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Dolphins vs. Chiefs playoff preview: Star makes highly anticipated return

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The machinations of the NFL international schedule in 2023 deprived fans of witnessing Tyreek Hill’s return to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium to face his former team, the Kansas City Chiefs. Instead, the regular-season matchup was played in Frankfurt, Germany, a game Hill’s current team, the Miami Dolphins, lost 21-14. 

The presumptive NFL Offensive Player of the Year will now return to his old stomping grounds for the first time in a playoff setting. Kansas City, the AFC’s No. 3 seed, will host sixth-seeded Miami in the AFC wild-card round matchup Saturday (8 p.m. ET, Peacock). 

Kansas City locked up its eighth consecutive AFC West title last week and sat key players such as quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce during Week 18. Meanwhile, the Dolphins played for the AFC East title on “Sunday Night Football” against the Buffalo Bills; they lost, 21-14. Instead of hosting a playoff game or two, the Dolphins must go on the road for the second straight postseason. 

What happened in Chiefs vs. Dolphins? 

The Chiefs were coming off a loss to the Denver Broncos and put up six points on their first drive of the game, which took less than three minutes. They scored two touchdowns with less than three minutes left in the second half – the second of which came on a Hill fumble that was recovered, and lateraled, for a touchdown. 

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Miami scored twice in the third quarter, but that’s all the Dolphins could muster against Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s unit.

The game was insightful for how the Chiefs won in 2023: solid defense, just enough offense. 

Patrick Mahomes’ career record in playoffs

Mahomes has yet to play his first true postseason road game At Arrowhead, however, he’s 9-2, and 11-3 in the postseason overall with two Super Bowl victories. 

Will Taylor Swift be at Chiefs’ playoff game?

Barring any unforeseen circumstances or conflicts, it seems highly likely. She’s officially a member of ‘Chiefs Kingdom.’ Kelce, the pop star’s beau and reason why she has been a fixture at Chiefs games all season, has 133 catches for 1,548 yards with 16 touchdowns in 18 career playoff games.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY