We all heard the updates on Jaylen Waddle as reality set in that the Dolphins’ first-round pick and NFL star at wide receiver would not be able to play in the week three contest against the Denver Broncos.
Any doubts and misgivings we might have had now seem to have been just symptoms of overactive imaginations.
The Dolphins put up an obscene 70 points as they pulverized Denver by 50 points, racking up a final score of 70 to 20.
And this may not even be the best part. A new Miami Dolphins star made a name for himself on that given Sunday of September 24, 2023. De’Von Achane made it his business to shine as bright as anyone in a Dolphins uniform.
What took place on the morning of Sunday, September 24th became the talk of not only the NFL, but the sports world in general. Even legendary basketball coach Becky Hammon thought enough of it to bring it up at a press conference when her team, the Las Vegas Aces, of the WNBA clinched a berth in the finals. Immediately after the game, she declared that her Aces needed to bring more entertainment value as one of the league’s top performers on offense. She went on to say that scoring in the 60’s was more like an NFL game. Her thoughts came just a few days after the epic thrashing at Hard Rock Stadium.
The 726 total yards amassed were the second most in NFL history. The franchise benchmark for most points was previously set at 55 points. The Dolphins trounced that and just kept going. Tua completed 17 out of his first 17 passes and finished with five touchdown passes even though he didn’t play at all in the fourth quarter. His 17/17 streak was just one shy of the Dolphins all-time record set by quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Tua threw his first incomplete pass with 9:44 to go in the third quarter.
The home team’s scoring attack was nothing if not balanced; five touchdowns through the air and five on the ground. The Dolphins became the first team to score five passing touchdowns and five running touchdowns in the same game.
Can you blame the hometown crowd for chanting “three more points” in hopes of swaying the coaching staff to attempt a field goal that would have set the all-time single-game scoring record? In scoring 70, the Dolphins did put up the highest NFL single-game total since 1966.
With this flurry of multi-faceted scoring, it’s no wonder that Achane ebulliently declared in the postgame conference, “This team is capable of great things.” Even after finishing with 203 rushing yards of his own, De’Von Achane had great perspective after the game when the sound bite he offered the media centered on the team, not on any individual.
One of the fastest guys in the history of the game, Tyreek Hill, caught a 54-yard touchdown on the third play of the game. Fast forward to the two minute mark of the second quarter and Hill already had six catches for 122 yards. The Dolphins established a 21-10 lead. Just that in itself would have sounded like a very positive first-half result with halftime coming up for an offense playing without one of their biggest offensive threats in Jaylen Waddle.
Before the half ran out, the defense added two more touchdowns courtesy of feature running back, Raheem Mostert. In the third quarter, Mostert, in his second stint with the Dolphins, added yet another touchdown; the Dolphins had energy to spare and didn’t let up or settle at all. They used it to score yet another touchdown and thereafter to form a musical conga line and celebrate with otherworldly enthusiasm that would make the Brazilian World Cup soccer team proud.
How did that score differential balloon?
Miami struck the right balance between strategizing on the sidelines and performing on the field. Head coach Mike McDaniel also had his imprint on this game in many ways. His impact was especially felt when he opted to go for a fourth down in a most brazen style. He went for a fourth and goal even when his team was leading 35-13. Veteran running back Raheem Mostert, who is averaging 5.9 yards per game, was still sneaky good even in the midst of Achane’s breakout performance. By the third quarter, Mostert had scored three touchdowns. He would finish with four total and 82 yards on the ground.
Achane is a third round pick from Texas A&M that missed most of the preseason with a shoulder injury. He finally got a chance in week two as he took six snaps. Then Week 3 happened. Achane seemed to feast on a diet of long runs. He proved that, without a doubt, he was ready. “He’s like a sponge, the way he understands the concepts,” Mostert gushed.
It was De’Von breaking out for a monster 67 yard and an extra point that put the Dolphins at 70 points with eight minutes still to go. So far this season, the Dolphins have a 46.4% third down percentage. The Dolphins average 43.3 points per game and only 1 turnover.
Coming Attractions
This dominant performance by the Dolphins imbued the locker room with a sense of calm while Waddle completed the necessary protocol to make it back on the field. McDaniel declared, “We’ll worry about him getting right and that should take care of itself soon.”
The Dolphins tied the record for fourth place when it comes to the most points ever scored in an NFL game. “70 points is like a video game. I’ve never been on this side of it!” De’von Achane said. With so many stand-out performances, Tyreek Hill still managed to catch nine passes for 157 yards.
Many sports show hosts are asking their guests if the Dolphins are the best team in the league. The majority are awaiting the outcome of the Dolphins match up against the Buffalo Bills to totally legitimize Miami as a premiere Super Bowl contender. Sportscenter’s Stan Verrett, in addition to many voices of the sports world, are stating that they will wait and see if they should declare Miami the best after they witness the showdown against Buffalo, their AFC East rival. We need to keep tuning in to see if this game’s result will be a microcosm of Miami’s 2023 season.