Broncos vs Dolphins. The 20-70 on a Special Sunday
September 24, 2023. Just another day. A typical Sunday. A regular NFL Week 3. However, this wasn’t any regular Sunday. It was a historic Sunday, mainly because of the game between the Broncos vs Dolphins.
The clash between the Denver Broncos and the Miami Dolphins will be remembered in NFL history due to its astonishing and unexpected outcome. The scoreline, a staggering 70-20, will not only be imprinted in the memories of those who witnessed the game live, on TV, or via streaming, or even those who listened on the radio. It’s now part of NFL lore. Let’s delve into the details of the game.
Historic Stats
The game between the Broncos and the Dolphins yielded several noteworthy stats, which we can’t ignore. We’ll benchmark from the Super Bowl Era:
The Second Team to Score 70 Points
The Miami Dolphins became the second team in the Super Bowl Era to score 70 or more points in a single game. No team after the AFL-NFL merger had ever reached 70 points.
The first, and only other team to achieve this, was the Washington Redskins, now the Commanders, who defeated the New York Giants 72-41 on November 27, 1966. This remains the highest-scoring game in the Super Bowl Era.
The Sixteenth Game with a 50-Point Margin
Since the Super Bowl Era began in 1966, the Broncos vs. Dolphins game made a mark in the NFL’s records for its victory margin.
Yesterday’s game, with a 50-point difference, ranks 16th in the NFL during the Super Bowl Era.
Of these 16 games, only one occurred in the Playoffs: the match between the Jacksonville Jaguars and, coincidentally, the Miami Dolphins with a score of 62-7 on January 15, 2000.
The most significant margin of victory in the Super Bowl Era is a tie, both at 59-0: one between the Los Angeles Rams and the Atlanta Falcons on December 4, 1976, and the other between the New England Patriots and the Tennessee Titans on October 18, 2009.
The Twenty-second Game to Cross 90 Points
Only 22 games have achieved or surpassed 90 points in total since 1966, counting the Broncos vs. Dolphins game.
The first game to surpass this mark was, notably, the 72-41 game between the Redskins and the Giants, tallying 113 points – the highest-scoring game since 1966.
Then, the second game to reach 90 points exactly took place later in 1966, on December 18, when the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Atlanta Falcons 57-33.
More games went on to hit 90 or more points, but the last game that reached exactly 90 points was on October 15, 2017, when the New Orleans Saints defeated the Detroit Lions 52-38.
Broncos vs. Dolphins Betting Odds Before the Game
The odds for the Broncos vs. Dolphins game were tight. While it was clear Miami was the favorite from the start, no one could’ve predicted such an outcome.
Miami started as the favorite with a spread of -5.5 and a moneyline of -230. Denver began with a distance of +5.5 and a moneyline of +190. The total points were set at Over 45.5.
Broncos vs Dolphins initial odds
| TEAM | POINT SPREAD | MONEYLINE | OVER/UNDER | TEAM TOTAL |
| BRONCOS | +5.5 | +190 | O 45.5 | 20 |
| DOLPHINS | -5.5 | -230 | U 45.5 | 25.5 |
By game time, the odds had shifted slightly: Miami’s spread was -6, Denver’s was +6, and the moneyline for Miami and Denver was -260 and +220, respectively. The total points had increased to Over 47.5.
Broncos vs Dolphins 15 minutes before the game
| TEAM | POINT SPREAD | MONEYLINE | OVER/UNDER | TEAM TOTAL |
| BRONCOS | +6 | +220 | O 47.5 | 20 |
| DOLPHINS | -6 | -260 | U 47.5 | 27.5 |
Regarding AI Prediction and SBAI Picks, the forecast was close but not exact. They predicted Denver would score 20 points, but Miami would win by just an 11-point difference (31 points).
AI Prediction and SBAI Picks before the historical game
| TEAM | AI PICKS | SBAI PICKS | |||
| BRONCOS | 20 Pts | 51 Pts | SPREAD MIA -6 | MONEYLINE MIA -245 | TOTAL O 47.5 |
| DOLPHINS | 31 Pts | ||||
This unpredictability is what makes sports so captivating, especially American football. Where the unexpected can happen. Where a typical Sunday becomes unforgettable as records shatter, history books rewrite, and odds break. Making it not just any Sunday, but a special one.
