NFL Recap: The Dolphins Hang 70 on Denver While Setting Total Offense Record

September 26, 2023 by CollegeFootballPoll.com Staff

The Miami Dolphins scored the most points by an NFL team in modern history, but tied for the third-most all-time, in a 70-20 blowout victory over the Denver Broncos on Sunday. In the process, the Dolphins racked up an all-time record of 726 yards on offense, became only the second team in NFL history to put up 700 yards of offense in a game.

The LA Rams had held the total offense record since September 28, 1951 when they amassed 722 yards in a 54-14 win over the New York Yanks. (History of the Yanks). That game also produced the NFL record for most yards by both teams with 1,289. That puts this past Sunday's game at exactly 200 yards behind the record total.

The Dolphins missed their chance at tying the all-time points record of 73 by opting to give the ball back on downs with 33 second to play when they were faced with a 4th and 14 at the Denver 27 after having a first down at the 20. A touchdown and successful PAT would have put the afternoon's output at the top of the charts with 77.

Instead, the points record will remain with the Chicago Bears who dumped Washington 73-0 in the 1940 NFL Championship game on December 8, 1940, a full year and a day before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that would force America to officially join World War 2. There was a combined 750 yards of offense in that game with Chicago outgaining Washington 519-231. Four different players on the Bears threw a total of 10 passes with 7 completed for 138 yards and 1 touchdown. But the team racked up 381 yards on the ground with 7 rushing touchdowns by 7 different players. Chicago scored on three pick-6's in the third quarter.

Ironically, No. 2 on the list of points scored belongs to the Washington Redskins when they defeated the New York Giants 72-41 on November 27, 1966. The losers actually outgained the winners 389-341 for a combined total of 730 yards. G-Men quarterbacks threw 5 picks that day as Tom Kennedy was intercepted 3 times and Gary Wood twice. Meanwhile, Washington's Sonny Jurgensen threw just 16 passes while completing 10 for 145 yards and 3 TD's. The Gogolak brothers, Pete (NYG) and Charlie (WASH), were the place kickers for each team. You can find a lot of other interesting stats about that game here.

Now, the Dolphins are tied with the LA Rams who dumped the Baltimore Colts 70-27 on October 22, 1950. The Rams outgained the Colts 535 yards to 423. The teams combined for 10 turnovers as the Colts threw 4 picks and fumbled twice, while the Rams tossed 3 interceptions and fumbled once. The quarterbacks in that game were Y.A. Tittle (BAL) and Norm Van Brocklin (LAR).

Weekend Tidbits

A pair of Monday night games wrapped up week 3 with Cincinnati toppling the LA Rams 19-16 at home, and Philadelphia picking up a 25-11 win at Tampa Bay.

Joe Burrow got the start for Cincinnati, despite still recovering from the lingering effects of a calf injury that occurred during training camp and was re-aggravated last week. The Bengals avoid an 0-3 start to the season while the Rams fall to 1-2. Matthew Stafford was intercepted twice and sacked six time, but managed to throw a 1-yard scoring pass to Tutu Atwell with just over a minute left in the game to draw within 3 points, but Mitchell Wilcox fell on the ensuing onside kick to put the game away.

Jalen Hurts and the Eagles improved to 3-0, joining Miami and San Francisco with the NFL's only remaining perfect records. Hurts accounted for both touchdowns with a 34-yard TD pass to Olamide Zaccheaus for a 10-3 lead in the second quarter, and a 1-yard run in the third extended the lead to 20-3 with 9:12 to play in the 3rd quarter. Philly added a safety and a field goal for a 25-3 advantage before Tampa Bay got its only touchdown with 9:22 left to play in the game. Nicholas Morrow scored the safety by tackling Rachaad White in the endzone on a Tampa Bay 1st-and-10 from inside their own 1-yard line with 3:40 to go in the third.

Four teams have yet to celebrate a victory. Minnesota and Chicago are both 0-3 in the NFC North, and Carolina is 0-3 and behind a 3-team logjam at 2-1 in the NFC South. Denver is the only team on the AFC side without a victory, dropping to 0-3 with that embarrassment in Miami.

Jimmy Garrapalo is in concussion protocol and the quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders is unlikely to see action at the LA Chargers on Sunday. Vegas fell to 1-2 with Sunday night's 23-18 loss to Pittsburgh.

Speaking of the Chargers, they will be without the services of 7-year veteran wide receiver Mike Williams for the rest of the season after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee. Williams had 121 yards and his first touchdown of the year before the injury occurred on an 11-yard reception late in the third quarter of the 28-24 win at Minnesota on Sunday. He finishes the season with 19 catches for 249 yards.

ATS Records

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