Miami Dolphins vs Kanas City Chiefs: Wild Card details, buzz & star player betting props

The Miami Dolphins (11-6) traveling to Arrowhead to face the Kansas City Chiefs (11-6) in frigid conditions outlooks to be a win for the home team.  But, with the frustrations Patrick Mahomes has been facing offensively with his receivers could keep Miami in the game.

Coming off a loss to the Buffalo Bills, the Dolphins had their chance to host a playoff home game but instead will have to travel to Kansas City to face a Chiefs team who has been leaning on their defense.  Can that defense limit the speed of Tyreek Hill and the Dolphins’ offense? 

That will be a key factor as the Chiefs look to lockdown their former star player and a Dolphins rushing attach that features Raheem Mostart (listed as questionable for the game) and outstanding rookie running back De’Von Achane.  Another key is getting to Tua Tagovailoa who gets the ball out of his hand quick.  Those quick throws could help neutralize the Chiefs’ pass rush and open plays for Hill in the short passing game.

The Dolphins should also have Jaylen Waddle for this game.  He could turn out to be a key factor with the Chiefs focused on slowing down the run game and preventing Hill from making explosive plays.

Will the Kansas City Chiefs wide receivers show up for Patrick Mahomes?

On the flip side, the Dolphins will obviously need to contend with the playmaking of Mahomes and his connection to Travis Kelce.  With the Dolphins having injuries all over the place, it could be a tough task even with the inconsistency of the Chiefs wide receivers.  Despite struggles in the passing game, Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio highlighted the strengths of the Chiefs’ receiving corps earlier this week.

"I think (Rashee) Rice has really emerged for them. He's really a good runner after the catch. He's shown good hands. (Justin) Watson has really emerged here the last part of the season and really gets down the field. He's fast with good speed and you can tell Mahomes likes throwing to him. (Marquez) Valdes-Scantling has always been a good receiver,” Fangio said via the team’s official website.  “They're still one of the top offenses in the league and they can explode at any moment with (Patrick) Mahomes at quarterback."

While Kelce is the key, an X-factor in this game will be any of the wide receivers above showing up big for Mahomes. 

Miami Dolphins vs Kansas City Chiefs kickoff details: How to watch, betting odds

Date: Saturday, January 13, 2024

Time: 8:00 PM

Location: Kansas City, MO

Venue: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium

TV: NBC

Live Stream: Fubo TV (try for free)

Betting Odds: Kansas City Chiefs -4.5 (via DraftKings)

Dolphins player props: Bet Tyreek Hill Over 82.5 receiving yards

The explosive wide receiver is saying this is just another game, but you better believe Tyreek Hill would love nothing better than to pull an upset against his former squad.

While Hill didn’t get his 2,000-yard season as he predicted, he still helped lead a Dolphins offense that has been unstoppable at times.  As weather can be the best defense against speed, Hill has expensive playing in cold weather so don’t assume it will be a limitation for him.

In all, Hill and Tua will connect for a couple of big passing plays in this game as he’ll get his receiving yards even with the Chiefs locked in on him.  Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel will scheme ways to get the speedy receiver open looks and enough touches in the quick passing game to make plays with this speed.

Chiefs player props: Bet Travis Kelce Over 5.5 receptions

The bet here should probably be how many times the cameras span to Taylor Swift in the press box in this game.  It will be at least 6 times as Travis Kelce will rack up close to 10 catches in this game.  An easy bet, the Dolphins’ defense will be locked in on limiting Kelce, but with the way Mahomes can expand plays, Kelce will eventually get open and get his.

Another key for a Kelce big game will the whether the Chiefs get big plays out of their receivers.  If that happens, it could and should open the middle of the field for Kelce. 

GameDay Prediction [Upset alert!]:  This will be one of those games where a team that has no business winning will pull it out.  The playoffs could go either way for the Chiefs.  Their struggles all season long offensively could manifest, or they could suddenly put it all together and help the team get back to the Super Bowl.  You’ll see a little bit of both in this game, but the Dolphins will find a way to put it together defensively to upset the Chiefs at Arrowhead.  The Tagovailoa-Hill connection will strike for a couple of big plays as the Dolphins will capitalize on first half turnovers by the Chiefs’ offense: Miami Dolphins 27, Kansas City Chiefs 23.