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 just short of the NFL record of 735.
The Dolphins could have broken both marks after undrafted rookie running back Chris Brooks’ 52-yard run late. It got the team into field goal range, but even as fans chanted “Three more points!” coach Mike McDaniel opted to have backup quarterback Mike White kneel on fourth down after runs on earlier downs were stopped.
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.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa completed 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.
But even he was outdone by the running back tandem of veteran Raheem Mostert and rookie De’Von Achane. Each scored four touchdowns. The Dolphins finished with 350 rushing yards as a team.
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.
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.
Tyreek Hill, with fellow star receiver Jaylen Waddle out in 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.
The Dolphins offense started with a blur. On the third play from scrimmage, Tagovailoa hit a wide-open Tyreek 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 debuted 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.
With Miami up, 21-10, coach Mike 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 safety Jevon Holland forced a fumble 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.
Backup Mike White entered, and threw deep to practice-squad elevation Robbie Chosen, who burned Patrick Surtain II for 68-yard touchdown.
After Denver returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown, Achane got his fourth touchdown, a blazing sprint from 67 yards away.
The Dolphins now get set for a big AFC East showdown with the Buffalo Bills, next Sunday in Orchard Park, New York.
This story will be updated.
