Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes carves up the Dolphins with play-action as Kansas City rolls to 3-0

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed all but four of his passes against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

He was even better when it was a play-action pass.

Mahomes was perfect on all 14 of those attempts, and more than 200 of his 246 yards passing along with one of his two TD passes came after freezing the Dolphins with a fake handoff. The success was representative of two things that have become evident in the Chiefs' 3-0 start: Kenneth Walker III has added some balance to the Chiefs, and Mahomes and his knee are feeling just fine.

Walker, the Super Bowl MVP with Seattle, had another productive day on the ground, running 18 times for 70 yards and a score in Kansas City's 24-10 win over Miami. Mahomes wound up 20 of 24 through the air in the game, and he wasn't sacked once.

“I thought we handled the pass game pretty good,” coach Andy Reid said Monday. “We didn't have a ton of plays. We were in the 40s on that, and normally you're a little higher, the 60s and 70s area. But I thought the way it balanced out, you know, (Walker) was able to still have a productive day in the run game and pass game, but it opened up some things.”

That must have been a refreshing feeling for Kansas City.

When the Chiefs have been at their best with Mahomes at quarterback, they've been able to run the ball at least a little bit. Damien Williams provided some balance during their first Super Bowl title, and Isiah Pacheco did enough to keep defenses honest in back-to-back championship seasons — and neither of them will ever be confused with Walker in the backfield.

But the Chiefs knew the past couple of seasons that their running game — or lack thereof — had been dragging them down, and it was not just because of the production on the ground. Defenses were able to sit back in deep shell coverages, and that allowed them to key on Mahomes, effectively shutting down what had once been one of the league's premier passing games.

That's no longer the case. And it's been noticeable.

“I think people look at the stats and they see the touchdowns that Kenneth has and Emmett (Johnson) when they’re running the ball, and the run game that we’re doing. But I don’t think they really understand how the play-action and the movements and stuff like that has really opened up in our offense," Mahomes said, “and that’s a credit to them. That’s a credit to the offensive line, firing off the ball, run and pass. Something we have to continue to get better at marrying as the year goes on.”

For the third straight week, Mahomes has gotten just about everyone involved in the passing game. He completed 20 passes to eight different players, including each of his top four wide receivers. Rashee Rice led the way with seven catches for 88 yards.

The Chiefs had the ball for only about 25 minutes, and the 49 plays they ran were nearly 20 fewer than Miami. It may be a quibble in the grand scheme of things, but the Chiefs would much rather control the ball throughout the course of a game.

First-round draft pick Mansoor Delane played only a few snaps in the opener before hurting his shoulder while making an interception, and the defensive back dressed but did not play in Week 2. He finally made it through a full game and was everything the Chiefs hoped he'd be as the No. 6 overall selection, finishing with 10 tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass defensed.

The Chiefs' pass rush looked good the first two weeks of the season, but they struggled against fleet-footed Miami quarterback Malik Willis. They logged only one quarterback hit without a sack while allowing Willis to run for a team-high 56 yards.

FS Chamarri Conner (knee) returned to practice last week but did not play Sunday, and Reid said Monday it's looking promising for him to be on the field this weekend in Las Vegas. LT Josh Simmons (back) remains out, with no word on when he'll return to practice.

360 – Walker has run for 360 yards through the Chiefs' first three games. That's second in franchise history to the 401 yards that Kareem Hunt had in 2017 for the most through three games since the AFL-NFL merger.

The Chiefs have beaten the Raiders in nine of the last 11 meetings. But they lost the most recent matchup 14-12 on Jan. 4 in Las Vegas.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III scores a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Miami Gardens. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) looks to throw the ball during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Miami Gardens. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) looks to pass during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Miami Gardens. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) talks with Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Miami Gardens. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

NEW YORK (AP) — Days before the start of what could be Major League Baseball's last postseason for a while, Carlos Rodón was prepared for a long lockout if owners keep their salary cap proposal on the bargaining table.

“We won't play. I'm going to be frank with you,” the New York Yankees pitcher said. “I'm not worried about it. They should be worried about it. There’s a lot of money on us playing baseball. That’s why they pay us a lot.”

Baseball's five-year labor contract expires Dec. 1 and management is expected to impose a lockout that would stop trades and free-agent signings, then potentially threaten the start of spring training workouts on Feb. 9 and opening day on March 24.

When management last proposed a cap, it sparked a 7 1/2-month strike in 1994 and '95 that led to the first cancellation of the World Series in 90 years. MLB says a cap is needed to alleviate economic disparity, highlighting that no low-revenue team has won the title since the 2015 Kansas City Royals.

