Patrick Mahomes just helped the Kansas City Chiefs reach 3-0. The Chiefs beat the Miami Dolphins 24-10 on Sunday, Sept. 27, in Miami Gardens. Despite the unbeaten start, Mahomes focused on areas where the Chiefs could improve.
Mahomes said the team still fell short of its own standard. The Chiefs entered 2026 after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
Chiefs stay perfect, but Mahomes wants more
The Chiefs improved to 3-0 with a road victory in Miami Gardens. The Dolphins entered the day without a win this season. Kansas City scored 10 unanswered points in the 4th quarter to finish the 24-10 win.
Mahomes focused on the team’s mistakes while speaking to reporters after the game. He said the team did not play to its standard, especially during the middle portion of the game.
Coach Andy Reid praised Miami for the effort the Dolphins showed on Sunday. Mahomes added that the group would enjoy the win but must keep getting better. Both Mahomes and Reid discussed areas the Chiefs could improve.
What the Miami win looked like on paper
Mahomes completed 20 of 24 passes for 246 yards in the game. He threw 2 touchdowns and 1 interception along the way. His first 11 throws of the afternoon all found a target.
Running back Kenneth Walker scored twice for the Chiefs on the day. Tight end Travis Kelce caught 2 passes for 59 yards in total. One of those catches covered 48 yards on the very first snap of the game.
Miami quarterback Malik Willis finished 20 of 36 for 210 yards with 1 interception on Sunday. The Dolphins tied the game on a short Ollie Gordon II touchdown run in the first quarter. Running back De’Von Achane then left in the first half with a knee injury.
Why a quiet middle stretch bothered Mahomes
The Chiefs went scoreless after an early second-quarter touchdown until Harrison Butker’s field goal in the 4th quarter. That long gap is the part of the game Mahomes pointed to first. He called out the stretch that ran from the second quarter into the third.
Miami used that time to stay close on the scoreboard. The Dolphins kicked a 37-yard field goal on the first drive of the second half. That kick cut the lead to 4 points and stayed as their final score.
Mahomes also threw 1 interception during the game. The Chiefs’ offensive line allowed no sacks over 4 quarters of play. Kansas City did not score again until Butker’s 4th-quarter field goal.
Penalties and clock control shaped the game
Kansas City was flagged 8 times for 50 yards. Miami was called for 8 penalties totaling 64 yards. The penalty totals added another statistical difference between the two teams.
The Chiefs defense held Miami to 10 points on the afternoon. The Dolphins controlled possession for 34:21, compared with 25:39 for Kansas City. Miami therefore held the ball for nearly 9 minutes longer than the Chiefs.
Kansas City added 10 points in the 4th quarter. The defense forced a turnover on downs before the Chiefs regained possession. Mahomes later found Kelce for an 11-yard touchdown that completed the scoring.
A new backfield changes the Chiefs offense
Kansas City signed running back Kenneth Walker III during the offseason after he won Super Bowl LX MVP with Seattle. He arrived from the Seahawks as part of a remade Chiefs backfield.
Walker rushed for 70 yards and scored 1 rushing and 1 receiving touchdown against Miami. Walker has added another option to Kansas City’s running game. Yahoo Sports described him as an explosive addition to a Chiefs offense looking for more big plays.
The receiver group also includes Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy alongside Kelce. Kelce remains a key target for Mahomes in the passing game this season.
Fun fact: Patrick Mahomes is the godson of former MLB pitcher LaTroy Hawkins, who played with his father, Pat Mahomes Sr., on the Minnesota Twins.
Comeback season talk keeps growing louder each week
Mahomes tore the ACL and LCL in his left knee late in the 2025 season. The injury ended his season. The Chiefs then missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
Through 3 games this year, Mahomes has thrown 7 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. He has completed 68.4% of his passes over that span. CBS Sports has included him among the leading Comeback Player of the Year candidates.
Mahomes returned for the start of the 2026 season after undergoing knee surgery and rehabilitation. He has started each of Kansas City’s first 3 games. The Chiefs have won all 3 of those games.
The standard that a Super Bowl demands
Mahomes has won 3 Super Bowl MVP awards in his career. He has also won the NFL MVP award twice, according to NFL.com. Mahomes has remained focused on improving Kansas City’s performance despite its 3-0 start.
After the Miami win, Mahomes said the Chiefs did not consistently play to their standard. He specifically pointed to the team’s performance during the middle portion of the game. Kansas City went through a long scoreless stretch before adding 10 points in the 4th quarter.
The Chiefs reached 3 straight Super Bowls through the 2024 season. They lost Super Bowl LIX while attempting to win a 3rd consecutive championship. Kansas City entered the 2026 season after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
What the Raiders game means for Kansas City
The Chiefs face the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4 of the season. Las Vegas enters the matchup with a 3-0 record. The Raiders compete with Kansas City and Denver in the AFC West.
Denver entered the season as the reigning AFC West champion. Kansas City started the year with 3 consecutive victories. The Raiders also won their first 3 games, making the Week 4 matchup an early AFC West contest.
Mahomes said the Chiefs need to improve after their victory over Miami. Kansas City committed 8 penalties for 50 yards and went through a long scoreless stretch in that game. Those are 2 areas Mahomes and the Chiefs can address entering Week 4.
TL;DR
- The Chiefs improved to 3-0 after beating the Miami Dolphins 24-10 on the road.
- Patrick Mahomes completed 20 of 24 passes for 246 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception.
- Mahomes said Kansas City fell short of its standard, particularly during a long scoreless stretch in the middle of the game.
- Kenneth Walker III scored twice against Miami and has added another option to Kansas City’s offense.
- Mahomes has returned from the knee injury that ended his 2025 season and entered 2026 as a Comeback Player of the Year candidate.
Read More From This Brand:
- The quarterbacks who influenced Patrick Mahomes’ game
- Brittany Mahomes shares emotional message as Patrick Mahomes returns to camp
- Patrick Mahomes turns awkward practice moment into instant joke
This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
