Chiefs’ scouting report: Miami’s Tyreek Hill disappointed game vs. KC is in Germany

To be frank, the Chiefs looked awful Sunday in their 24-9 loss to the Broncos in Denver. But the good news is they’re still ranked first in the AFC, ahead of the Dolphins, Jaguars and Ravens. All four teams have a 6-2 record.

The Chiefs will play the Dolphins on Sunday in Frankfurt, Germany in a key AFC matchup.

It’ll also be the first time the Chiefs will face wide receiver Tyreek Hill since trading him ahead of the 2022 season. Hill told reporters after Miami’s 31-17 win Sunday over the Patriots that he’s looking forward to facing the Chiefs. He just wishes the game would be at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

“I was kind of pissed about (it) man, ‘cause obviously I’ve got so many friends, I got family there, One of my sons is there,” Hill said when asked about not playing in KC. “Just the energy man, feeling that energy at Arrowhead would have been next level.

“But obviously I understand that the NFL, they want to be more global and they want to send two of the best offenses over there, two MVP quarterbacks, dynamic offenses, and it’s gonna be a good game. So it’s a really good promotion for them, but going back to Arrowhead, that would have been sensational.”

Hill, who helped the Chiefs win Super Bowl LIV, is eager to see some old friends.

“I’m ready, man, it’s another game. Like I said, I’m just excited to play against my old brothers,” Hill said. “It’s just like if you were in high school and you move to a different city, you know what I’m saying? It’s still ball. At the end of the day my job is to go out there and do what I’ve been doing all year. And that’s have fun, help lead this team and create opportunities for whoever, so I’m still going to be the same old Cheetah.”

Each week, I take an early look at the Chiefs’ next opponent, and here is a quick scouting report of the Dolphins, 6-2. Kickoff is at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, and the game will air on the NFL Network and KSHB (channel 41 in Kansas City).

1. Tyreek on a roll

Hill, a four-time All-Pro, is having his best season in the NFL. He has 61 receptions for 1,014 yards, and accomplished something no player in the Super Bowl era has done before.

The NFL noted Hill is the first player in 62 years with 1,000 receiving yards in his team’s first eight games of a season. The others to do it: Charley Hennigan (1,122 receiving yards in 1961) with the Houston Oilers, Elroy Hirsch (1,058 in 1951) with the Los Angeles Rams, and Don Hutson (1,032 in 1942) with the Green Bay Packers.

2. Watch out for Waddle

Fellow wide receiver Jaylen Waddle has three straight games with six or more receptions and 50 or more receiving yards. He also has a touchdown catch in three of his last four games.

On Sunday, Waddle had seven receptions for 121 yards and a touchdown.

3. Red-zone success

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa leads the NFL with 2,416 passing yards, 18 touchdown passes and a 108.8 quarterback rating.

Miami has the top-ranked offense in terms of points and yards per game, and they’ve been particularly successful in an area that has bedeviled the Chiefs: the red zone.

The Dolphins have scored 23 touchdowns in 31 red-zone trips, a 74.2% rate of reaching the end zone, easily first in the NFL, per Pro Football Reference. The Bills are second (68.8%). The Chiefs are 18th (51.6%).

4. No. 1 rushing attack, too

Miami doesn’t just have success throwing the ball. The Dolphins have the NFL’s top-ranked team in rushing offense (1,214 yards), rushing touchdowns (16) and yards per rushing attempt (5.9).

The Chiefs won’t see star rookie running back De’Von Achane (460 yards rushing and 12.1 yards per attempt). He is on injured reserve because of a knee injury.

But Miami has Raheem Mostert, who has 520 rushing yards and 10 touchdown runs while averaging 5.4 yards per carry. He has 50 or more yards from scrimmage in six of eight games.

5. Defense gets a boost

Miami has the 25th-ranked scoring defense (25.5 points per game), but is 16th in yards allowed.

Cornerback Jalen Ramsey made his 2023 debut after injuring his knee in the summer, and he made an instant impact with an interception.

Bradley Chubb, the former Broncos linebacker, had a sack Sunday and has taken down the opposing quarterback in four straight games. Defensive tackle Christian Walker has 4 1/2 sacks for Miami.

Miami’s red-zone defense is in the bottom quarter of the NFL. Opponents have scored a touchdown on 65.5% of trips to the red zone against the Dolphins, the sixth-highest rate, per Pro Football Reference.