Neil Reynolds' Wraps Week 9

NFL fans from across Germany and around the world gathered in Frankfurt on Sunday night and they provided a deafening, colourful and party-like atmosphere for the huge AFC showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins.

And, eventually, the Chiefs and Dolphins delivered a good game. Kansas City looked like they were almost over the hill and far away, leading 21-0 at the half. But, they couldn't get their offense firing in the second half and kept presenting the Dolphins with opportunities to get back into the game.

Miami did just that against a fast and aggressive Kansas City defense by pulling to within seven points late in the third period, but it was always hard work and it was not all that surprising that the game ended with a fourth down failure for the Dolphins on an errant snap with just over a minute on the clock.

This game was emblematic of the Chiefs' season. They have the best quarterback in the game and yet their offense continues to be stuck in second gear for long periods of time. They are having to win in different ways but, to their credit, that's what they keep doing… winning!

We have spent years focusing on Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and an offense that averaged more than 30 points per game for the five seasons leading into 2023. But now it's time to look at a defensive unit that is top five across the board in every major statistical category and give them their dues. The Chiefs are now nine games into their season and they have only twice allowed an opponent to score more than 20 points. We're not used to that kind of output in Kansas City.

Miami's defense held Mahomes to 185 passing yards and Kelce to just three catches for 14 yards. They held the Chiefs to just two offensive touchdowns