Instant takeaways: Dolphins demolish Broncos with franchise-record performance
MIAMI GARDENS — Head coach Mike McDaniel and the 2023 Miami Dolphins etched their place in franchise history with a historic beatdown of the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
The Dolphins (3-0) demolished the Broncos 70-20 in Week 3, establishing a new franchise record for points in a single game.
Miami's previous single-game record was 55 points and stood since the Dolphins game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Nov. 24, 1977. The 70 points were the second most in NFL regular-season history.
The Dolphins became just the fourth team in NFL history to put up 70 points in a game and the first since 1966. They are the first team to put up 70 points since the 1970 merger.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa completed 23-of-26 passes for 309 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. He found star receiver Tyreek Hill on nine completions for 157 yards and a touchdown.
Miami's running back duo of De'Von Achane and Raheem Mostert combined for 375 yards and eight touchdowns.
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Game recap: Dolphins demolish Denver Broncos in 2023 home opener
The Dolphins travel to Buffalo next Sunday for an AFC East showdown while the Broncos fell to 0-3. Here are takeaways from Sunday's record-setting performance at Hard Rock Stadium:
De'Von Achane, Raheem Mostert punish Broncos
Achane announced himself as a presence in the Dolphins' talented backfield in Miami's explosive victory.
The rookie's second regular-season carry went for 26 yards and he finished the drive with a physical 8-yard rush that gave the Dolphins a 14-0 advantage. Mostert was also heavily involved in the Dolphins' opening two drives, both as a ball carrier and pass catcher.
Both players were central to the Dolphins' breakaway second quarter. Achane had a long touchdown run wiped out by a holding penalty against center Connor Williams, but a few plays later, caught a nifty inside pass from Tagovailoa and fought through Denver defenders to give Miami a 21-7 lead.
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Mostert then helped the Dolphins pile on with touchdown runs of 20 and 3 yards to expand Miami's lead from 11 to 25 points in the final two minutes of the first half.
The duo combined to average 8.1 yards per carry in the half with four touchdowns.
Mostert finished with 82 rushing yards and three rushing scores but also caught seven passes for 60 yards and a receiving score. Achane posted 128 rushing yards and one rushing score. He also caught four passes for 30 yards and two receiving touchdowns - both on shovel passes from Tua.
Tua Tagovailoa chases perfection
Tagovailoa completed his first 17 passes on Sunday as the Miami offense had its way with the Broncos defense.
His first misses came on the Dolphins' first drive of the third quarter as he narrowly missed a wheel route pass to Tyreek Hill and end zone passes to tight end Julian Hill and Tyreek Hill. On fourth down, the Dolphins still found the end zone as Mostert plunged in for his third rushing touchdown.
With Jaylen Waddle sitting out due to being in the concussion protocol, Tyreek Hill received the glut of targets.
Vic Fangio's defense shines with turnovers against former team
The Miami defense helped shove momentum in the Dolphins favor late in the first half as safety Jevon Holland forced a fumble in Denver territory. Linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel recovered and rumbled inside the Denver 5-yard line.
The turnover set up a Mostert 3-yard touchdown carry one play later that gave Miami a 35-10 advantage.
Van Ginkel was originally expected to be mainly involved as a special teams contributor this season but has emerged as an impact player at linebacker the last two games.
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Sutton was stripped by Holland once again after a long reception in the third quarter. The fumble was recovered by Kader Kohou and ended another promising Denver drive.
Emmanuel Ogbah grabbed the Dolphins final takeaway of the afternoon as he intercepted a Russell Wilson pass deflected by the Miami defensive line and returned it for a touchdown.
Penalties, short-yardage failure only blemishes for offensive line
Miami's offensive line provided another day of clean pockets for Tagovailoa as the Dolphins' signal caller was not sacked by the Broncos.
The Dolphins have allowed one sack of Tagovailoa in the season's first 11 quarters under offensive line coach Butch Barry, who was fired by the Denver Broncos after his position group led the NFL in sacks allowed last season. Tagovailoa did not play the fourth quarter on Sunday.
Williams, who has had snap issues over the first two weeks of the season, was penalized for holding twice on the first drive of the second quarter. The second penalty erased a long touchdown run by Achane.
Williams exited the game in the third quarter with a groin injury.
Later in the quarter, the Dolphins offensive line failed in short yardage as fullback Alec Ingold was stopped on third and fourth-and-1 inside Miami territory. The Dolphins led 21-10 at the time of the turnover on downs, though Denver failed to capitalize on the ensuing possession.
Miami's offensive line redeemed itself, however, in the third quarter as the Dolphins converted a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line for Mostert's third rushing touchdown of the afternoon.
Veteran offensive lineman Terron Armstead made his 2023 debut on Sunday after missing the first two games with back, knee and ankle injuries.
Secondary balances Cam Smith, Eli Apple injuries
Dolphins started Xavien Howard and Kohou at cornerback while using Justin Bethel and Parry Nickerson as extra defensive backs ahead of Eli Apple, who struggled last week.
Howard allowed a touchdown to wide receiver Courtland Sutton on a Wilson scramble in the first quarter for the Broncos' opening touchdown. He lost Sutton in the end zone again later in the half but the veteran wide receiver was unable to make the diving touchdown grab.
It was another slow start for the veteran, who's committed too many penalties early in the 2023 season while trying to bounce back from a subpar 2022 campaign.
With Miami's lead well in-hand in the fourth quarter, Apple was evaluated by medical staff pursuant to the concussion protocol. Rookie cornerback Cam Smith was inactive Sunday with an injury.
Eric J. Wallace is deputy sports editor for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at ejwallace@gannett.com.