Winners and Losers From KC Chiefs' Wild Card Game vs. Miami Dolphins

In the Chiefs' first postseason game of the 2023-24 campaign, multiple players stood out for good and bad reasons alike.

The Kansas City Chiefs went 2-0 against the Miami Dolphins this season, with their rematch being an even more lopsided affair than November's meeting.

Andy Reid's team amassed 409 total net yards on Saturday, putting up 26 points in wintry conditions at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Holding Mike McDaniel's high-powered attack to 264 yards and a lone touchdown, it was an impressive performance from the home team. A trip to the Divisional Round is on deck for the Chiefs, with their opponent not being determined until the conclusion of Monday's play.  

With that in mind, let's point out some of the Chiefs' biggest winners and losers from the first week of the NFL playoffs.

Winner: Rashee Rice

No Chiefs pass-catcher was more effective than rookie Rashee Rice versus the Dolphins' linebackers and secondary. Miami played off coverage against Rice on each of his targets, per Next Gen Stats, with the SMU product feasting in those opportunities. Rice was a threat all over the field for Kansas City, hauling in eight passes for 130 yards and a touchdown. The second-round pick once again stepped up in a big way, helping keep the chains moving in a critical game. 

Rashee Rice Was Far From a Rookie in Chiefs’ Wild Card Win

Loser: Trent McDuffie

In a perfect encapsulation of football, Trent McDuffie finds himself listed here in the same week he's named a first-team All-Pro for the season. The sophomore cornerback made a pair of nice plays — a big hit on Tyreek Hill in the fourth quarter and elite timing on a fourth-down stop earlier — but he was also responsible for the Dolphins' only points of the evening. McDuffie got burned by Hill on a touchdown, also committing pass interference on the play. That, combined with him losing a ball thrown to Jaylen Waddle near halftime, lands McDuffie in unfamiliar territory for the time being. This wasn't his best game. 

Winner: Patrick Mahomes

Patrick Mahomes's raw box score statistics (262 passing yards and a touchdown) don't do his play justice. The reigning NFL MVP was nothing short of brilliant in the biggest outing of his 2023-24 season, averaging a scorching .37 EPA per play and thoroughly outplaying Tua Tagovailoa. Despite seeing a hefty amount of Cover-0 from Vic Fangio's defense, Mahomes responded well and executed the Chiefs' plan to near-perfection. He's a very clear winner for Wild Card Weekend. 

Loser: Mecole Hardman

Saturday wasn't rougher for many Kansas City players than wideout Mecole Hardman. The fifth-year man reverted to bad habits in the Chiefs' first playoff game of the year, converting on just one of his five targets for three yards. Hardman left plenty on the field, not locating a would-be touchdown in the first quarter and then giving up on plays in the second and third frames. Hardman's second mishap is partially justified considering he was held, but there's a chance he could've capitalized had he attempted to fight through contact. He had a disappointing showing. 

Winner: George Karlaftis

'Furious George' Karlaftis lived up to his reputation against the Dolphins, recording a sack-and-a-half with three total quarterback hits and a tackle for loss. He was either the best or second-best Kansas City pass rusher in the Wild Card round, winning multiple times and thriving all night long. The former first-round pick finished second on the team in tackles for good measure, factoring into the run game as well. 

Loser: Jawaan Taylor

In yet another game, right tackle Jawaan Taylor stood out for the wrong reasons. The offseason free agent pickup was flagged twice on Saturday: once for an illegal block in the back and a separate time for a false start. For someone who was signed to such a lucrative contract, Taylor simply isn't living up to the billing. Instead, he continued his trend of being the most penalized player in football.

Winner: Harrison Butker

The Chiefs struggled to cap off their red zone drives with touchdowns, going 2-for-6 in those situations. That didn't leave kicker Harrison Butker with a ton of work to do, as his field goal attempts all came from 32 yards or shorter. With that said, converting on any kick with an obvious lack of footing due to the weather is difficult. Butker went a perfect 4-for-4, which helped build Kansas City's lead and help seal the deal. 

Loser: A budding Chiefs-Dolphins rivalry

One of the growing sentiments in the NFL is that rivalries don't truly exist until both sides win a game. With the Chiefs sweeping the Dolphins this season, there's an early case to be made that this doesn't qualify yet. Despite Hill's history with Kansas City, that's about the only intriguing storyline between these two clubs. Until something else changes, it isn't a rivalry. The chance of one developing was at least temporarily extinguished on Saturday.

Four Takeaways From Chiefs' 26-7 Win Over the Dolphins