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Eric Williams
NFC West Writer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Kansas City Chiefs have a new star.
Yes, Patrick Mahomes remains the best quarterback on the planet, his rocket arm still liable to slice and dice the opposing team.
But the Chiefs no longer go as he goes. They have transformed into a team led by its defense.
That change was evident on a frigid Saturday evening at Arrowhead Field, as Kansas City manhandled the Miami Dolphins’ blazing offense in a 26-7 wild-card victory.
The temperature at the opening kick was minus-4 degrees, the fourth-coldest game in NFL history. That did not keep Kansas City fans away, as they showed up in droves bundled in blankets and still bringing the noise.
Mahomes improved 5-0 in games when the temperature is 18 degrees or colder, including 2-0 in the postseason. Mahomes also tied Joe Montana and Peyton Manning for the second-most playoff home wins with 10.
“It was cold, I’m not going to lie,” Mahomes said after the game. “But I think at the end of the day, you’ve got to be mentally tough enough to say it’s not going to affect how we play. It’s not going to affect my effort. If something doesn’t work, I’m going to come back the next play and keep firing.”
That charged atmosphere affected Miami’s offense, as one of the most explosive units in the league, led by head coach and offensive guru Mike McDaniel, managed just 264 yards of total offense.
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Kansas City held the Dolphins to 1-of-12 on third down, sacked Tua Tagovailoa twice and hit him another five times. Safety Mike Edwards also picked off Tagovailoa in the first half. The Chiefs have now allowed 20 or fewer points in 14 of their 18 games this season, which leads the league.
“We tried to disguise as much as possible, try and keep him on his toes,” Edwards said of Tagovailoa. “I feel like we did a good job of disguising, kind of playing around with him and making a…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/patrick-mahomes-defense-manifest-chiefs-new-blueprint-in-wc-win-over-dolphins
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Publish date : 2024-01-14 06:29:52
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