2017 Miami Dolphins season preview: Week 16 at Kansas City Chiefs

Our preseason preview of all 13 teams the Miami Dolphins will play during the 2017 NFL regular season comes to an end today with a look at the Kansas City Chiefs. It has actually been a while since the Dolphins and Chiefs have faced off, with the last meeting coming in 2014, and the last time the two teams met in Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City back in 2011. The all-time regular-season series between the two clubs is tied at 13-13.

The Chiefs won the AFC West last year with a 12-4 record, landing a bye in the first round of the playoffs. They then were beaten 18-16 by the Pittsburgh Steelers, the same team that had knocked the Dolphins out of the playoffs a week earlier. There are big expectations for the Chiefs this season.

Which makes the possibility of a quarterback controversy popping up in Kansas City slightly confusing. Alex Smith will start the year under center, but if he falters at all, tenth-overall pick Patrick Mahomes II - for whom the Chiefs traded up from the 27th-overall selection - could quickly become a fan favorite to replace the veteran. What happens if Smith struggles early? What happens in 2018 if Smith does not struggle at all?

To get a closer look at everything Chiefs, we turned to Arrowhead Pride.

Notable free agent additions

NT Bennie Logan

Notable free agent departures

NT Dontari Poe, WR Jeremy Maclin

Trades

None

Draft picks expected to contribute as rookies

Chiefs first round pick QB Patrick Mahomes is not expected to play (much) this season. Third round pick RB Kareem Hunt is a candidate to contribute early alongside Spencer Ware in the backfield.

Biggest offseason addition

The Chiefs biggest addition for the franchise is Mahomes but for players expected to contribute in 2017 it’s NT Bennie Logan who is replacing Dontari Poe in the middle. The Chiefs run defense struggled in 2016 and Logan is expected to help them improve there (and LB Derrick Johnson coming back doesn’t hurt either).

Biggest storyline heading into training camp

GM John Dorsey was fired a week after the Chiefs surprisingly cut Jeremy Maclin. The new GM will come in but the shock of it all has left a cloud over what had become one of the most stable franchises in the league.

Under-the-radar storyline heading into training camp

Can Alex Smith save his job? It’s not talked about much but what happens if Alex Smith takes the Chiefs to the AFC Championship game? It would be hard to cut the guy who just took you further in the playoffs than any Chiefs QB since Joe Montana. It may be small but there’s a chance Smith can stave off Mahomes even if just for another year with a great season.

Notable injuries heading into training camp

The return of Derrick Johnson from an Achilles injury is an important injury to watch, although all signs are positive heading into training camp. TE Travis Kelce also had offseason shoulder surgery.

Miami Dolphins 2017 season schedule:

Week 1
vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Setpember 10, 1pm

Week 2
at Los Angeles Chargers
September 17, 4:05pm

Week 3
at New York Jets
September 24, 1pm

Week 4
vs. New Orleans Saints (London)
October 1, 9:30am

Week 5
vs. Tennessee Titans
October 8, 1pm

Week 6
at Atlanta Falcons
October 15, 1pm

Week 7
vs. New York Jets
October 22, 1pm

Week 8
at Baltimore Ravens
October 26, 8:25pm (TNF)

Week 9
vs. Oakland Raiders
November 5, 8:30pm (SNF)

Week 10
at Carolina Panthers
November 13, 8:30pm (MNF)

Week 11
BYE

Week 12
at New England Patriots
November 26, 1pm

Week 13
vs. Denver Broncos
December 3, 1pm

Week 14
vs. New England Patriots
December 11, 8:30pm (MNF)

Week 15
at Buffalo Bills
December 17, 1pm

Week 16
at Kansas City Chiefs
December 24, 1pm

Week 17
vs. Buffalo Bills
December 31, 1pm