MIAMI GARDENS — When the Miami Dolphins are clicking on all cylinders, they’re really good. Record-breaking good.
The Dolphins, after a 2-0 start against tough teams on the road, returned to Hard Rock Stadium to treat their fans to a franchise record for points in a dominant, all-around 70-20 win over the Denver Broncos in their home opener Sunday afternoon.
The 70 points top the Dolphins’ previous record of 55, set on Nov. 24, 1977 against the St. Louis Cardinals. It was two shy of the NFL record of 72, established by Washington in 1966.
Their 726 total yards of offense were another franchise record and just short of the NFL record of 735, set by the 1951 Rams. Miami’s 350 rushing yards as a team were also a team record.
“I was most proud of the unrelenting nature,” coach Mike McDaniel said.
The Dolphins could have broken league marks for both scoring and yards after undrafted rookie running back Chris Brooks’ 52-yard run late got the team into field goal range. But even as fans chanted “Three more points!” McDaniel opted to have backup quarterback Mike White kneel on fourth down after runs on earlier downs were stopped.
“It felt like chasing points and chasing a record,” McDaniel said afterward. “That’s not what we came to the game to do. That doesn’t have a bearing on the overall season outcome.
“I saw it as, 10 times out of 10, you concede and kneel down in those situations. Because there was an attainable record, that was cool, but the message that I thought it would send wasn’t really in line with how I view things.”
McDaniel added that team captains were in agreement on the sideline.
“It’s about respect in the NFL,” said quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who threw four touchdown passes Sunday.
Miami is off to a 3-0 start in a second consecutive season for the first time since doing so from 1994 to 1996. With the victory over the winless Broncos (0-3), the Dolphins are now 9-1 all time in home games against Denver.
Tagovailoa was hot from the start, completing his first 17 passes, a new personal best, and finished 23 of 26 for 309 yards and four touchdowns. His day was done early in the fourth quarter.
“I wasn’t feeling anything,” he said. “I was just trying to find the open guy and just go through my progressions.”
But even he was outdone by the running back tandem of veteran Raheem Mostert and rookie De’Von Achane. Each scored four touchdowns.
Achane, in his first significant professional action since being drafted in the third round, capped his afternoon with a 67-yard burst that exhibited his elite speed and gave him 203 rushing yards. Achane had two touchdowns rushing and got his other two scores on shovel passes from Tagovailoa.
“Our offense is speed,” said Achane, who set Miami’s rookie rushing record. “You’ve got weapons everywhere from receiver, running back, QB. I mean, if we go out there and we’re all clicking on all cylinders, I feel like that’s something.”
Mostert’s four total touchdowns was a regular-season high for the 31-year-old running back that matches a postseason mark he set in the 2019 NFC Championship Game with the San Francisco 49ers. Mostert had 13 carries for 82 yards, three touchdowns on the ground and another receiving score as he added seven receptions for 60 yards.
“To put 70 points on somebody,” Mostert said, “it just speaks volumes of our offense.”
Tyreek Hill, with fellow star receiver Jaylen Waddle out in the concussion protocol, caught nine passes for 157 yards and a touchdown.
The Miami defense forced three turnovers as safety Jevon Holland forced two fumbles — recovered by Andrew Van Ginkel and Kader Kohou — and defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah intercepted a pass that was tipped at the line of scrimmage by Da’Shawn Hand.
“If the ball is not going to be thrown to me or I can’t get my hands on it, then I’m going to force it out,” Holland said. “That’s my thought process.”
The Dolphins offense started with a blur. On the third play from scrimmage, Tagovailoa hit a wide-open Hill streaking deep across the middle for a 54-yard touchdown that had Hill leaping into a fan area. As the Broncos were without Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons, replacement Delarrin Turner-Yell bit on an underneath route, vacating his deep zone. Hill outran opposite safety Kareem Jackson for the touchdown.
After a quick three-and-out, Miami scored again, marching 81 yards in nine plays with the 5-foot-8, 188-pound Achane breaking tackles to dive into the end zone. He ran to the left, behind tackle Terron Armstead, the Dolphins’ Pro Bowl lineman that made his season debut Sunday after missing the team’s first two games.
