3 Best Players from Chiefs Game Today vs. Dolphins

The Chiefs defeated the Dolphins 21-14 in a hard-fought game with a fair share of incredible highlights.

It wasn't always pretty, but Kansas City got the job done and now has full control over the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

Let's look at the three best players from the massive win over Miami in Week 9.

3 Best Players from Chiefs Game Today vs. Dolphins

1. Trent McDuffie - CB

Has there ever been a more poetic moment than McDuffie's forced fumble on Tyreek Hill?

Mike Edwards recovered the ball, lateraling it to Bryan Cook for a 59-yard TD to give the Chiefs a 21-0 lead in an uproarious first half. McDuffie, of course, was the Chiefs' crown jewel of the Hill trade and took a leap this season to become one of the NFL's best defensive players.

Credit to Edwards for the lateral and Cook for the TD, but McDuffie deserves the lions' share for making perhaps the biggest play of the game.

That's McDuffie's FOURTH forced fumble this season. His physicality takes the Chiefs' defense to new heights and he's routinely made game-changing plays when Kansas City needs it most.

The second-year star led the Chiefs in tackles (10) and now has 50 on the year. His emergence has been the biggest story of the season in my opinion - I'm thrilled to watch this kid keep growing.

McDuffie isn't the only defensive player who balled out, as you'll see on the next page.

2. Willie Gay Jr. - LB

After spending this week worried that Willie Gay Jr. wouldn't play due to the injury he sustained last week, Gay Jr. FLEW around the field and was one of the Chiefs' most impactful players today.

Gay Jr. had four tackles with a tackle for loss, though his impact was felt in the timing of his huge plays.

The Dolphins found success on the ground late in the game, though the Chiefs held Raheem Mostert to just six yards on three carries in the first half.

This was one of the most impressive defensive performances by ANY team in 2023 and Gay Jr. was at the heart of it all.

With no Nick Bolton, Gay Jr. showed up. In a week he was hobbled, I'll remember this as one of the defining performances of Gay Jr.'s tenure with the Chiefs.

If we sign him to an extension this offseason, this game will be one of the reasons why. Gay Jr.'s speed and versatility have been on full display and it's a blast to watch him reach his potential.

3. Patrick Mahomes - QB

Mahomes' final stats weren't overly impressive and his late fumble was obviously a poor play, but Mahomes' performance in the first half can't go overlooked.

Travis Kelce was held to two catches for seven yards in the first half, yet the Chiefs still held a three-score lead going into the break, largely due to the brilliance of Patrick Mahomes.

Despite his top target being shut down, Mahomes led a pair of long touchdown drives and wisely took what the defense gave him. He completed multiple passes to at least SEVEN different receivers throughout the game and gave the Chiefs' defense a chance to finish the job late.

I don't care that the final stats weren't pretty. Mahomes executed when he abolustely had to and now the Chiefs sit atop the AFC with tie-breakers over the Jaguars, Dolphins and Ravens, who happen to be the only three teams within a game in the standings.

He's still the best player in the world and he proved he can get the job done in an uncomfortable environment today.

If you're as fired up as I am and want to win some cash, DraftKings Sportsbook is giving new users who bet $5 or more on ANY game an INSTANT $200 in bonus bets just for trying. Win or lose, you're getting $200 no matter what. Sign up for DraftKings now and keep winning, just like the Chiefs!

More Kansas City Chiefs News: