MIAMI GARDENS ― The Miami Dolphins hosted the Kansas City Chiefs in their home opener, with 11 rookies dressed to play.
There were many Chiefs fans behind the visiting team bench.
The Chiefs outlasted the Dolphins, 24-10, behind Patrick Mahomes and Kenneth Walker. The Dolphins (0-3) will travel to the Minnesota Vikings for a Week 4 contest.
After a rough start, Miami's defense recovered and give Kansas City a tough fight.
The Chiefs are 3-0.
Here is the Dolphins Rookie Report Card following the Chiefs game:
Miami Dolphins rookies report card vs. KC Chiefs
G Kadyn Proctor
Kadyn Proctor made a key block for Ollie Gordon II near the Chiefs goal line and then helped throw Gordon into the Chiefs end zone to set up a 7-7 tie in the first quarter.
Quarterback Malik Willis was not under extreme duress in this game. The
Dolphins did get some traction on the ground.
Grade: B
CB Chris Johnson
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes got off to a flawless start, but Miami's defense, including pass defense, recovered somewhat after allowing touchdowns on Kansas City's first two drives.
Johnson had a tackle for loss.
Johnson and Taaffe were in coverage in a passing touchdown to Travis Kelce that gave the Chiefs a late 24-10 lead.
Grade: B-
LB Jacob Rodriguez
Jacob Rodriguez was credited with stopping Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker on a 4th-and-1 inside Miami's red zone. It was Miami's first stop in the first half after allowing six scores.
The first interception of Rodriguez's career came near the end of the first half. It was on a downfield play following a tip into the air by rookie safety Dante Trader. Rodriguez began the play near the line of scrimmage and ended up diving to complete the interception way down the field.
Grade: A
WR Chris Bell
Bell started for the Dolphins. Caleb Douglas (ankle) missed this game.
Bell has a 7-yard catch over the middle for a first-quarter first down.
Bell had a catch-and-run of 44 yards from Willis in the second quarter. Bell is a strong player capable of making big gains after catch.
Through three quarters, Bell had 4 catches for 67 yards, picking up slack for fellow rookie Caleb Douglas, who missed the game with an ankle injury.
Bell had an illegal shift that negated a touchdown pass to Malik Washington that could have tied the score at 14 early in the second half.
Grade: A
TE Will Kacmarek
TE Will Kacmarek was called for holding on a screen pass in the first quarter.
Kacmarek had a red zone catch wiped out by a penalty on Austin Jackson.
Grade: C+
S Michael Taaffe
Safety Michael Taaffe was one of three players in pursuit of a wide-open Travis Kelce, who caught a 48-yard pass from Patrick Mahomes on the first play of the game.
The Dolphins got their first sack of the season, from Jordyn Brooks, but rookie S Michael Taaffe was flagged for illegal contact on Travis Kelce in the second quarter, negating a third-down stop in Miami's red zone.
Johnson and Taaffe were in coverage in a passing touchdown to Travis Kelce that gave the Chiefs a late 24-10 lead.
Grade: C
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and Threads and X at @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Rookie WR Chris Bell makes plays for Dolphins vs. Chiefs
