The 2024 NFL Playoffs are set to begin this weekend, and the second game on Saturday night is going to be a battle. That game will feature the Miami Dolphins visiting the Kansas City Chiefs for a big Wild Card Round matchup in the AFC.
Miami finished the year by winning just two of their final four games, and they blew a great opportunity to win the AFC East Division. The Dolphins still finished the season with a record of 11-6, but they looked like they were going to be one of the best teams in the conference.
Kansas City was the AFC West Division champion again this season, and that is something that this team is used to doing. The Chiefs also finished the year with a record of 11-6, and they are always tough to beat on their home field in the postseason.
The Kansas City Chiefs are five-point betting favorites over the Miami Dolphins in this AFC showdown on Saturday night.
Dolphins Must Get Some Defense
The Miami Dolphins are going to need the defense to step up in the playoffs if this team is going to find a way to advance. Miami allowed 23 points per game during the regular season, and they are now facing one of the best quarterbacks in league history.
The defense for the Dolphins is catching a break in this game as the weather could slow the Chiefs down in this matchup. Miami was a team that scored over 29 points per game during the regular season, but that number started to drop in the final few weeks.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw for over 4,600 yards this season, and Tyreek Hill continues to be one of the best wide receivers in football. Miami will try to attack Kansas City through the air, but Tagovailoa has to take care of the football.
Chiefs Looking For More Offense
The Kansas City Chiefs scored just 21.8 points per game during the regular season, and that offense fell well short of where this team has been in recent years. Kansas City just doesn’t have enough weapons on the outside, and Patrick Mahomes threw 14 interceptions this season.
Mahomes still threw for over 4,100 yards during the regular season and tight end Travis Kelce nearly racked up 1,000 receiving yards. The Chiefs also have the ability to mix in some rushing yards, and that’s not something that they have always done.
Kansas City has become one of the best defensive teams in the league, and that is going to be important in the postseason. The Chiefs will be looking to dominate on both sides of the ball, and playing at home should help out.
Chiefs Get Past Dolphins
This should be one of the best games of the entire weekend, but the outcome is actually going to be dictated by some of the weather that is present in Kansas City. Miami wants to try to win this game on offense, but they are going to struggle in the rough weather conditions.
Kansas City wasn’t as explosive on offense this season, but the defense was able to make up for that in a big way. The Chiefs will get some terrific play from Patrick Mahomes in this game, and it will be the defense that does the rest.
Bet the Kansas City Chiefs -5.0 as they are able to win this game by a touchdown over the Miami Dolphins on Saturday night.