The Kansas City Chiefs erased an early deficit to defeat the Miami Dolphins, 33-27, in their return to Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday.
Here are some interesting facts and notes about the victory.
1. Patrick Mahomes overcame some early mistakes to put together another impressive performance.
Mahomes tossed two interceptions through Kansas City's first three possessions, but the reigning Super Bowl MVP didn't let some early struggles keep him down. He finished the game with 393 passing yards and two touchdowns, marking his sixth-consecutive game with 300+ passing yards and his league-leading ninth overall such performance on the year.
The 25-year-old Mahomes extended his touchdown streak to 23 straight games with a score – the longest active stretch in the NFL – and he also topped 4,000 passing yards for the season on Sunday, joining Peyton Manning and Dan Marino as the only three players in league history to tally 4,000+ passing yards in three of their first four years as a professional.
Of course, Mahomes played just one game his rookie year.
Mahomes' last six games have been particularly prolific, too.
2. Travis Kelce is on another level.
Kelce continued his monster season on Sunday with eight grabs for 136 yards and a touchdown. It marked his sixth-straight game with 8+ receptions and his fifth 100-yard performance in his last six outings.
The veteran tight end currently leads the NFL in receiving yards (1,250) and has now topped 1,200+ yards in each of the last three seasons, becoming the only player to do so. Only wide receivers Julio Jones and Michael Thomas have a chance to join him this season.
Kelce is now just 127 yards shy of the all-time single-season receiving record by a tight end with three games to go.
3. Tyreek Hill found the end zone twice.
Hill is also in the midst of a phenomenal campaign and he added to it on Sunday, tallying 111 total yards (79 receiving, 32 rushing) and two touchdowns on just four touches. Hill was responsible for the Chiefs' first score of the day with a 32-yard run down the sideline and was later back in the end zone with a 44-yard scoring grab to begin the third quarter.
Hill's 44-yard score marked his 26th career touchdown of at least 40 yards. That's by far the most in the NFL since 2016 and 16 more than second place.
The speedy Hill has scored 16 total touchdowns this season – the most in the NFL – and is one of just six players since 2010 to record 16+ scores in just 13 games. Additionally, his 14 receiving touchdowns lead the NFL and he's just one score shy of matching Dwayne Bowe's franchise record (15) with three games remaining.
4. The Chiefs overcame another double-digit deficit and didn't look back.
Kansas City is accustomed to fighting back from double-digit deficits, especially in Hard Rock Stadium. It was just last February that the Chiefs erased a 10-point deficit in Super Bowl LIV, and now back at Hard Rock for the first time since that magical night, Kansas City managed to do the same.
After falling behind by 10 early on, Hill and Kelce each found the end zone to push Kansas City in front prior to halftime and they wouldn't look back. It continued a trend for this Chiefs' squad, who never seem to lose their composure even when they fall behind.
5. Mecole Hardman tallied the first punt return touchdown of his career.
The Chiefs continued to build on their newfound lead in the second half, as Hardman returned a Dolphins' punt all the way back for a 67-yard touchdown. It was the first punt return touchdown of Hardman's young career and the Chiefs' first since Week 1 of the 2018 season.
It was also the first kick or punt return touchdown allowed by the Dolphins all season.
6. Chris Jones recorded a safety in the second half.
Both the offense and special teams put points on the scoreboard on Sunday, so it was only fitting that the defense joined the party, too. Jones made sure of that in the third quarter when he sacked Dolphins' quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in the end zone for a safety.
It was the Chiefs' first safety since D.J. Alexander recorded one in Week 17 of the 2015 season.
7. It all helped the Chiefs win a 10th consecutive road game.
The Chiefs haven't lost a road game in more than a calendar year, winning each of their last 10 road contests. That sets a franchise record and is tied for the eighth-longest streak in NFL history. It's the longest stretch since New England won 14 straight road games between the 2016-17 seasons.
The 1988-90 San Francisco 49ers hold the NFL record with 18 consecutive road victories.
8. Kansas City has won eight games in a row overall.
The Chiefs have tallied eight straight wins since falling to Las Vegas in Week 5, averaging 31.8 points-per-game in those matchups. That stretch includes victories over Buffalo (10-3), Las Vegas (7-6), Tampa Bay (8-5) and Miami (8-5).
It's the sixth-longest winning streak in franchise history and just three wins shy of matching the all-time team record (11 from 2015-16).
9. The Chiefs are champions of the AFC West for a fifth-straight year.
The victory locked up a fifth-straight division title for Kansas City, continuing a stretch of unprecedented dominance. For context, before Head Coach Andy Reid arrived in Kansas City, the Chiefs had never won consecutive division titles.
In that span of AFC West championships, the Chiefs are 26-3 against divisional opponents.
10. Kansas City is 12-1 on the season for the first time in franchise history.
The Chiefs won it all last season, but they've never gotten off to a start like this in franchise history. Kansas City has lost just once through 13 games, and with two more victories in their next three games, the Chiefs would tally the winningest season in franchise history.
It's already been a special season in Kansas City, and with three games left in the regular season, it doesn't appear that this team will be slowing down any time soon.
