Kansas City Chiefs at Miami Dolphins

Injuries noted

Kansas City Chiefs: Omarr Norman-Lott (PUP-R) — Norman-Lott (knee) was moved to the reserve/PUP list by the Chiefs on Sunday.; Ethan Downs (IR) — Knee - ACL; John Michael Gyllenborg (IR) — Knee; Jeff Caldwell (IR) — Caldwell (knee) reverted to the Chiefs' injured reserve list Tuesday, Charles Goldman of AtoZSports.com reports.; Jimmy Holiday (IR) — Holiday (undisclosed) was placed on injured reserve by the Chiefs on Sunday.; Matt Waletzko (IR) — Waletzko (undisclosed) reverted from waivers to Kansas City's injured reserve list Friday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.; Cooper McDonald (IR) — The Chiefs placed McDonald (knee) on injured reserve Wednesday.; Chris Jones (Questionable) — questionable; Felix Anudike-Uzomah (Questionable) — questionable; L'Jarius Sneed (Questionable) — questionable

Miami Dolphins: Darrell Baker Jr. (PUP-R) — Baker (undisclosed) was moved to the reserve/PUP list by the Dolphins on Sunday.; Storm Duck (PUP-R) — Duck (knee) was moved to the reserve/PUP list by Miami on Sunday.; Rene Konga (IR) — Undisclosed; Kenneth Grant (IR-R) — ir; Trey Moore (IR-R) — ir; Cole Turner (IR) — Turner (undisclosed) reverted to the Dolphins' injured-reserve list Thursday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.; Kyle Louis (IR) — The Dolphins placed Louis (knee) on injured reserve Wednesday.; Ronnie Harrison Jr. (IR) — The Dolphins placed Harrison (hamstring) on injured reserve Saturday.; Tucker Addington (Questionable) — questionable; Chop Robinson (Questionable) — Robinson (concussion) was a full participant at practice Wednesday, C. Isaiah Smalls II of the Miami Herald reports.; Robert Beal Jr. (Out) — Beal (hamstring) is listed as out for Sunday's game against the Chiefs, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.; Jaylen Wright (Doubtful) — Wright (foot) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.; Caleb Douglas (Out) — Douglas (ankle) didn't practice Thursday, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.; Chris Bell (Questionable) — Bell (knee) said Thursday that he'll be ready to play Sunday against the Chiefs, C. Isaiah Smalls II of the Miami Herald reports.; JuJu Brents (Questionable) — questionable; Ryan Miller (Questionable) — Miller (hip) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the Chiefs, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.

QUARTERBACK

• Patrick Mahomes is the projected starting quarterback for KC

  7.65 Y/A

  Through 2 games in 2026, Patrick Mahomes threw for 566 passing yards, completed 63.5% of his passes and averaged 7.65 yards per attempt. Last season over 14 games he threw for 3587 yards, completed 62.7% and averaged 7.14 yards per attempt, 22-11 touchdowns to interceptions. This season's 5-1 touchdown-to-interception line is 2 games in.

• Malik Willis is the projected starting quarterback for MIA

  8.34 Y/A

  Through 2 games in 2026, Malik Willis threw for 417 passing yards, completed 58% of his passes and averaged 8.34 yards per attempt. Last season over 4 games he threw for 422 yards, completed 85.7% and averaged 12.06 yards per attempt, 3-0 touchdowns to interceptions. This season's 1-1 touchdown-to-interception line is 2 games in.

TRENCHES

• KC: 90 rushing yards allowed per game to MIA's 112.5

  22.5 YPG

  KC is at 90 rushing yards allowed per game over 2 games; MIA is at 112.5 over 2 games. Those are what each defense has allowed in this season's games through Sep 26.

PASS RUSH

• KC: 2 sacks recorded per game to MIA's 0

  2 SACKS

  Kansas City has produced sacks through 2 games, while Miami has none. A two-game sack total can be shaped by a handful of passing situations, and there is no opponent or pressure context to show whether it will hold. In this matchup, use the difference to assess passing-game disruption and how often each offense may face long downs.

PACE & SCRIPT

• KC: 32 points per game to MIA's 13

  19 PPG

  Kansas City is scoring far more often through 2 games, while Miami has opened below its 20.4 points per game last season. Kansas City's 32 is also above its 21.3 last-season rate, so both sides have moved in opposite directions early. That gap matters if Miami cannot generate enough offense to keep Kansas City from controlling the game's pace.

• KC: 72.5 offensive plays per game to MIA's 53

  19.5 PLAYS

  KC is at 72.5 offensive plays per game over 2 games; MIA is at 53 over 2 games. Those are this season's games through Sep 26. Last season KC was at 62.4 over 17 games and MIA at 55.8 over 17 games.

• KC: 35:21 time of possession per game to MIA's 27:40

  7:41 TOP

  KC is at 35:21 time of possession per game over 2 games; MIA is at 27:40 over 2 games. Those are this season's games through Sep 26. Last season KC was at 30:09 over 17 games and MIA at 28:57 over 17 games.

• KC: 20 points allowed per game to MIA's 31

  11 PPG

  KC is at 20 points allowed per game over 2 games; MIA is at 31 over 2 games. Those are this season's games through Sep 26. Last season KC was at 19.3 over 17 games and MIA at 24.9 over 17 games.

TURNOVERS

• KC: 1.5 takeaways per game to MIA's 1

  0.5 TO

  KC is at 1.5 takeaways per game over 2 games; MIA is at 1 over 2 games. Those are what each defense has allowed in this season's games through Sep 26.

EXPLOSIVE PLAYS

• KC: 6.3 yards per play to MIA's 5.15

  1.15 Y/P

  Kansas City is gaining more on each snap, with its big-play output led by Mahomes finding Thornton and Rice downfield last game. The Chiefs are above last season's level through two games, while Miami is below its 17-game mark despite a 77-yard touchdown pass in its last game. Miami's explosive plays keep this from being a simple pace mismatch, but Kansas City has created the steadier early efficiency.

RED ZONE

• KC: 60% red-zone scoring allowed to MIA's 88.9%

  28.9 PP

  KC is at 60% red-zone scoring allowed over 2 games; MIA is at 88.9% over 2 games. Those are what each defense has allowed in this season's games through Sep 26.

MISMATCH

• KC: 186 rush yards a game to MIA's 88

  186 VS 88

  Kansas City is running for 186 yards a game through 2 games, while Miami is at 88. Kansas City has surged from 106.6 rushing yards last season, and Miami has dropped from 120.2, though each figure comes from only 2 games. The Chiefs can use the ground game to keep drives moving and shorten Miami's opportunities; Miami needs its own rushing output to avoid a one-sided possession battle.

COVERAGE

• KC: 4.45 yards per play allowed to MIA's 6.05

  1.6 Y/P

  Kansas City has allowed fewer yards per play than Miami through 2 games, a broad sign that opponents have found less efficiency against the Chiefs. It is only 2 games, with no opponent or game-script context to explain the split. In this matchup, use it to judge whether Miami's offense can maintain efficient drives rather than focus on one stat line.

• KC: 29.2% third downs allowed to MIA's 50%

  20.8 PP

  Kansas City has allowed fewer third-down conversions than Miami through 2 games, giving the Chiefs an early edge at getting off the field. Third down is volatile in a two-game sample, and the sheet gives no opponent or down-and-distance context. For this matchup, the gap matters when weighing which offense can extend possessions.

• KC: 162.5 passing yards allowed per game to MIA's 223.5

  61 YPG

  KC is at 162.5 passing yards allowed per game over 2 games; MIA is at 223.5 over 2 games. Those are what each defense has allowed in this season's games through Sep 26.

REPLACEMENT

• Cooper McDonald (LB) is on injured reserve for KC

  IR

  McDonald is on injured reserve after Kansas City placed him there Wednesday with a knee injury. He is unavailable at Miami, and no replacement linebacker is identified on the fact sheet.

