Week 3 Takeaways: A Miami Masterpiece 🐬

09/25/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

In NFL Sunday of Blowouts, Underdogs & Taylor Swift, the Dolphins Scored the Most Points in an NFL Game Since 1966

On a day with a Dolphins’ record-setting performance, a Cowboys upset, and blowouts aplenty, it was Taylor Swift who stole Sunday. But I won’t let her steal the A-block in today’s newsletter. The biggest news wins (I don’t get to choose what’s newsworthy), and the Swift-Kelce story has a life of its own. Personally, the Dolphins’ 70-point, scoreboard lighting strike was the bigger sports story if you ask me. If you don’t click our highlight links all that often, change your mind on this one (below). Putting up 10 touchdowns in the NFL is unheard of, and Miami didn’t have WR Jaylen Waddle on the field, either. This week’s power rankings are sure to have a new top team. If you’re 3-0 and you score 70 — what is this, basketball? — you become No. 1. Let’s run it back from Week 3 Sunday before we’re treated to a doubleheader of recent Super Bowl teams on Monday Night Football.

Sorry, T-Swift fans. You’re only hijacking one paragraph in today’s newsletter.

Top-3 Storylines From Week 3

1. Dolphins’ Offense Explodes for 70 Points

In the early slate of games, all eyes were on Miami as the Dolphins put up video game numbers against the Broncos. QB Tua Tagovailoa threw for 309 yards and 4 TDs while RBs Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane had 4 TDs apiece (5 rushing, 3 receiving). Apiece! That’s eight total. Miami finished the day with 726 yards of total offense and 10 touchdowns. Their 70 points scored were the most in an NFL game in 57 years (1966) — the most in the Super Bowl era. What a masterpiece for the Dolphins.

2. Cardinals Stun Cowboys in Arizona (28-16)

In Sunday’s matchup between our No. 1 team and No. 32 team in the power rankings, the No. 32 team played spoiler. No one saw this coming. The Cardinals shocked the Cowboys with a steady run game (222 yards) and solid defense. Parity personified. Anybody can beat anybody in the NFL. Was this a fluke game for the Cowboys? Or is Arizona starting to play complete football?

3. Chiefs, Kelce Win Big in T-Swift’s Day at Arrowhead

The biggest story that got the most eyeballs on Sunday was a story beyond the gridiron in a blowout, and it had little to do with actual football. The Chiefs buried the Bears — and possibly Justin Fields’ career (11/22, 99 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) — with a 41-10 blowout that was 41-0 before they called off the dogs. So why was this game so important? Taylor Swift. The pop-star was in attendance amid rumors that she’s dating Chiefs TE Travis Kelce, and she was seated next to Donna Kelce in a suite. Congrats, Chiefs. Two Super Bowls in four years wasn’t enough. Now, you officially have the biggest fan base in the world.

Week 3 Scoreboard & Highlights

49ers def. Giants (30-12)

Colts def. Ravens (22-19, OT)

Browns def. Titans (27-3)

Lions def. Falcons (20-6)

Packers def. Saints (18-17)

Texans def. Jaguars (37-17)

Dolphins def. Broncos (70-20)

Chargers def. Vikings (28-24)

Patriots def. Jets (15-10)

Bills def. Commanders (37-3)

Seahawks def. Panthers (37-27)