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Dolphins Find Pressure Valve, 13-6 : AFC: Miami eases turmoil surrounding Shula as defense has big game in victory over Kansas City.

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From Associated Press

The Miami Dolphins and embattled Coach Don Shula may yet make it into the playoffs.

Miami stopped Kansas City on downs three times and benefited from a dropped pass in the end zone by Tamarick Vanover in the final moments to defeat 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.”

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Kansas City (11-3) still has the NFL’s best record, but has now lost four consecutive games 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 eight to keep the drive alive, but Vanover dropped a potential nine-yard touchdown pass on third down, and Bono’s fourth-down pass was broken up by Terrell Buckley with 1:31 remaining.

Dan Marino threw for only 156 yards and one touchdown, but the Dolphin defense shut out the Chiefs for nearly 55 minutes. Miami’s first takeaways in five weeks set up two first-quarter field goals, and the Chiefs were stopped on two fourth-and-one plays in the third quarter.

“Our defense held them when we had to hold them,” Shula said. “It was a great effort.”

Tackle Tim Bowens led Miami’s defensive charge. He was in on both fourth-down tackles, forced two fumbles and recovered one for the Dolphins, who recovered three turnovers in the first quarter.

Bono, playing with a bruised throwing hand injured in the Chiefs’ previous game, completed only 15 of 37 passes for 180 yards. He completed a five-yard touchdown pass to Webster Slaughter with five minutes left to cap a 75-yard drive.

Kansas City linebacker Derrick Thomas sat out the game because of a groin injury.

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