Miami Dolphins at Chiefs recap

All the stars were lining up to get the win and stay in the playoff hunt but it fell by the wayside.

Just like the last game turnovers and penalties prevented the Miami Dolphins from playing a more respectable game and not the topsy-turvy play this game had.

Opening drive by the Dolphins ended when Jarvis Landry fumbled the ball on the 45 yard line while trying to pick up the third down conversion. The Chiefs quickly got down into the red zone. But a failed pass (short hopped) near the goal line on third and three made them have to get a FG making it 0 – 3.

The next drive started with Jay Cutler accurately hitting all three WR’s with a few runs by Kenyan Drake mixed in to drive past midfield. A pass to Jakeem Grant took them near the red zone. And then came the blunders from the offensive line, first a foul taking them back out of the red zone then a bad snap exchange resulted into a 44 yard FG making it 3 – 3.

The Chiefs were on their own 30 yard line on third and three hit a 52 yard pass to Tyreek Hill with Bobby McCain, Reshad Jones AND T.J. McDonald all looking suspect. From the eight yard line on third and five Travis Kelce gets open from Reshad Jones in the end zone for a TD making it 3 – 10.

The Dolphins third drive featured mostly running from Drake, but Grant had a nice short pass run that nearly broke it open for him after slipping a tackle or two. As fast as this drive started it ended with having to get the FG of 28 yards making it 6 – 10.

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With the first half winding down the Chiefs had a nice drive that combined passes, runs and options to score a TD taking almost 4 minutes off the clock making the score 6 – 17.

With about three and a half minutes left in the first half the Dolphins only needed one play the Dolphins to score a TD. It was the same short swing pass to the left that Grant almost broke open the last series but this time was good for 65 yards making it 13 – 17.

Close to three minutes left in the first half the Chiefs started their drive getting backed up and on third and eleven got a pass off on a blitz but were short of the first down and had to punt. With almost two minutes to play in the half and all of their timeouts the Dolphins burned the clock and get nowhere having to punt.

And it was an awful punt, the Chiefs got it on their own 45. Torry McTyer had an arrant pass sail through his hands. A Dolphins holding foul gave the Chiefs first down at midfield. A deep pass got them into the red zone. Jordan Phillips tipped a pass and a failed third down conversion had them settling for a FG making it 12 – 20.

Chiefs opened the second half with the ball. It looked like the defense was going to stop them on third down but the QB get out of two would be sacks to run for the first down. To add insult to injury T. J. McDonald was called for holding on the play. A deep pass from midfield yet again gets them into the red zone but they stalled getting a FG making it 13 – 23.

After a failed Dolphins drive the Chiefs get the ball near midfield. Kelce got open on Jones down to the 40 then Charles Harris got a sack. Then on a converted third down Ndamukong Suh was called for offsides. However the next third down was stopped and again on fourth down (from easy FG range) turning the ball back to the Dolphins.

The Dolphins started from their own twenty. After a ten yard gain, on the next play a pass to Kenny Stills he got the ball stripped out with the Chiefs recovering it on their own 45, Dolphins off sides call put them at the 50 with the third quarter winding down. This dive was all running with success getting them to the Dolphins 30. Kelce dropped the ball on a would be TD then Hill got down to the three on a short pass to the left. Holding call backed them up, Hill fell down on same play to the right and after an incomplete pass they got the FG 13 – 26.

Early in the fourth quarter the Dolphins got into the red zone on a deep pass to DeVante Parker. Yet another failed pass to Derby with yet another foul, this one on Ted Larsen making it 3rd and 24. A screen pass to Grant sailed over his head and the FG was missed.

More runs from the Chiefs to eat the clock up. A pass on third to convert around the 8 minute mark. Rinse and repeat to the six-minute mark as the Dolphins’ season evaporates. On the next try they failed to convert but had the FG bounce off of the left upright and in 13 – 29.

With almost 4 minutes to play and down by two TD’s and two extra points the Dolphins drive failed and went over on downs with the Chiefs getting it back near their own 30. The Chiefs ran the ball/clock and the Dolphins burned all their time outs as the two-minute warning neared. They passed on third down again coming up short and then did the same on the FG.

Missing in action

Jarvis Landry: fumbled the ball trying to get the first down on third down ending the first drive of the game with the Chiefs getting the turnover.

Sam Young: holding foul nullified a nice Kenyan Drake run that would have been near the 10 yard line and a first down but instead moved them back out of the red zone on the second drive of the game.

Stephone Anthony: let TE Travis Kelce got wide open when he let him break right past him for a moderate gain while he was looking back at the QB.

Defense: not getting the stop on third downs.

Offense: not getting TD’s but FG’s. Also not converting third downs.

Kenny Stills: lost a ball that went to the Chiefs.

As advertised

Jay Cutler: was Dr Jekyll and not Mr. Hyde most of this game by making accurate throws  but with one bad exchange on a snap.

Pleasant surprises

A. J. Derby: getting plenty of playing time but didn’t make any plays, only getting his first catch as time was running out in the game.

Jordan Phillips: tipped a pass before the half ended. He disappeared last game, wish he could be more consistent.

Charles Harris: got a sack late in the third quarter.

Jakeem Grant: was used more and made big plays running and catching the ball.

Ph-injury report: Alterraun Verner with an apparent leg injury and rode the stationary bike on the sideline. Cameron Wake walked off the field but did return shortly afterwards near the end of the first half. MarQueis Gray went down early in the fourth quarter with a hip injury and was ruled out.

Game observations

• failed stops and third down conversions put time of possession in favor of the Chiefs by nearly 15 minutes early in the fourth quarter.
  – Landry, Gase yelled at each other after the failed third down conversion play that had the ball sail over Grants head on a screen
  – The offense moved the ball with chunk yardage but failed to score much and didn’t convert any third downs.

Final: The Miami Dolphins lose this one 13 – 29 in an odd fashion.