The Miami Dolphins are overseas in Frankfurt, Germany to face the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs at Deutsche Bank Park on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. ET.
A win would make Miami 7-2 for the first time since the year 2000.
Including the playoffs, where the Dolphins are 3-0 all-time against the Chiefs, Miami leads the franchise series 16-15. However, Kansas City has won the last three meetings (2014, 2017 and 2020).
Over their last five meetings between the franchises, the winning team has averaged 33 points in their victories. The Dolphins won 2008 and 2011 trips to Arrowhead and are technically the visiting teams on Sunday.
Dolphins offense continues to make waves
The Dolphins have totaled 3,626 yards in eight games this season, which is the third-most through eight games since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, per the Dolphins’ communications department.
Through injuries, Miami’s offensive line continues to impress. In eight games, they’ve allowed quarterback hits on only 24 dropbacks and 12 sacks. That sack total is tied for the third-fewest in the NFL, and the 24 quarterback hits allowed are the fewest.
The Dolphins have completed eight plays of at least 50 yards. That’s tied for the third-most in the first eight games of a season since at least 2000 – St. Louis (2000) and Tampa Bay (2012) each had nine.
Tua Tagovailoa leads the league in passing yards (2,416) and passer rating (108.8). He’s tied for the NFL lead in passing touchdowns (18) and is second in yards per attempt (8.8).
His 2,416 passing yards are the most in franchise history through the first eight games of a season.
He’s topped 300 passing yards in four of his eight games so far in 2023 and five of his past nine, dating back to last season. He’s had at least 200 passing yards in each of his past 10 games.
Dolphins' Dynamic Duo at wide receiver making history and fast
Adding to “The Cheetah Watch,” and not just the hunt for 2,000 yards, Tyreek Hill has a touchdown reception in four straight games, which is tied for the sixth-longest streak in franchise history and is the longest by a Dolphin since 2016-17 (Kenny Stills). The team record is six, held by Paul Warfield and Mark Clayton.
Jaylen Waddle is heating up as well. After his first 100-yard game of 2023 in Week 8, and his third touchdown in four weeks, he needs 520 more yards to become the first player in team history to post three straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons. He has at least six receptions and 50 receiving yards in three straight games.
The Dolphins’ record against the Chiefs in a single game for receptions is held by Clayton with nine back in 1989. The single-game receiving yards record in this series is 140 (Warfield – 1971). Tyreek Hill could smash both against his former team.
Vic Fangio's Defense getting healthier and buying in
The Dolphins have 27 sacks and 61 quarterback hits in their first eight games this year. The 61 quarterback hits are the most in the NFL this season, and the 27 sacks are the fourth-most. Miami has recorded a sack in every game in 2023 and has totaled at least sacks in their last four games.
Miami is the only team in the league with four different players who have at least four sacks so far this season: Bradley Chubb, Christian Wilkins, Andrew Van Ginkel and Zach Sieler.
Wilkins is second on the team with 4.5 sacks this season and already matched his career-high set in 2021. He has more career tackles than any NFL defensive lineman since he entered the league in 2019.
Van Ginkel has four sacks and is tied for the team lead in tackles for loss (seven). His 10 quarterback hits ranks second on the team.
Among NFL defensive tackles, Sieler’s six tackles for loss are tied for third, his 26 tackles are tied for 13th and his four sacks are tied for seventh. His 70 tackles in 2022 were a career-high and tied for fifth in the NFL.
Ramsey Returns
Jalen Ramsey missed the first seven games of the season due to an injury suffered in training camp, and he made his Dolphins debut last Sunday against the New England Patriots.
Ramsey intercepted Mac Jones for a 49-yard return, Miami’s longest interception return since Sept. 26, 2021, when Elandon Roberts had an 85-yard pick-six against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The interception was No. 20 for Ramsey in his career, and he also forced a fumble Sunday, but a Patriots’ penalty negated the actual statistic.
