Chiefs vs. Dolphins final score, results: Patrick Mahomes, Rashee Rice and Kansas City defense step up to defeat Miami

Kyle Irving

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Chiefs vs. Dolphins final score, results: Patrick Mahomes, Rashee Rice and Kansas City defense step up to defeat Miami image

Kansas City hosted the Dolphins in historically freezing conditions at Arrowhead Stadium and the cold weather got to Miami, just as it was expected to.

It was negative seven degrees Fahrenheit at the time of kickoff and the Chiefs' defense froze the Dolphins' offense, holding Tua Tagovailoa and co. to one score in a 26-7 victory.

Patrick Mahomes looked unphased by the temperature, going 23-for-41 with 262 yards and one touchdown. Rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice had a breakout performance in his NFL Playoffs debut, dicing the Dolphins' secondary for eight receptions, 130 yards and one touchdown. Isiah Pacheco rumbled for 89 yards and a touchdown, while Travis Kelce chipped in seven receptions and 71 yards.

One 53-yard passing touchdown to Tyreek Hill aside, the Dolphins couldn't get much of anything going. They only had 13 first downs the entire night, went 1-for-12 on third downs and finished with 264 yards of total offense. As a result, the Chiefs' title defense will roll on into the AFC Divisional Round.

If you missed any of the action from Chiefs vs. Dolphins, The Sporting News had you covered with live updates, highlights, and more from the AFC wild-card showdown below.

Chiefs vs. Dolphins final score

  Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Chiefs 7 9 3 7 26
Dolphins 0 7 0 0 7

Chiefs vs. Dolphins results, highlights from NFL wild-card playoffs

Final: Chiefs 26, Dolphins 7

11:26 p.m.: The Dolphins gained 28 yards through the air but time has run out on their playoff run. The Chiefs get the job done in freezing conditions at home to advance to the AFC Divisional Round.

11:15 p.m.: FUMBLE — Clyde Edwards-Helaire coughed up the ball as the Chiefs were trying to run out the clock and the Dolphins recovered. There is only 1:15 to play in the game, though.

11:10 p.m.: TURNOVER ON DOWNS — Tua Tagovailoa tried to find Tyreek Hill for another fourth down conversion but to no avail this time around. The Dolphins give the ball back to the Chiefs and this game is all but over with 3:49 remaining on the game clock.

11:07 p.m.: Tua Tagovailoa finds Jaylen Waddle for a 14-yard gain on 4th & 10 to keep the drive alive. The Dolphins have the ball on Kansas City's 44-yard line.

10:59 p.m.: The Chiefs' offense failed to take much time off the clock at all, going three-and-out before sending the ball back to the Dolphins with 5:20 to play.

10:54 p.m.: TURNOVER ON DOWNS — The Dolphins drive stalled out as Tua Tagovailoa's pass to Cedric Wilson Jr. came up well short on 4th & 16. The Chiefs will take over from their own 23 as they try and run the clock out with 6:22 remaining in the game.

10:48 p.m.: Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins offense are finally starting to show some signs of life. He found Cedric Wilson Jr. for 19 yards, River Cracraft for 19 yards and then scrambled for a gain of 14 to bring Miami into Chiefs territory.

Chiefs 26, Dolphins 7

10:41 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN — Isiah Pacheco pounds into the end zone for a three-yard score. That just might seal it for the Chiefs with 11 minutes to play in the game.

10:38 p.m.: Patrick Mahomes draws his second roughing the passer penalty of the drive, this time Christian Wilkins doing the harm. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel was furious over the controversial call that negated an intentional grounding penalty on the play before.

10:35 p.m.: This is turning into the Rashee Rice game. Patrick Mahomes finds his rookie receiver for a gain of 28, bringing the Chiefs into the red zone. Rice is up to eight receptions for 130 yards on the night.

End of third quarter: Chiefs 19, Dolphins 7

10:31 p.m.: The Chiefs' offense will continue its drive from the Dolphins 39 at the start of the fourth quarter. Their biggest gain of the drive came on a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty by Miami safety Brandon Jones.

