(Kansas City) Patrick Mahomes threw for 262 yards and a touchdown to lead the Kansas City Chiefs to a 26-7 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Saturday in the fourth coldest game of the season. NFL history.
The 2022 season’s Most Valuable Player found Rashee Rice eight times for 130 yards and a major in this first-round playoff game. Isiah Pacheco added 89 yards rushing, reaching the end zone once, and the Chiefs (12-6) beat the Dolphins (11-7) for the first time in four playoff games.
Harrison Butker added four field goals for the defending Super Bowl champions.
Plagued by injuries, the Dolphins showed none of the dynamic offense that led the league in combined yards. Tua Tagovailoa was constantly pressured by the second-best defense in the regular season.
Wide receiver Tyreek Hill had a 53-yard touchdown play, but was otherwise muzzled on his return to Kansas City.
The Dolphins only rushed for 264 yards in this game. They haven’t won at the home of the Chiefs since November 6, 2011 and haven’t won a playoff game since December 30, 2000.
The Chiefs, for their part, signed a 15e consecutive home victory during the playoffs, not counting three Super Bowl games. They will travel to Buffalo next week to face the Bills if the latter defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday. Otherwise, they will host the Houston Texans, who defeated the Cleveland Browns earlier Saturday.
At the time of the kickoff, it was -20 degrees Celsius. With the wind factor, the temperature felt like -27.
The cold likely had a role in Mahomes’ helmet breaking in the third quarter. The protective equipment lost a large piece and officials forced him to change his helmet.