Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce saved their biggest connection for the moment Miami still had hope. With the Dolphins fighting to stay within one score in the fourth quarter, Mahomes found Kelce for an 11-yard touchdown that sealed Kansas City’s 24-10 win Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium. The Chiefs arrived 2-0, eager to prove last season’s struggles were behind them. They left 3-0. Miami, still building a new offense around Malik Willis, fell to 0-3 after another hard-fought afternoon.

Kansas City struck like a lightning bolt on its first drive. Mahomes hit Kelce deep down the middle for 48 yards, flipping the field at once. Kenneth Walker III then powered through the middle for a 10-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead. Miami answered with its most determined drive of the day. Willis scrambled, Malik Washington grabbed a 30-yard catch, and Ollie Gordon II finished the march with a 3-yard touchdown run. Suddenly, the game was tied 7-7.

Mahomes kept the Chiefs moving with quick throws and calm choices. Early in the second quarter, Walker caught a 5-yard touchdown pass to put Kansas City ahead 14-7. Walker gave the Chiefs balance all day, rushing for 70 yards while adding that receiving score.

Miami had chances to swing the game before halftime. Willis hit Chris Bell for a 44-yard gain, but a replay showed Willis lost the ball after a short run, and the Chiefs recovered. Then linebacker Rodriguez intercepted a Mahomes pass near the two-minute warning, giving Miami another opening. Yet the Dolphins could not turn that takeaway into points.

The Dolphins came out of halftime with fresh energy. Willis connected with Greg Dulcich for 42 yards, and Gordon caught a 19-yard pass to reach the Kansas City 11. Washington appeared to score on the next big play, but an illegal shift erased the touchdown. Miami settled for a 37-yard field goal, cutting the score to 14-10. That lost touchdown became enormous in a game decided by key finishes.

Kansas City’s defense bent but did not break, and Mahomes took over in the fourth. He guided a drive featuring a 24-yard pass to Noah Gray, but Miami held the Chiefs to a 34-yard Harrison Butker field goal. The lead was 17-10, and the Dolphins still had time.

But after Miami’s next drive stalled, Mahomes found Rashee Rice for 34 yards. A few plays later, Kelce slipped open for the touchdown that made it 24-10 with 2:55 left. Kelce finished with two catches for 59 yards, but his first catch started the game and his last catch finished Miami’s comeback hopes. Defensive end Karlaftis then intercepted Willis to end the threat.

Willis competed with 210 passing yards and 56 rushing yards, while Washington caught five passes for 56 yards. Still, Miami’s two turnovers and missed chances near the goal line hurt its climb back. The Dolphins now face the Minnesota Vikings looking for their first win. Kansas City heads to meet the Las Vegas Raiders with its fast start rolling and its old championship confidence growing stronger.

Travis Kelce’s Late Touchdown Sends Chiefs to 3-0 in Miami