The Miami Dolphins are getting set to battle the Kansas City Chiefs in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs on Saturday night, and they will enter the matchup with plenty of questions.

The Dolphins kind of backed into the postseason, going just 2-3 over their last five contests and blowing a three-game lead over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East in the process.

Miami’s offense has stalled, and its defense has shown some obvious cracks (particularly in its 56-19 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 17).

So, just how will the Dolphins manage against the defending champions?

Here are three burning questions for Miami against the Chiefs.

Will Raheem Mostert Be Healthy?

Raheem Mostert missed the Dolphins’ last two regular-season games due to knee and ankle issues. He has been practicing, but he is listed as questionable for Saturday evening.

Let’s assume that Mostert plays. Just how effective will he be?

Judging from the weather forecast for this game, where temperatures will be around zero degrees and the wind chill will make it feel like minus-30, the ground game will be very important for both sides.

Given that Miami ranked sixth in the NFL in rushing offense this season, you would think that plays into its favor, but not if Mostert is not 100 percent.

Now, if Mostert isn’t himself, the Dolphins do have rookie running back De’Von Achane, who lit it up with an insane 7.8 yards per carry this season (no, that is not a typo).

Still, there is no denying Mostert’s importance to Miami’s offense, and it’s worth noting that just a massive chunk of Achane’s production came between Weeks 3 and 5, where he accumulated 455 rushing yards.

Make no mistake: the Dolphins will need a healthy Mostert against the Chiefs.

Will Jaylen Waddle Be Good To Go?

Much like Mostert, Jaylen Waddle has missed the last couple of games as a result of an ankle injury.

Waddle’s absence certainly showed in Weeks 17 and 18, as the Dolphins managed just 33 points in a pair of losses to the Ravens and Buffalo Bills.

As Miami’s No. 2 receiver behind Tyreek Hill, Waddle is a critical part of the club’s high-octane offense and helps open the field for Tua Tagovailoa.

Obviously, because of the weather, the Dolphins probably won’t be throwing the ball too much this weekend, but when they do decide to pass, they will surely rely on a lot of short and intermediate routes.

If Waddle is on the field and healthy, he represents a rather dynamic option on those routes, as he can take a slant pattern and turn it into a 50-yard touchdown.

But if Waddle is compromised, it is going to rather severely alter a struggling Dolphins’ aerial attack that will be already be limited due to the bitter cold weather.

How Will Tua Tagovailoa Handle The Pressure?

This will be Tagovailoa’s biggest game since January 2019, when he led the University of Alabama to a national championship.

But this isn’t the NCAA. This is the NFL, and again, the weather will be a major factor.

Tagovailoa has become accustomed to playing in warm-weather climates like Tuscaloosa and South Beach, so playing in below-zero temperatures will likely be a shock to the system for the 25-year-old.

Not only that, but the Chiefs possess the second-ranked defense in the league, and they rank fourth in defending the pass. Additionally, they finished No. 2 in sacks.

When you factor in all of those variables, plus the fact that the Dolphins have some key offensive players banged up, this is a nightmare matchup for Tagovailoa, who will be playing in front of one of the most hostile crowds in the NFL.

We’ll probably be able to determine early on just how Tagovailoa handles the elements, and if he looks shaky in the first quarter, it might end up being a long afternoon for Miami’s offense.

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