3 bonkers things the Chiefs did that makes their win over the Dolphins even more incredible

The defending Super Bowl champions won another close game.

The defending Super Bowl champions have turned into a high wire act. Once again, the Kansas City Chiefs didn’t necessarily look the part of a team looking to repeat – especially early Sunday afternoon in South Florida against much-improved Miami Dolphins. But “V” not only stands for victory in reference to Andy Reid’s team but versatility as well.

The club’s 33-27 triumph on Sunday gave the franchise its fifth consecutive AFC West title. And for the fifth straight contest, the team sweated out another win. The Chiefs have actually won eight consecutive games but as of late, it’s been somewhat of a struggle for this very talented club. And the victory over the Dolphins was one of Kansas City’s oddest of the year.

1. It’s not better to give

Start with quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The 2018 NFL MVP and Super Bowl LIV Most Valuable had been playing off the charts this season. In his first 12 games, he connected on 68.3 percent of his passes for 3,815 yards, 31 scores and only a pair of interceptions. He had also just fumbled twice while losing just one of those miscues. That’s just three turnovers in a dozen games. On Sunday, he was picked off twice in the first quarter and threw a season-high three interceptions.

The Chiefs came into the game with only eight turnovers, gave up the ball four times and still scored 33 points and won on the road. Enough said.

2. On the run?

More on Mahomes, who had to be on his feet against a much-improved Dolphins’ defense. He was sacked three times, tying a season high. And one of those traps was an epic 30-yard loss in the first quarter courtesy of third-year outside linebacker Jerome Baker. The talented signal-caller had been sacked only 15 times in the club’s first 12 games. And Miami defenders kept Mahomes from regularly escaping the pocket as he ran for just nine yards on five carries.

3. New math

When does one equal 16? When arguably the most explosive player in the league has as many yards rushing on one play than the team’s starting running back on 16 attempts. Tyreek Hill got the Chiefs’ first touchdown via a 32-yard run down the right sidelines when it looked like several Miami defenders had the angle but couldn’t make the play. Rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire totaled 32 yards on the ground on 16 carries. Of course, Hill also burned the Dolphins for a 44-yard score through the air.

As Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald points out, Brian Flores’ team was severely shorthanded on the offensive side of the ball. But they gave the Chiefs all they could handle. The defending champions managed another win and Kansas City’s versatility was the team’s most valuable asset.