Main prediction
Chiefs -11.5
- Published odds
- 1.87
- Odds source
- Author supplied · bookmaker not provided
Match information
- Competition
- NFL 2026 · Week 3
- Date
- 2026-09-27
- Kickoff
- 1:00 PM EDT
- Venue
- Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
- Records
- Chiefs 2-0; Dolphins 0-2
Team news and projected personnel
Projected personnel, not confirmed lineups. Sunday and Monday final game designations were not available at the verified update time.
Kansas City Chiefs
Projected offense
- QB: Patrick Mahomes
- RB: Kenneth Walker III
- WR: Rashee Rice
- TE: Travis Kelce
Miami Dolphins
Projected offense
- QB: Malik Willis
- RB: De'Von Achane
Injuries and availability
Match analysis
Kansas City brings the league's most productive offense to Miami: 457.5 yards and 32.0 points per game, with Patrick Mahomes coming off 382 yards and three touchdowns against Indianapolis. Miami is 0-2, averages 13 points and has not recorded a sack. Malik Willis has one touchdown and one interception in the Dolphins' changed quarterback structure, while De'Von Achane is averaging 3.6 yards per carry.
Mahomes and Rashee Rice practiced fully Wednesday. Josh Simmons was DNP, while Chris Jones, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Chamarri Conner and L'Jarius Sneed were limited. Miami had Rob Beal Jr. and Caleb Douglas as non-participants, with Jaylen Wright and several depth players limited. The official report had no final Sunday designations, so none of those practice statuses is converted into OUT.
An 11.5-point spread demands sustained aggression because a controlled two-score lead can still be vulnerable to a late touchdown. Kenneth Walker's 6.2 yards per carry can keep Kansas City ahead of the chains, and Miami's zero sacks offer little evidence it can disrupt Mahomes without extra rushers. Those extra bodies expose Travis Kelce and Rice behind the first level. The price of the pick is back-door risk in heat and a margin that requires Kansas City to keep finishing drives after taking control.
Sources
- NFL Week 3 scheduleFixture identity, date, kickoff and home/away · accessed September 24, 2026
- NFL Week 3 injury reportPractice participation and available game designations · accessed September 24, 2026
- NFL Game CenterRecords, team leaders, early-season statistics, venue and injuries · accessed September 24, 2026
Final prediction
Prediction: Chiefs -11.5
Published odds: 1.87