The NFL probably expected a thrilling international showcase between the Chiefs and Dolphins in Germany.
The matchup did go down to the wire, but football fans overseas saw two of the best teams in the AFC display their biggest flaws in a mistake-filled game. Even Tyreek Hill had a quiet performance against his former team as the Dolphins fell to the Chiefs, 21–14.
Kansas City was held scoreless in the second half, and its offense only contributed 14 points as Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce continue to wait for another playmaker to step up.
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The Dolphins scored 70 points in a game earlier this season, but that’s become a distant memory now that Miami is 0–3 against teams with a winning record.
With all these ongoing issues, are the Dolphins and Chiefs falling behind other teams in the AFC? We assess their issues in this week’s edition of “Fact of Fiction.”
Chiefs’ offensive issues will cost them in postseason
Manzano’s view: Fact
Mahomes was critical of his offense and thankful for his standout defense after Kansas City hung on to defeat the Dolphins. The quarterback was right to put the spotlight on his defense—the Chiefs (7–2) probably wouldn’t have a winning record right now without the unit. Football fans in Frankfurt, Germany, saw up close how the team lacks playmakers outside of Kelce, who was held to just three catches for 14 yards vs. Miami. (The tight end was also contained in a loss to the Broncos last week, recording six catches for 58 yards.)
Mahomes had plenty of time to operate in the pocket against the Dolphins, but his wide receivers struggled to create separation, which has been the case most of the season. Skyy Moore led Kansas City’s wide receivers Sunday with two catches for 33 yards. Tight end Noah Gray had a team-high three catches for 34 yards. The Chiefs might have the best defense in the league—they held the Dolphins to 292 yards and added a defensive touchdown—but they’re going to need the offense to step up in the postseason, especially against the Bengals, Ravens, Jaguars and Bills.
Dolphins are pretenders after another loss to a winning team
Manzano’s view: Fact
The Dolphins dropped to 0–3 on the season against teams with winning records. It’s fair to say we shouldn’t take this team seriously until they beat a contending team, because it’s concerning how poorly the offense played against the Bills, Eagles and Chiefs. (They averaged 17 points in those three games.) The Dolphins’ offensive numbers are better than the Chiefs’ for the season, but we already know the latter can beat winning teams in ugly fashion and have the luxury of leaning on their stout defense. Miami, on the other hand, still struggles when it plays from behind, and it lacks a perfect game script to keep its offense in rhythm. The Dolphins likely won’t be tested again until they play the Cowboys, Ravens and Bills to close out the season. They could run into trouble in the two meetings with the Jets later this season, but New York has struggled to crack 14 points in most of its games. It might not be a bad thing, however, for the Dolphins to find themselves in a physical, low-scoring battle before December, because this team has plenty to prove.
Lamar Jackson is the MVP front-runner
Jessica Rapfogel/USA TODAY Sports
Manzano’s view: Fiction
Jackson has two of the most impressive wins of the season, with the Ravens crushing the Seahawks on Sunday and the Lions in Week 7. But the quarterback hasn’t done enough in the air to be deemed the league’s MVP front-runner heading into Week 10. Jackson deserves a ton of credit for leading a productive offense, but the passing game continues to be inconsistent. The Ravens’ rushing attack, on the other hand, moved the chains frequently against the Seahawks. Jackson finished 21-of-26 for 187 yards, and also contributed 60 rushing yards. Baltimore’s stellar defense has also played a major role in why they sit atop the AFC North standings with an 7–2 record. The 2019 winner certainly can emerge as an MVP front-runner later in the season, but for right now, the Ravens are winning with complete performances on both sides of the ball.
Saints are the best team in the NFC South
Manzano’s view: Fact
It wasn’t pretty, but the Saints did enough against the Tyson Bagent–led Bears on Sunday. New Orleans (5–4) officially sits atop the NFC South standings after the Falcons fell to the Vikings. Expect the Saints to pull away from the pack, because they’re finally clicking on the offensive side. Taysom Hill’s versatility has given the team a spark, leading to many playmakers contributing for Derek Carr’s offense. Hill had 52 rushing yards and added a two-yard touchdown pass vs. the Bears. Most importantly, Carr is finally showing chemistry with Chris Olave, who had six catches for 46 yards and one touchdown against the Bears. As for New Orleans’s defense, the unit has been productive for most of the season. They recorded five takeaways on Sunday.
Steelers need George Pickens more than Diontae Johnson
If Pickens truly wants out of Pittsburgh, the second-year wideout doesn't have much leverage. He might be the most talented wide receiver playing for the Steelers, but he’s not as important as Johnson. Kenny Pickett has better chemistry with Johnson, and the Steelers tend to play better when Johnson is involved. The WR recorded seven catches for 90 yards and one touchdown during Thursday night’s win against the Titans. With Pickett struggling this season, it’s understandable Pickens is frustrated with Matt Canada’s offense. But the 22-year-old is handling the situation poorly by deleting the Steelers from his social media profiles, which has become a tiring tactic for players to force a trade. I’m sure Johnson was frustrated about his two-year scoring drought. And yet he never posted “Free Me” on Instagram. Obviously, Pittsburgh would rather have both wide receivers, but if Pickens continues to cause problems on and off the field, coach Mike Tomlin probably would be O.K. with Johnson as his team’s No. 1 receiver. Pickens has 30 catches, 521 yards and three touchdowns in eight games this season. Johnson has 23 catches for 302 yards and one touchdown in five games this season.
