-2.
The Chiefs have opened the season looking like a legitimate contender to represent the conference in the Super Bowl. The Dolphins, by contrast, remain in the middle of a rebuild and are simply trying to become a team that can be competitive on a weekly basis. From Miami's perspective, the gap between the rosters raises the possibility of a lopsided afternoon.
To gauge where Kansas City stands, Yahoo Sports spoke with Maurice Easton of Arrowhead Pride, SB Nation's Chiefs site, ahead of the game. Among the topics covered were the return of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, quarterback Patrick Mahomes' continued recovery, and a defender who has emerged as a surprise contributor.
Bieniemy is back in his old role in Kansas City after one-season stops with the Washington Commanders, UCLA and the Chicago Bears, following his earlier run as the team's offensive coordinator from 2018 through 2022. According to Easton, the hallmark of Bieniemy's approach is discipline and holding players accountable. He described the coach as a natural motivator who will confront a player over a mistake but show equal enthusiasm for strong plays, comparing the dynamic to being coached by one's father. That intensity contrasts with Matt Nagy, his predecessor, who Easton characterized as noticeably more relaxed.
Because head coach Andy Reid continues to call the plays, Easton does not view the offense as dramatically different in scheme. One wrinkle is that Bieniemy, a former running back, is willing to rely on the ground game more heavily. The most meaningful shift, in Easton's view, is the standard of accountability Bieniemy demands from everyone on the offense.
Miami's offense, meanwhile, is expected to run through De'Von Achane, whom Easton ranked among the NFL's five best running backs. He suggested the Dolphins borrow the outside-zone and stretch runs Indianapolis used against the Chiefs to get Achane to the perimeter, where his speed becomes difficult to contain. Through the air, Easton advised using motion and varied formations to isolate Achane against Kansas City's linebackers, a matchup he believes Achane would win regularly. That task won't be easy: the Chiefs rank in the top 10 against the run this season, allowing only 90 yards per game.
At quarterback, Easton said it is fair to say Mahomes is increasingly resembling his peak form as he gains trust in the surgically repaired ACL in his knee. He looked more comfortable in Week 2 than in the opener, showing greater confidence in both the knee and his protection. Still, Easton stopped short of calling Mahomes fully back, noting he is avoiding hits and passing on chances he once took, while expecting steady improvement as the knee strengthens.
On defense, Miami's youth has shown up in breakdowns, with multiple instances this season of two defenders covering the same receiver and leaving another uncovered. Easton's recommendation was to simplify: cut down on zone responsibilities and the handoffs they require, and instead play straightforward man coverage. Kansas City's receivers have had uneven results against man, which could help Miami, but the Dolphins would also need to pressure Mahomes with a four-man rush rather than blitzing to make it work.
Viewers can catch the game Sunday, September 27, when the Chiefs visit the Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM EDT on CBS.
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