• Kyle Louis (LB) is on injured reserve for MIA

  IR

  Louis is on injured reserve after Miami placed him there Wednesday with a knee injury. He is unavailable against Kansas City, with no replacement linebacker listed on the fact sheet.

• Ronnie Harrison Jr. (LB) is on injured reserve for MIA

  IR

  Harrison is out for the Dolphins after a hamstring injury sent him to injured reserve Saturday. IR removes him from this game against Kansas City, leaving Miami to cover his linebacker role with available depth.

PRACTICE REPORT

• Robert Beal Jr.

  Out

  Hamstring · Did not practice · Out

• Josh Simmons

  Out

  Back · Did not practice · Out

• Caleb Douglas

  Out

  Ankle · Did not practice · Out

• Jaylen Wright

  Doubtful

  Stinger, Foot · Did not practice · Doubtful

• Chamarri Conner

  Doubtful

  Knee · Limited practice · Doubtful

• Ryan Miller

  Questionable

  Hip, Back · Full practice · Questionable

• JuJu Brents

  Questionable

  Knee · Full practice · Questionable

• L'Jarius Sneed

  LP

  Limited practice

• Tucker Addington

  LP

  Limited practice

• Chris Jones

  LP

  Limited practice

• Chris Johnson

  FP

  Full practice

• Jadon Canady

  FP

  Full practice

• Jeffrey Bassa

  FP

  Full practice

• Mansoor Delane

  FP

  Full practice

• R Mason Thomas

  FP

  Full practice

• Dante Trader Jr.

  FP

  Full practice

• Malik Willis

  FP

  Full practice

• Chop Robinson

  FP

  Full practice

• Ashton Gillotte

  FP

  Full practice

• Seydou Traore

  FP

  Full practice

• Rashee Rice

  FP

  Full practice

• Jaden Hicks

  FP

  Full practice

• Chris Bell

  FP

  Full practice

• Jack Cochrane

  FP

  Full practice

• Patrick Mahomes

  FP

  Full practice

• Felix Anudike-Uzomah

  FP

  Full practice

SITUATIONAL

• KC: 271.5 team passing yards per game to MIA's 183.5

  88 YPG

  Kansas City has produced more through the air, while Miami's passing output is only slightly above its 180.5 mark last season. Kansas City's 271.5 is well above 214.1 last season, though both numbers cover 2 games. The matchup can swing on whether Miami can keep Kansas City from pairing its passing production with its strong rushing output.

• KC: 24 first downs per game to MIA's 13

  11 FD

  KC is at 24 first downs per game over 2 games; MIA is at 13 over 2 games. Those are this season's games through Sep 26. Last season KC was at 19.8 over 17 games and MIA at 17.1 over 17 games.

• KC: 80% fourth-down conversion rate to MIA's 33.3%

  46.7 PP

  KC is at 80% fourth-down conversion rate over 2 games; MIA is at 33.3% over 2 games. Those are this season's games through Sep 26. Last season KC was at 75% over 17 games and MIA at 47.8% over 17 games.

• KC: 46.7% third-down conversion rate to MIA's 36%

  10.7 PP

  KC is at 46.7% third-down conversion rate over 2 games; MIA is at 36% over 2 games. Those are this season's games through Sep 26. Last season KC was at 37.4% over 17 games and MIA at 34.9% over 17 games.

• KC (2-0) at MIA (0-2)

  -60 PT GAP

  Kansas City is 2-0 with a +24 point margin, while Miami is 0-2 and -36, a clear separation through two games. The Chiefs have won two straight and the Dolphins have lost two straight, but neither team has a listed result in this venue. Kansas City's early form is the stronger baseline, while Miami's 0-2 start makes any turnaround case depend on more than a home split.

• KC: 2.5 fourth-down attempts per game to MIA's 1.5

  1 ATT/G

  KC is at 2.5 fourth-down attempts per game over 2 games; MIA is at 1.5 over 2 games. Those are this season's games through Sep 26. Last season KC was at 1.88 over 17 games and MIA at 1.35 over 17 games.

AFTER GARY

• KC -10.5 → -9.5

  NOW +1

  Gary's number was -10.5; the market closed at -9.5.