The Broncos responded late in the first quarter to cut the 14-0 deficit in half. Wilson bought time, rolled right and found Courtland Sutton pivoting from his in-cutting route back outside to escape the coverage of cornerback Xavien Howard for the 12-yard touchdown.
The Dolphins went right back to work on their third offensive series. They overcame a pair of holding penalties from center Connor Williams by continuing to reel off big chunks of yardage to extend the drive. It was capped by Tagovailoa’s masterful no-look shovel pass from the 4-yard line to Achane for the rookie’s second touchdown. Williams left later with a groin injury.
“That’s just the play that they put in, and when I did it in practice, everyone thought, ‘Oh, that was super cool,’ ” Tagovailoa said. “Especially, with the helmet cam, you can watch it again, and they’re like, ‘You’ve got to do that in a game.’ ”
Added Achane: “At practice, he did that, and then my coach was like, ‘Just make sure you be steady, because he’s not looking.’ We’re just making it easy for each other.”
With Miami up, 21-10, McDaniel nearly gave the Broncos momentum by failing on a fourth-and-inches from the Miami side of the field with fullback Alec Ingold stuffed at the line. The Dolphins defense, though, held.
Then, Mostert scored touchdowns 20 seconds apart late in the first half.
He took a run to the right all the way from 20 yards out, diving inside the pylon. After Holland forced the first of his two fumbles and outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel recovered it for a return to the 3-yard line, Mostert again punched it in for the score on the next offensive play.
The Broncos drove before halftime but settled for a field goal. Miami led, 35-13, at the half.
Then, Mostert scored twice more in the third quarter, once from a yard out and later from 19 yards out.
Achane’s second shovel pass touchdown from Tagovailoa came on the first play of the fourth quarter. This time, Tagovailoa looked at his target.
Backup Mike White entered, and threw deep to practice-squad elevation Robbie Chosen, who burned Patrick Surtain II for 68-yard touchdown. The three parties involved on the play were all Broward County high school football products with White from University School, Chosen a South Plantation alum and Surtain, the son of the former Dolphins cornerback of the same name, out of American Heritage.
After Denver returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown, Achane got his fourth touchdown, a blazing sprint from 67 yards away on inside zone. He called it his favorite touchdown of the afternoon.
Ogbah got the Dolphins’ lone sack Sunday, but Miami hit Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson 12 times — including three from defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and two by linebacker Jerome Baker.
Wilson finished 23 of 38 for 306 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Miami outgained Denver, 726-363.
Tagovailoa, after defeating Broncos coach Sean Payton, has now set an NFL record with his 10th consecutive win over a Super Bowl-winning coach.
The Dolphins now get set for a big AFC East showdown with the Buffalo Bills, next Sunday in Orchard Park, New York.
Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert runs with the ball against the Denver Broncos during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Sep. 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert runs with the ball against the Denver Broncos during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Sep. 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert rolls into the end zone for a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Sep. 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa gestures before a play against the Denver Broncos during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Sep. 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa looks to throw against the Denver Broncos during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Sep. 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa throws against the Denver Broncos during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Sep. 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill runs for yards after a catch against the Denver Broncos during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Sep. 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill runs for yards after a catch against the Denver Broncos during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Sep. 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa congratulates wide receiver Tyreek Hill after a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Sep. 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins running back Devon Achane runs with the ball against the Denver Broncos during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Sep. 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane runs into the end zone for a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Sep. 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins running back Devon Achane is congratulated by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa after scoring a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Sep. 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins running back Devon Achane celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Sep. 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa gestures before a play against the Denver Broncos during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Sep. 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa throws against the Denver Broncos during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Sep. 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa throws against the Denver Broncos during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Sep. 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins running back Devon Achane dives into the end zone for another touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Sep. 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins running back Devon Achane celebrates with teammates after scoring another touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa celebrates after a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Sep. 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Fans cheer as Miami Dolphins score against against the Denver Broncos during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Sep. 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert runs into the end zone for a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Sep. 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert runs into the end zone for a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Sep. 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Players from the Miami Dolphins celebrate after a touchdown by running back Raheem Mostert against the Denver Broncos during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Sep. 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins celebrate after a touchdown by running back Raheem Mostert against the Denver Broncos during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday.(John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
