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Miami Dolphins safety DeShon Elliott (21) intercepts a pass in the end zone during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) ASSOCIATED PRESS

And avoid the frigid weather gripping the Midwest. The game in Kansas City is expected to be among the coldest in NFL history, and Miami has lost its past 10 games when the temperature is 40 degrees or lower at kickoff.

“The team will be fired up to go and embrace the challenge,” McDaniel said, “and there’s many layers to why it’s a challenge. For us in-house, we all believe in each other and want to get a losing taste out of our mouths. That’s the only objective.”

The Dolphins experienced the same losing taste in November, when the Chiefs beat them 21-14 in Germany.

“Previous games, wins, losses — they mean nothing. That has absolutely no bearing on what’s going to happen,” Chiefs safety Justin Reid said. “The best team is going to come out on top.”

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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane (28) runs with the football during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) ASSOCIATED PRESS

PLAYOFF PROSPECTS

Miami has won all three of its playoff games against the Chiefs, two wild-card matchups and a divisional-round game in 1971 that remains the longest game in NFL history. But the Dolphins’ more recent playoff history has been bleak. They’ve not won a game since Dec. 30, 2000, when they beat the Colts in overtime, and they have only one playoff road win since 1972.

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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) is tackled by Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey (5) and linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (43) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) ASSOCIATED PRESS

WHAT A RUSH

The Dolphins signed Melvin Ingram to the active roster and veterans Justin Houston and Bruce Irvin early in the week, hoping to fortify a pass rush decimated by injuries. Jaelan Phillips tore his Achilles tendon and Bradley Chubb is out with a torn ACL, while linebackers Andrew Van Ginkel, Jerome Baker and Cameron Goode have been placed on injured reserve.

“It’s really a special room to have this many good rushers on the same team at one time, so a lot of knowledge,” said Irvin, who was recently released from Detroit’s practice squad. “Hopefully we can be together longer than one week.”

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A fan holds up a sign during the second half of an NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs won 25-17 to clinch the AFC West. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) ASSOCIATED PRESS

OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK

The Dolphins are optimistic that wide receiver Jaylen Waddle will be back from a high ankle sprain and running back Raheem Mostert from an ankle injury after each missed the past two games. They will also have De’Von Achane available against Kansas City after the speedy running back missed their game in Germany with a knee injury.

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