Dolphins Defense Stops Chiefs Cold Miami Posts 2nd Straight Win, Easing The Pressure On Shula

The Miami Dolphins and embattled coach Don Shula may yet make it to the playoffs.

Miami stopped Kansas City on downs three times, once in the final moments after Tamarick Vanover dropped a potential touchdown pass, and beat the Chiefs 13-6 Monday night.

The Dolphins (8-6) posted their second consecutive victory, easing the unprecedented public pressure Shula has faced recently and setting up a showdown Sunday at snowy Buffalo. Miami trails the AFC East-leading Bills by one game with two to play.

“That’s a win we had to have, and we got it,” Shula said. “We’re headed in the right direction.”

As Shula left the field, he walked through a tunnel and under a sign reading, “Shula Is God.” He waved to the fans, who threw confetti on him.

“He’s our leader, our general,” cornerback Terrell Buckley said. “Any time you mess with our general, you’re messing with us. We have to stand up and fight for our general.”

Kansas City (11-3), which has already won the AFC West, missed a chance to clinch a first-round bye in the playoffs. The Chiefs still have the NFL’s best record, but they’ve now lost four straight to Miami in the past three seasons.

Kansas City had a chance to tie or win the game when George Jamison recovered Bernie Parmalee’s fumble at the Miami 36 with 3-1/2 minutes left. Steve Bono scrambled for 11 yards on fourth and 8 to keep the drive alive.

But Vanover dropped a potential 9-yard touchdown pass on third down, and Bono’s fourth-down pass was broken up by Terrell Buckley with 1:31 to go.

Dolphins 13, Chiefs 6

Kansas City 0 0 0 6 - 6

Miami 6 7 0 0 - 13

First quarter

Mia-FG Stoyanovich 33, 5:29.

Mia-FG Stoyanovich 33, 13:30.

Second quarter

Mia-McDuffie 3 pass from Marino (Stoyanovich kick), 12:18.

Fourth quarter

KC-Slaughter 5 pass from Bono (kick failed), 9:56.

A-70,321.

KC Mia First downs 17 15 Rushes-yards 24-153 33-102 Passing 180 148 Punt Returns 4-26 1-9 Kickoff Returns 4-102 2-33 Interceptions Ret. 1-18 1-17 Comp-Att-Int 15-37-1 18-34-1 Sacked-Yards Lost 0-0 1-8 Punts 4-47 6-45 Fumbles-Lost 2-2 3-1 Penalties-Yards 5-51 6-56 Time of Possession 24:08 35:52

Individual statistics RUSHINGChiefs, Allen 16-88, Anders 4-51, Bono 1-11, Hill 2-3, Bennett 1-0. Dolphins, Parmalee 24-83, Kirby 8-21, Marino 1-(minus 2).

PASSINGChiefs, Bono 15-37-1-180. Dolphins, Marino 18-34-1-156.

RECEIVINGChiefs, Walker 4-56, Slaughter 4-48, Cash 4-41, Allen 2-7, Davis 1-28. Dolphins, Fryar 6-80, McDuffie 4-34, Byars 2-12, Parmalee 2-9, Kirby 2-6, M.Williams 1-13, Green 1-2.

MISSED FIELD GOALSKansas City, Elliott 44.