Rebuilt Dolphins Open at Home Sunday Against Unbeaten Chiefs
The short version
- Dolphins (0-2) host the Chiefs (2-0) Sunday at 1 p.m. at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami's first home game of the season.
- Miami installed a new GM (Jon-Eric Sullivan), coach (Jeff Hafley) and quarterback (Malik Willis) this offseason.
- The Dolphins have zero sacks, rank last in pressure percentage, and are double-digit home underdogs.
- De'Von Achane has averaged 151.7 scrimmage yards in three career home openers.
Miami, 0-2 under a new coach and quarterback, returns to Hard Rock Stadium for the first time since the preseason to face 2-0 Kansas City.
The Miami Dolphins play their first meaningful home game of the season Sunday, welcoming the Kansas City Chiefs to Hard Rock Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. It has been 30 days since the club last appeared at the venue, in its final preseason outing, and 273 days since its most recent regular-season game there.
The offseason brought sweeping change. Jon-Eric Sullivan took over as general manager, Jeff Hafley became head coach and Malik Willis arrived at quarterback, joining numerous new players and assistants. The roster turnover is visible even in the jersey numbers: Jalen Tolbert now wears No. 1, while rookies Jacob Rodriguez and Trey Moore hold the No. 10 and No. 17 that belonged to Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Miami enters the home opener at 0-2 after defeats on the road against the Las Vegas Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers, the latter a 35-13 loss. Kansas City arrives at 2-0, anchored by the core that has delivered three Super Bowl titles: coach Andy Reid, quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce and defensive tackle Chris Jones.
Hafley has asked supporters to turn out and bring noise for the first home contest. He described a young roster giving full effort and said he wishes the team had already played at home because the wait has felt endless.
Beyond results, the first year of the new leadership group centers on establishing culture and routine rather than judging itself by the win column. Hafley noted that the toughness his players showed on film against the 49ers was evident to people across the league, and that the effort held up from the opening snaps to the final plays of the 35-13 defeat.
Problems remain on both sides of the ball. A young secondary has allowed open receivers through communication breakdowns, and the defense has no sacks through two games while ranking last in the NFL in pressure percentage. The possible return of edge defender Chop Robinson from concussion protocol could help. Defensive coordinator Sean Duggan said everyone involved has owned the mistakes. On offense, coordinator Bobby Slowik flagged penalties and sacks — where the unit leads the league after crossing midfield — as drive-killers, with red-zone work the week's focus. Special teams have also faltered weekly, including punter Bradley Pinion dropping the ball before a kick against San Francisco, handing over field position that produced another 49ers score.
There are positives to carry forward. The defense improved against the run while facing Christian McCaffrey last week, a relevant point with Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III leading the NFL in rushing. De'Von Achane ran for 62 first-half yards in Santa Clara, helping Miami control possession into halftime; he has averaged 151.7 scrimmage yards across his three career home openers. Miami is a double-digit home underdog, and fans are now in a 26th year without a playoff win. South Florida's September heat, with the team having trained in it all camp, may work in the Dolphins' favor against the visitors.
The Chiefs visit the Dolphins on Sunday, September 27, at 1:00 PM EDT at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. The game airs on CBS.
Games to watch
