The Miami Dolphins returned to the state of Florida this week, as they prepare to take on the Denver Broncos on Sunday for a Week 3 home opener.
Miami enters this weekend 2-0 having defeated the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 and the New England Patriots in a Sunday night contest last weekend. They’re clearly one of the most talented teams in the league, and it was great to see their defense rebound from allowing 200 yards on the ground in the season opener.
Buy Dolphins TicketsSean Payton’s Broncos have started the year 0-2 with losses to the Las Vegas Raiders and Washington Commanders. Last week, we saw glimpses of the old version of Russell Wilson, but a blown 18-point lead and a failed two-point conversion after a successful hail mary have put the team in a hole again this year.
Here are a few things that the Dolphins and Broncos fanbases should know and think about before this game kicks off.
Rankings
Points scored per game (2022/2023)
- Denver (16.9 – 32nd / 24.5 – t-14th)
- Miami (23.8 – 11th / 30.0 – t-3rd)
Points allowed per game (2022/2023)
- Denver (21.1 – t-12th / 26.0 – t-23rd)
- Miami (24.1 – 24th / 25.5 – t-19th)
Yards gained per game (2022/2023)
- Denver (325.1 – 21st / 329.5 – 16th)
- Miami (357.1 – t-8th / 462.5 – 1st)
Yards allowed per game (2022/2023)
- Denver (320.0 – 8th / 324.5 – 16th)
- Miami (342.6 – 19th / 360.5 – 24th)
Records
The Dolphins are 12-7-1 all-time against the Broncos but are 1-3 against them since 2010. Miami, however, is 8-1 against Denver at home.
The last time these two teams met was in 2020 when Tagovailoa was still splitting the job with Ryan Fitzpatrick. Both quarterbacks got in that day, with Tagovailoa completing 55% of his attempts for 83 yards and a touchdown. Unfortunately, the Dolphins still lost that game 20-13.
Injury concerns
The Broncos had three defensive players miss practice on Wednesday including linebacker Frank Clark, defensive lineman Mike Purcell and safety Justin Simmons.
Miami had two offensive players miss practice with an injury – running back Salvon Ahmed and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. If Waddle can’t clear concussion protocol before Thursday’s practice, there’s a strong chance he won’t play this weekend.
Connections
- Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel served as a Broncos intern in 2005.
- Dolphins running backs coach/associate head coach Eric Studesville served as Broncos running backs coach/interim head coach in 2010 and offensive coordinator/running backs coach from 2011-16.
- Dolphins assistant head coach/tight ends coach Jon Embree played for the Broncos in 1990.
- Dolphins wide receivers coach Wes Welker played for the Broncos from 2013-14.
- Dolphins offensive line coach Butch Barry served as Broncos offensive line coach in 2022.
- Dolphins offensive assistant Kolby Smith played for the Broncos in 2010.
- Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio served as Broncos head coach from 2019-21.
- Dolphins pass-game coordinator/defensive backs coach Renaldo Hill played for the Broncos from 2009-10 and served as defensive backs coach from 2019-20.
- Dolphins senior assistant Wade Harman served as Broncos tight ends coach from 2019-21.
- Dolphins wide receiver River Cracraft played for the Broncos from 2017-19.
- Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb played for the Broncos from 2018-22.
- Dolphins linebacker A.J. Johnson played for the Broncos from 2018-21.
- Broncos assistant head coach Mike Westhoff served as Dolphins tight ends coach/special teams coach from 1986-2000.
- Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph served as Dolphins defensive coordinator in 2016.
- Broncos senior defensive assistant Joe Vitt served as a Dolphins consultant in 2017.
- Broncos Samaje Perine played for the Dolphins in 2019.
- Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II’s father played for the Dolphins from 1998-2004 and served as Dolphins defensive assistant in 2022.