10:22 p.m.: The Chiefs defense is swarming the Dolphins' offense. Miami is now 0-for-7 on third down in this contest after a screen pass to De'Von Achane comes up well short on 3rd & 14. The Dolphins punt it to the Chiefs, who will take over from their own 28 with 3:07 to play in the third quarter.

10:21 p.m.: The Dolphins were faced with a 4th & 1 from their own 34 and head coach Mike McDaniel's risky decision to go for it paid off. De'Von Achane picked up the first down on a three-yard run.

Chiefs 19, Dolphins 7

10:14 p.m.: FIELD GOAL — Harrison Butker chips in a 21-yard field goal, his fourth of the game. This is the fourth time in five red zone trips that the Dolphins' defense has held strong and forced the Chiefs to settle for three points.

10:12 p.m.: Patrick Mahomes scrambled for 13 yards to bring the ball down to the 3-yard line, but a piece of his helmet cracked off on contact when he was tackled. The Chiefs ran two goal-line plays to no avail before the referees stopped the game to allow the star QB to switch his helmet.

10:05 p.m.: The Chiefs are moving the ball down the field. Patrick Mahomes has connected with Noah Gray for 20 yards, Travis Kelce for 13 yards and Rashee Rice for 10 yards. Just like that, Kansas City is almost in the red zone.

10:02 p.m.: The Dolphins' offense couldn't get anything going to start the second half. Tua Tagovailoa's scramble attempt on 3rd & 5 came up two yards short and Miami punted away to the Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes and the offense will start their drive from their own 27.

Halftime: Chiefs 16, Dolphins 7

9:42 p.m.: Tua Tagovailoa connected with Jaylen Waddle on a 17-yard pass to bring the Dolphins closer to "Hail Mary" range with six seconds on the clock, but a penalty on the next play derailed any chance of a quick score. Miami will receive to start the second half.

Chiefs 16, Dolphins 7

9:39 p.m.: FIELD GOAL — Harrison Butker buries his third field goal of the game, this time from 32 yards. The Dolphins' defense continues to step up in the red zone, holding the Chiefs to three for the third time in four red zone trips.

9:36 p.m.: Rashee Rice is having a breakout game in his playoff debut. The rookie receiver breaks free for a 39-yard gain to bring the Chiefs into the red zone with 1:14 remaining in the half. He is up to six receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown so far.

9:32 p.m.: George Karlaftis breaks through and sacks Tua Tagovailoa on 3rd &13 to end the Dolphins' drive. The Chiefs will take over from their own 39 with 1:54 to play in the half. Patrick Mahomes two-minute drill incoming.

9:27 p.m.: The Dolphins' defense comes up with a much-needed three-and-out. Patrick Mahomes tried to take a deep shot to Mecole Hardman on 3rd & 3 and the home crowd wanted a flag for pass interference but there was no laundry on the field. Miami takes back over from its own 20-yard line with 3:09 remaining in the half.

9:24 p.m.: TURNOVER ON DOWNS — The Dolphins went for it on 4th & 2 from the Chiefs' 44-yard line and Tua Tagovailoa's pass intended for Tyreek Hill got broken up by Trent McDuffie. Miami had a nice little drive forming behind four carries and 21 yards from Raheem Mostert but it will give the ball back over to Kansas City with 4:35 to play in the half.

Chiefs 13, Dolphins 7

9:15 p.m.: FIELD GOAL — Harrison Butker knocks in a 26-yarder to extend the Chiefs' lead. The Dolphins defense comes up with a massive goal line stand.

9:13 p.m.: Patrick Mahomes hit Rashee Rice on what would have been an eight-yard touchdown but the play was negated on a block in the back from Chiefs tackle Jawaan Taylor — the most penalized player in the NFL.

9:09 p.m.: Patrick Mahomes! The Chiefs roll the dice and go for it on 4th & 4 and the star QB scrambles for a gain of 28 yards to keep the drive alive. Kansas City is in the red zone.

