The Miami Dolphins are 0-3 after falling 24-10 to the Kansas City Chiefs in their home opener, but Sunday’s loss felt different from the first two games of the Jeff Hafley era.
Miami entered the game as a significant underdog against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, and for the first few minutes, it looked like the game might get ugly quickly. Kansas City scored touchdowns on each of its first two possessions, including a 48-yard completion from Mahomes to Travis Kelce on the first play from scrimmage.
But instead of collapsing, Miami settled down.
The Dolphins defense kept them in the game, several young players continued to emerge, and Miami was still within striking distance late in the third quarter. The final score will ultimately go down as another loss, and 0-3 is 0-3, but this was probably the first game this season where you could clearly see some of what Hafley is trying to build.
Unfortunately, the Dolphins may have also lost their best offensive player in the process.
Here are three major takeaways from Miami’s 24-10 loss to Kansas City.
THE DEFENSE FINALLY SHOWED SIGNS OF WHAT IT CAN BECOME
After allowing 62 points through the first two games of the season, the Dolphins desperately needed to show some progress defensively. They did that against one of the most accomplished quarterbacks of this generation.
It certainly did not start that way.
Mahomes completed his first 11 passes, Kansas City scored touchdowns on its first two possessions, and Miami’s defense looked like it was heading toward another long afternoon. But something changed after those opening drives.
The Dolphins became more physical, created pressure and, most importantly, started making plays.
Rookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez continued to look like one of the most promising pieces of Miami’s rebuild. Rodriguez finished with at least five tackles, three tackles for loss and an interception, becoming the first NFL rookie since Lavonte David in 2012 to accomplish that combination in a game. He also became the first Dolphins player since at least 2008 to do it.
His interception was one of the biggest defensive plays of the afternoon. With Mahomes having completed his first 11 passes, a ball deflected off Rashee Rice and Dante Trader, and Rodriguez made a diving play to secure the turnover.
He wasn’t alone.
Trader, rookie cornerback Chris Johnson and defensive tackle Jordan Phillips were among the young Dolphins who flashed against Kansas City. Chop Robinson also created pressure, although his biggest moment became one of the turning points of the game.
Late in the third quarter, Miami appeared to have Mahomes trapped deep in Kansas City territory. Robinson brought him down in the end zone, but he was flagged for roughing the passer. A holding penalty on the play would have given Kansas City a first down anyway, but the sequence was symbolic of how close Miami was to changing the complexion of the game.
The Dolphins didn't play perfect defense. Giving up touchdowns on the first two possessions cannot continue, and the defense still has plenty of growing to do. But after two weeks of watching opponents move the football almost at will, this finally looked like a defense with some fight, physicality and young players worth building around.
For a team in the middle of a rebuild, that matters.
E ACHANE INJURY IS A DEVASTATING BLOW TO AN ALREADY LIMITED OFFENSE
The biggest concern coming out of Sunday has nothing to do with the final score.
De’Von Achane injured his knee early in the game after taking his third rushing attempt 11 yards around the left side. He was tackled awkwardly by Chiefs safety Alohi Gilman, went into the medical tent and was eventually taken to the locker room for further evaluation.
Achane returned to the sideline after halftime, but without his helmet and shoulder pads, and did not return to the game. Afterward, Hafley acknowledged that the initial outlook was concerning.
“It does not sound very optimistic at this moment,” Hafley said as the Dolphins awaited additional information.
Unfortunately for Miami, those concerns have now been confirmed: Achane is out for the remainder of the season.
It is a devastating blow for an offense that already had very little margin for error.
Miami entered the game without backup running back Jaylen Wright because of a foot injury. Once Achane went down, Ollie Gordon II became the Dolphins’ only healthy traditional running back, forcing Miami to use wide receiver Malik Washington as an emergency option. Gordon even briefly left the game because of cramping.
Achane isn't simply Miami's starting running back. He is one of the few players on this roster capable of changing a game every time the football is in his hands. His speed forces defenses to account for him on every snap, whether he is running between the tackles, turning the corner or catching the football in space.
Now Miami has to figure out how to replace that explosiveness for the rest of the season, and there is no obvious answer on the roster. For an offense already struggling to consistently move the football and generate big plays, losing Achane removes arguably its most dangerous weapon.
There were some positives Sunday. Rookie wide receiver Chris Bell continued to show promise, catching four passes for 67 yards, including a 44-yard catch and run. Performances like that are important for a rebuilding team searching for players who can become part of its long-term core.
But Miami desperately needs playmakers, and Achane was unquestionably one of its best.
The Dolphins are already 0-3, and now they will have to navigate the remainder of the season without one of the most explosive players on their roster. What initially looked like a concerning injury on Sunday has become one of the biggest challenges facing Miami's offense moving forward.
THE DOLPHINS ARE SHOWING FIGHT, BUT EVENTUALLY THAT HAS TO TURN INTO WINS
There is a difficult balance when evaluating a rebuilding team.
You want to recognize progress without celebrating losses.
Miami deserves credit for the way it competed Sunday. After Kansas City jumped out to an early lead, the Dolphins could have folded. They didn't. They kept the game competitive, played physical defense and gave themselves opportunities to make things uncomfortable for the Chiefs.
That reflects positively on the culture Hafley is trying to establish.
But the Dolphins are still 0-3.
At some point, toughness has to become execution. Effort has to become points. Promising young players have to become productive starters. And close games have to become victories.
Zach Sieler summed it up well after the game when he said Miami played hard enough to win but needed to “close the deal” and “start faster.”
That's exactly where this team is right now.
The Dolphins cannot continue giving teams early leads and expect their young roster to spend the rest of the afternoon trying to recover. They also cannot afford drive-killing penalties, missed opportunities or stretches where the offense cannot capitalize on what the defense gives them.
Still, Sunday provided something the first two weeks didn't give Dolphins fans much of: tangible evidence that there may be something worth developing here.
Rodriguez looks like a legitimate building block. Trader and Johnson are getting valuable experience. Bell is beginning to emerge offensively. The defense responded after a disastrous opening two drives instead of allowing the game to become a blowout.
Those are encouraging developments.
But Miami is no longer looking for moral victories. This season is about determining which players belong on the next good Dolphins team and whether Hafley can build the culture necessary to eventually turn this franchise around.
Sunday's 24-10 loss offered some reasons to believe Miami may be moving in the right direction.
Now the Dolphins have to start turning progress into wins.
