Miami Dolphins defense faces its biggest challenge of season

Brian Flores’ improved Miami Dolphins figure to have their hands full on Sunday.

Some would say that the team has come an awfully long way in a short time period. After stumbling out of the gates, dropping their first two games and three of their first four contests, the Miami Dolphins find themselves one game out of first place in the AFC East with an 8-4 record. That’s quite a turnaround for a team that a year ago opened 0-7, won five of their final nine outings but still finished dead last in the division with a 5-11 record.

First-time NFL head coach Brian Flores and general manager Chris Grier worked hard last season to change the culture in South Florida. And slowly but surely, they have seemingly accomplished that feat. The most notable improvement has come on the defensive side of the football, which happened to be Flores’ strength.

A year ago, no team in the league gave up more points (494) while the club was dead last with 23 sacks. The team managed only 16 takeaways and that was due in large part to the fact that the club couldn’t put a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

But lo and behold, free agency brought some support and the team’s offseason acquisitions have all stepped to the forefront. Defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah leads the ‘Fins with eight sacks and Miami has already totaled 31 QB traps. Former Patriots’ linebackers Kyle Van Noy (55) and Elandon Roberts (51) are third and fourth, respectively, in tackles.

Meanwhile, incumbent safety Eric Rowe ranks second on the club with 66 stops and nine passes defensed. And cornerback Xavien Howard is having a huge year (via ESPN), leading the league in interceptions (8) and passes defensed (16). It has all added up to the Dolphins giving up the second-fewest points (212), just one point behind only the Pittsburgh Steelers (211).

But now comes the ultimate challenge in defending Super Bowl champions. The Kansas City Chiefs know a little something about winning a big game in South Florida, knocking off the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV in February. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been nearly flawless, throwing 31 touchdown passes and only two interceptions.

Appreciative head coach Andy Reid (courtesy of Safid Deen of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel) has seen his team has scored the second-most points in the league (370) and his offensive unit has produced 41 touchdowns in a dozen games. And the Chiefs’ eight turnovers are tied for the fewest in the NFL.

Can these Miami Dolphins, winners of seven of their last eight games, slay Reid’s 11-1 team and end Kansas City’s seven-game winning streak? It’s going to take a huge effort from the defense and getting heat on Mahomes (sacked only 15 times) won’t be easy. It’s a chess match certainly worth watching.