Beware, Kansas City: Miami is no pushover

By Clayton Wendler  |   Friday, November 10, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

Kansas City Chiefs
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When the Kansas City Chiefs pass: Journeyman backup quarterback Damon Huard continues to start for the Chiefs, and has run his passer rating to 105.2, good for second in the NFL behind Peyton Manning. He'll have a stiff test this week against the fourth-ranked secondary, although that ranking might be a bit deceiving. Miami doesn't have a great defensive backfield. What the Dolphins do have is a solid pass rush.

Defensive end Jason Taylor has been dominating this year, and the Dolphins like to move him around. He'll rush as the weakside or strongside end in a 4-3, or stand up at outside linebacker in a 3-4. It will also be interesting to see how Chiefs right tackle Kyle Turley deals with Dolphins defensive end Kevin Carter. The 265-pound Turley will have his hands full with the 305-pound Carter, who has lost a step, but can still bullrush with the best of them. If the Chiefs can get some protection, they'll have success down the field. Miami has had no answer for Kansas City tight end Tony Gonzalez in recent years, and this game should be more of the same.


Edge: Even


When the Miami Dolphins pass: Miami's pass offense is an enigma. The Dolphins are near the top of the league in yards after catch, yet near the bottom of the league in yards per completion. It's actually not that difficult to figure out: The Dolphins don't have much of a downfield passing game. They rank 23rd in passing plays over 10 yards. Joey Harrington's poor accuracy and bad decision-making followed him from Detroit. Of course, it doesn't help that his receivers have dropped 18 passes this year, the third-most in the league. Harrington has thrown nine interceptions, but some of them are the result of passes his receivers have tipped up into the air.

Harrington is an upgrade over Daunte Culpepper, however. His mobility and quick release have cut way down on Miami's sacks. The Dolphins have given up 26 this year, but only five with Harrington behind center. Still, their offensive line isn't great. The Chiefs have favorable matchups with Jared Allen and Tamba Hali going against Damion McIntosh and Vernon Carey. Patrick Surtain and Ty Law against Harrington? Yeah, this is a classic mismatch. Surtain against Miami wideout Wes Welker in the slot will be an intriguing matchup. Welker has been a reliable short-yardage and third-down target for Miami quarterbacks this year.


Edge: Chiefs


When the Kansas City Chiefs run: The Chiefs have reestablished their dominating ground game from a year ago. Larry Johnson has piled up 459 yards and six rushing touchdowns over the last three weeks. Miami's run defense will be KC's biggest test of the season thus far, however. The Dolphins permit only 3.4 yards per rush and have surrendered just two rushing touchdowns all year.

Miami has an outstanding defensive tackle rotation with Keith Traylor, Vonnie Holliday, Dan Wilkinson and Jeff Zgonina. And then, of course, there is middle linebacker Zach Thomas, who is playing as well as ever. The Chiefs will be without All-Pro left guard Brian Waters, with veteran Chris Bober taking his place. The yards may come a little harder for Johnson this week.


Edge: Even


When the Miami Dolphins run: Ronnie Brown is a fine running back, but his offensive line is a different story. Miami has struggled with its run blocking all year. Brown's longest run this year is just 27 yards, and the Dolphins have broken the century mark only three times as a team this year. Miami calls a diverse running game, but the team executes the stretch and pitch plays with about as much success as the power stuff.

The Chiefs did a nice job against Steven Jackson a week ago and have been solid against the run all year, although they have been gashed at times on the road. Miami is coming off its best rushing game of the year, so this will likely be another tough test for KC's defense, especially with outside linebacker Derrick Johnson out.


Edge: Even


Special teams: The Chiefs have a slight edge in kickers. Dante Hall has name recognition, but has really struggled in recent games. Miami's Wes Welker is solid, if unspectacular, in the return game.
Edge: Even


Intangibles: The Dolphins, despite their 2-6 record, have not given up on the 2006 season. This is a classic trap game for the Chiefs, who ran their record to 5-3 a year ago, only to lose to a bad team on the road the following week. Chiefs head coach Herman Edwards is 1-1 lifetime against Dolphins head coach Nick Saban.


Edge: Dolphins


Prediction: Miami's win over Chicago was impressive, but the Chiefs won't turn the ball over six times. The Dolphins are still a bad football team, and the Chiefs are on the rise.


Chiefs 20, Dolphins 14

Original Kansas City Chiefs analysis, courtesy of RealFootball365.com
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