The first-ever NFL game in Frankfurt, Germany was not the high-flying affair fans expected, but the CHiefs and Dolphins still provided plenty of drama on Sunday.
Kansas City fought off Miami's comeback attempt in the second half, holding onto a 21-14 win at Deutsche Bank Park in the first of two NFL games in Germany this season. The Chiefs improved to 7-2 with the victory, while the Dolphins dropped to 6-3.
The league-leading Miami offense was shut out in the first half for the first time during the Mike McDaniels era in South Beach, as Steve Spagnuolo's defensive unit for Kansas City gave Tua Tagovailoa fits for the first 30 minutes. The struggles were punctuated with a Tyreek Hill fumble returned for a touchdown in the final minute of the first half, giving the Chiefs a 21-0 lead heading into the break.
But the Dolphins would not go down without a fight. Led by a strong second-half showing from Raheem Mostert (85 rushing yards, one TD), the Fins cut the deficit to one score entering the final quarter. However, Tagavailoa and Co. could not find a game-tying touchdown in the final frame.
The Chiefs' offense was outshined by the defense. Mahomes threw for a season-low 185 yards and only connected with Travis Kelce three times for 14 yards. But the defense held Tagovailoa to just 193 yards through the air, as well as returning a fumble for a touchdown en route to the pivotal win.
For Miami, the struggles against winning teams continue in 2023. The Dolphins have yet to beat a team over .500, with all of their victories coming against weaker opponents, and all of their losses coming at the hands of Super Bowl contenders.