“The salary cap and floor proposal levels the playing field, allowing us greater flexibility to address longstanding player priorities while sharing baseball revenue with the players 50/50,” MLB spokesman Glen Caplin said.

Owners would also gain more financial certainty with a cap, which likely would spark an increase in franchise values.

Players point out teams with low payrolls, Milwaukee and Tampa Bay, had the best regular-season records in their leagues this season.

“Despite MLB claiming they need a salary cap because small-market teams supposedly have no hope, we see Milwaukee with the best record in baseball for the second straight year and Tampa with the best record in the AL," union head Bruce Meyer said. “Milwaukee, of course, is 30th out of 30 in our market-size rankings.”

While this would be MLB's 10th work stoppage, the sport hasn't lost any regular-season games since the 1994-95 strike. Baseball players say they will never accept a cap similar to those that have been in the NFL since 1994, the NBA since 1984-85 and the NHL since 2005-06. Nine of the 10 biggest sports contracts by total value in North America belong to MLB players.

“For me the biggest thing is doing right for the generations forward because the generations before me, for the decades before, they’ve fought for our rights today,” Baltimore first baseman Pete Alonso said. “That’s a sacrifice that not just myself but other men around the league are willing to fight for and put up with.”

MLB's proposal would cap team spending next year at $245.3 million, using figures for luxury tax payrolls that include an estimated $23 million for benefits and the pre-arbitration bonus pool. It also would establish a payroll floor of $171.2 million for 2027 but teams could drop as low as $154.1 million and make up the difference over the following two years. The New York Mets' opening day payroll in 2026 was over $352 million.

Contracts would be limited by service time: $500 million and 12 years for those yet to make major league debuts down to $265 million and six years for free-agent-eligible players. It would outlaw megadeals like outfielder Juan Soto's record $765 million, 15-year contract with the Mets.

While MLB proposed to split revenues 50-50, the union says that would lead to a massive decrease in money to players because of the way revenues and expenses are defined and the player portion is calculated. In addition, an escrow provision to set salaries aside in case the players' defined revenue share is above 50% means money in guaranteed contracts could be forfeited.

MLB as part of a cap system would agree to drop service time for free agent eligibility for some players from six years of service to five and to eliminate qualifying offers, but the union maintains that would shift money among players under a cap rather than increase spending.

Alonso would lose $165,775 next year for each regular-season day missed and Rodón would forfeit $144,385.

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani would give up $374,331 daily and Soto $227,273.

At the other end of the salary scale, players making MLB's proposed $900,000 minimum would lose $4,813 daily. Among the 1,366 players on rosters as of Monday, 549 (40%) started 2026 with less than one year of service time and 893 (65%) had less than three years. Players aren't eligible for salary arbitration until they've completed three seasons, with some exceptions.

Some players are protected financially because of signing bonuses that will continue to be paid during a work stoppage: Toronto first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is due $14 million on June 30 as part of his $325 million contract, though he would give up $74,866 daily in salary.

Tony Clark, the former All-Star first baseman who headed the union since 2013, was forced out in February and replaced by Meyer, his deputy and chief negotiator in 2021-22.

Baltimore pitcher Chris Bassitt, a member of the union's eight-man executive subcommittee, said there had been a transformation this year in communications within the players' association. The subcommittee and the 30 team player representatives form the executive council that makes union decisions.

“Our last CBA from a player’s side was not internally handled great. I think the structure was very archaic, so to speak, like an old-school approach,” he said. “We have made it our mission to kind of get all 30 clubs — 30 reps that genuinely care. And then not just 30 reps that genuinely care, but 30 reps that are making sure all their players are very informed."

When players and MLB agreed to a deal on March 10, 2022, that ended the lockout, the executive subcommittee voted 8-0 against accepting it, but the team player representatives favored the agreement by 26-4.

The vast majority of the 1,200 players on 40-man rosters when the lockout starts will not have salary arbitration or free agency rights and will have 2027 salaries under $1 million.

“Their voices matter, what they’re feeling, what they're thinking,” Bassitt said. “When I came in the league it was — I’m going to say it plainly — but it was like: `Rookie shut up and sit in the corner and the veterans are going to take care of this.' I don’t think that's a possible avenue to go down anymore. I think the league’s too young, first and foremost. Second, I think the only way to have veteran guys that are informed and understand the process is to start the education process from day one.”

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Baltimore Orioles' Pete Alonso rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodon reacts after the final out in the top half of the seventh inning during the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Tampa Bay Rays, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)