Dolphins vs Chiefs predictions: AA writers make their playoff choices

The Kansas City Chiefs fanbase was already going to give Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill the cold shoulder upon his return. Turns out, everyone is going to be cold during Saturday's Wild Card matchup.

Fans should welcome the playoffs, despite the fact that Kansas City enters without a first-round bye. The Super Bowl feels up for grabs this season as the playoff field is full of flawed teams. The Chiefs should not rest upon their laurels, but this team is a trendy pick to run it back. But that first step is putting away the visiting Dolphins.

Our writers at Arrowhead Addict have made their picks and predictions for Dolphins-Chiefs.

Miami had Kansas City on the ropes when they met in Germany earlier this season. The Dolphins chipped away at a 21-0 deficit, but the Chiefs stood tall with a 21-14 win. The home team remains as sizeable favorites this week, but will the weather affect either team? How will health decide this game's outcome? Our writers weigh all that and more this week.

Tyler Brown
I am not sure what Vegas is thinking here having the Chiefs being a 3.5-point favorite here to open things up and that number is messing with me. I see a completely depleted Dolphins defense and a wobbly Jaylen Waddle and Raheem Mostert that limped to the finish line. It is doubtful the season-long struggles of the Chiefs offense will completely go away but the vibes are good right now, winning three of their last four. A Spags defense is no joke in the playoffs either, especially with this talented group.
Chiefs 23, Dolphins 17

Price Carter
Given the weather, the health of Miami, and the difference in quarterback play it feels like Kansas City has few paths to a loss. First, is not controlling the run game with Mostert and Achane- the dolphins can be explosive without passing the ball. The other path is the Chiefs hurting themselves with turnovers and penalties (certainly possible). Kansas City's defense feels too strong and the Chiefs offense can do enough.
Chiefs 24, Dolphins 14

Matt Conner

The Chiefs absolutely owned the Dolphins for most of their last matchup in Germany and I’m trusting the veteran coaches on Andy Reid’s team to make any further adjustments to what Mike McDaniel has planned this time around. Andy Reid has won his last four matchups against the Dolphins and this depleted roster isn’t going to get it done on a wintry night at Arrowhead.

Chiefs 24, Dolphins 10

Josh Fann
I've seen many Chiefs media and or fans talk about how underwhelming Miami has been in these games against winning teams and how they can't score points, but that's also been the Chiefs this year. They've struggled to crack 20 points all season and it took a defensive touchdown for them to beat Miami at a neutral site earlier. With all of that being said, I expect Kansas City to take it at home, but it'll be low-scoring even with Miami's banged-up defense.
Chiefs 21, Dolphins 16

Jacob Milham
Imagine telling football fans before this season that a Chiefs and Dolphins matchup would be all about defense. The weather only compounds both defense's importance. The Chiefs had the edge on defense and health, unquestionably. I think those edges put Kansas City over Miami in an ugly, blustery game.
Chiefs 16, Dolphins 13

Charles Robinson
The Dolphins are 0-9 in games where the temperature is below 40 degrees since 2016. It just so happens that the temps at Arrowhead on Saturday will be much, much colder than 40 degrees. Colder, even, than the Dolphins offense coming into the matchup. While temperatures and ticket prices for this one are low, the Chiefs' chances of continuing their winning ways in the playoffs are high in this one. KC hasn't exactly found sturdy ground offensively yet in 2023 (now 2024), but the Chiefs defense should provide enough of a clamp on a suddenly slumping (and very banged up) Dolphins team to survive and advance.
Chiefs 24, Dolphins 17

Stacy Smith
The Chiefs' title defense campaign officially opens when the visiting Miami Dolphins come to town on Saturday night. Miami's banged up and stumbling into the postseason as losers of two straight. Conversely, the Chiefs are the healthiest they've been in a while and won each of the final two games on their schedule. Perhaps the most intriguing part about the Chiefs is that they appear to have much higher morale over the past few weeks. A looser team in better spirits could recapture a bit of its mojo and go on a run. With Mecole Hardman back in the lineup, they may also have found a viable third option in the passing offense. That said, I still expect a relatively low-scoring affair. The defending champs survive one more week and beat the Dolphins.
Chiefs 21, Dolphins 17

Lucas Strozinsky

Given how banged up the Dolphins are, Kansas City has no business losing this game. As long as they play a clean game on offense, they'll win. If the careless Chiefs from most of this season show up, they're in real danger of going one and done for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era.

Chiefs 17, Dolphins 13