The Miami Dolphins scored their highest point total in an NFL game since 1966, dominating the Denver Broncos 70-20 on Sunday.
Rookie running back De’Von Achane racked up 203 rushing yards in the win.
Achane could hear the Hard Rock Stadium crowd chanting “three more points!” » on his team’s last offensive play. The Dolphins had the ball at the Broncos’ 30-yard line with less than a minute to play.
The Dolphins set a team record for points and finished the game two short of the NFL regular season record, set in 1966 by Washington (now called the Commanders), who scored 72 points against the New York Giants. York.
Instead of sending in their kicker to potentially break the all-time record, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel instead opted to run out the final seconds of the game with a knee on the ground.
“It felt like we were chasing points and a record,” McDaniel said. That’s not what we came to play for. »
The Dolphins are the fourth team in the NFL to score at least 70 points in a regular season or playoff game.
Several players were removed before the end of the game as a preventative measure, early in the fourth quarter, including quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and star wideout Tyreek Hill.
Achane caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Tagovailoa, the quarterback’s fourth of the game, in the fourth quarter. Jason Sanders then converted the score to make it 56-13 and improve the team record of 55 points, which was achieved on November 24, 1977.
“To score 70 points is crazy,” said Achane, who along with running back Raheem Mostert totaled eight touchdowns. It’s like a video game statistic. »
“To be able to score 70 points, I think it will make several teams understand that we are not easy prey,” said Mostert.
Hill caught a 54-yard touchdown pass on the Dolphins’ first play, finishing with 157 yards and nine catches.
The Dolphins scored a touchdown on eight of their first nine offensive drives, before seeing Mike White replace Tagovailoa in the fourth quarter.
Achane finished the game with an average of 11.3 yards per carry. He also managed a 67-yard run into the end zone in the fourth quarter, bringing his team’s total points to 70. Achane made it 14-0 in the first quarter with the help of an eight-yard run for the touchdown.
Quarterback Russell Wilson started a season 0-3 for the first time in his career.
Alanis Thames, Associated Press
The Packers win 18-17 against the Saints
PHOTO JEFFREY PHELPS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Green Bay Packers defender Kingsley Enagbare (55) and cornerback Keisean Nixon (25)
Jordan Love guided the Packers to a comeback in the fourth quarter and the Green Bay team got the better of the New Orleans Saints by a score of 18-17 on Sunday.
In his first career start at home, Love helped his team erase a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter. This comeback began when the Saints lost quarterback Derek Carr to a shoulder injury.
“It’s always how the game ends,” Love said. It felt really good in the end, that’s all I can say. »
The Packers (2-1) scored 18 points in the final 11 minutes of the game and won an 11e home opener in a row, which is the longest active streak in the NFL. They took the lead when Love threw an eight-yard touchdown pass to Romeo Doubs with 2:56 remaining.
Carr’s backup, Jameis Winston, got the Saints (2-1) into position to score, but Blake Grupe’s 46-yard field goal attempt went wide to the right of the posts. It was Grupe’s first missed field goal in seven attempts.
“One day you’re a hero and the next day you’re the villain,” Grupe observed. I played well in the preseason matches and had a good start to the season. The guys did the job today and I have to be better. »
The Saints led 17-0 when Carr injured his shoulder in the third quarter on one of Rashan Gary’s three sacks. The table was therefore set for Love to begin a comeback worthy of his predecessor, Aaron Rodgers.
Love was making his fourth career NFL start, taking over for Rodgers. The four-time league MVP winner was traded to the New York Jets this offseason.
Love completed 22 of his 44 passes for 259 yards. He threw a touchdown pass and an interception in addition to scoring a major on the ground.
Love’s teammates said he remained calm, even though the Packers still hadn’t scored going into the fourth quarter.
“If you look at the cameras, if you observe him in the huddle, before the game starts, his calm is extraordinary,” Doubs said. It’s a personality trait that I continue to emphasize regarding him because any other quarterback would have lost their mind in such a situation. »
The Packers became the third team in the last 30 years to win after being shut out by at least 17 points after three quarters. The Carolina Panthers, against the Philadelphia Eagles on October 21, 2018, and the Tennessee Titans, against the New York Giants on November 26, 2006, are the others.
Anders Carlson’s 38-yard field goal with 11 minutes left got the ball rolling for the Packers.
On their next possession, Love faked the handoff to Patrick Taylor before crossing the yard himself which separated him from the end zone. Love then connected with Samori Toure on the two-point convert with 6:58 left.
The Packers forced a Saints punt after three unsuccessful plays and took the ball back at their own 20 with 5:23 remaining. A 24-yard run by Love and a 30-yard pass to Jayden Reed set up the game-winning touchdown.
Winston threw a 28-yard pass to Chris Olave and connected with him again two plays later to put the Saints in position to attempt a field goal.
Steve Megargee, Associated Press