Chiefs 10, Dolphins 7

8:59 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! — Tyreek Hill scorches the Chiefs' secondary for a 53-yard touchdown reception! It was a two-play drive for the Dolphins, both of which went to Hill to get the star WR involved. The Cheetah has arrived and we have a ballgame on our hands.

Chiefs 10, Dolphins 0

8:56 p.m.: FIELD GOAL — Harrison Butker buries the 28-yard chip shot after the Chiefs failed to convert on third down from Miami's 10-yard line.

End of first quarter: Chiefs 7, Dolphins 0

8:52 p.m.: The Chiefs are knocking on the end zone door. It will be 3rd & 6 from Miami's 10-yard line when the second quarter begins.

8:48 p.m.: Patrick Mahomes had Travis Kelce wide open on a route where he could have walked into the end zone but Kelce dropped the pass. An uncanny mishap for the superstar tight end.

8:38 p.m.: INTERCEPTION — Tua Tagovailoa overthrows Jaylen Waddle and it's picked off by Chiefs safety Mike Edwards. The turnover came one play after the Dolphins picked up a first down on 3rd & inches, but it was called back for an illegal formation. A costly mistake for Miami. 

8:29 p.m.: Patrick Mahomes just barely missed Mecole Hardman on what could have been a massive play on 3rd & 6. It looks like the wind got a hold of the ball while it was in the air and Hardman had a bad read on it. The Chiefs punt it back to the Dolphins, who will take over from their own 11.

8:24 p.m.: The Dolphins couldn't get the run game as Raheem Mostert got stuffed for one yard on each of his first two carries. After a false start, Miami couldn't pick up a first down on 3rd & 13. Punter Jake Bailey botched the punt, only booting it 28 yards. The Chiefs will take over from their own 44.

Chiefs 7, Dolphins 0

8:18 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! — Patrick Mahomes finds Rashee Rice on a drag route for an 11-yard score. The Chiefs get on the board first to cap off an eight-play, 69-yard drive.

8:14 p.m.: Tackling Isiah Pacheco in -4-degree weather does not look fun. The Chiefs RB has rumbled Kansas City into the red zone with 39 yards on four carries.

8:11 p.m.: The Dolphins have kicked off to the Chiefs and we are underway! Kansas City starts its drive from its own 16.

Pregame

7:45 p.m.: If you're wondering just how cold it is at Arrowhead Stadium, it is this cold:

7:15 p.m.: The cold couldn't keep Taylor Swift away. She is rocking a winter jacket with Travis Kelce's No. 87.

6:40 p.m.: The Dolphins' inactives are in and star WR Jaylen Waddle and RB Raheem Mostert will play.

6:40 p.m.: The Chiefs' inactives are in and WR Kadarius Toney headlines the list.

6:00 p.m.: Patrick Mahomes is getting used to the elements. The star QB is taking in some of the Texans-Browns game on the jumbotron ahead of his own AFC Wild Card game.

5:30 p.m.: Gear up for a cold one in Kansas City. It is currently -1 degrees Fahrenheit with 15 mph winds and 29 mph gusts. It is expected to be -6 degrees at the time of kickoff.

What time is Chiefs vs. Dolphins today?

  • Date: Saturday, Jan. 13
  • Time: 8:00 p.m. ET

Chiefs vs. Dolphins is scheduled to kick off at 8:00 p.m. ET on  Saturday, Jan. 13 from GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.

Chiefs vs. Dolphins channel

Chiefs vs. Dolphins will air exclusively on NBC's streaming-only platform, Peacock. It won't be broadcast on any local or national television channels. NFL fans will need to sign in to or sign up for Peacock to watch the game.

Kyle Irving

Kyle Irving Photo

You read that wrong – not Kyrie Irving. From Boston, graduated from the University of New Hampshire. Sixth season as a content producer for NBA.com's Global editions. Covering the NBA Draft has become his annual "dream come true" moment on the job. Irving has a soft spot for pass-first point guards, with Rajon Rondo and Steve Nash being two of his favorite players of all time.