In a hard-fought battle on European soil, the Kansas City Chiefs secured a 21-14 victory over the Miami Dolphins at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, Germany. Chiefs safety Bryan Cook emerged as a star player, returning a fumble 59 yards for a crucial touchdown. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes contributed significantly with two touchdown passes, connecting with Rashee Rice and Jerick McKinnon in the first half.
Despite Miami’s efforts to mount a comeback, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa faced challenges, including a critical mishandling of a snap on fourth-and-10 in the final moments, which dashed the Dolphins’ hopes of closing the gap.
The Chiefs, now boasting a 7-2 record, managed to slow down the NFL’s top-ranked offense, claiming victory in the first-ever regular-season game in Frankfurt. Mahomes, despite a season-low 185 passing yards, maintained his composure, highlighting the defensive prowess of the Chiefs, especially in the first half.
The game witnessed an exceptional defensive play by the Chiefs, orchestrated by cornerback Trent McDuffie, who stripped the ball from former teammate Tyreek Hill. The turnover led to Cook’s memorable touchdown return. While the Chiefs’ offense struggled in the second half, their defense stood strong, ensuring the team’s victory.
Kansas City’s flight back home after the game will be considerably more pleasant, as they head into their bye week with a crucial win, avoiding back-to-back losses. Chiefs coach Andy Reid expressed relief about not having to face an eight-hour plane ride with a loss hanging over the team.
Looking ahead, the Dolphins will enjoy a bye week before facing the Las Vegas Raiders on November 19. Meanwhile, the Chiefs will also have a bye week before a highly anticipated Monday night Super Bowl rematch against the Philadelphia Eagles at Arrowhead Stadium on November 20. The Chiefs maintained their undefeated record in international games, having previously won in London in 2015 and in Mexico City in 2019, while the Dolphins have now lost their past four international matches, bringing their record to 2-5 in games played outside the United States.
Scores from Week #9 in the National Football League:
Thursday, 11/2/23
Pittsburgh 20, Tennessee 16
Sunday, 11/5/23
Kansas City 21, Miami 14 (in Frankfurt, Germany)
Minnesota 31, Atlanta 28
Baltimore 37, Seattle 3
Cleveland 27, Arizona 0
Green Bay 20, LA Rams 3
Houston 39, Tampa Bay 37
Washington 20, New England 17
New Orleans 24, Chicago 17
Indianapolis 27, Carolina 13
Las Vegas 30, NY Giants 6
Philadelphia 28, Dallas 23
Cincinnati 24, Buffalo 18
Monday, 11/6/23
LA Chargers 27, NY Jets 6
