Here are the heroes and zeros from the Broncos’ historic 70-20 loss to the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Heroes
Russell Wilson
Wilson was the least of Denver’s problems. He completed 23 of 38 passes for 306 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He was dealing on the Broncos’ second drive of the game, completing four passes for 10-plus yards, including a 12-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Courtland Sutton. Wilson’s only blunder came late in the third quarter when his pass was tipped, then intercepted by linebacker Emmanuel Ogbah. He couldn’t help that two touchdown passes were called back because of penalties or the defense looking like a junior varsity team.
Marvin Mims Jr.
Broncos rookie Marvin Mims Jr. might be special. Since last week, Mims has done nothing but make plays. Against the Commanders, he had 113 receiving yards and a 60-yard touchdown reception. In the loss to the Dolphins, Mims made a 38-yard reception in the second quarter and scored on a 99-yard kick return in the fourth quarter. Sutton and wide receiver Jerry Jeudy are considered Denver’s top two wide receivers. But Mims has proven that he needs to be included in more offensive packages. He had three receptions for 73 yards on only five targets.
De’Von Achane fantasy owners
There’s not a lot of good to take away from Denver’s horrific defeat. But for those who drafted Dolphins rookie running back De’Von Achane in their fantasy leagues, they got a steal. Achane was unstoppable against the Broncos. He had 203 yards on 18 carries, 34 receiving yards and four total touchdowns. Achane’s speed was evident, as the Broncos struggled to bring him down. Well, Denver struggled to bring anyone down.
Zeros
Delarrin Turner-Yell
The Broncos need to pray that Justin Simmons’ hip injury isn’t long term. With Simmons out, second-year safety Delarrin Turner-Yell got the starting nod and the Dolphins took advantage. On the first drive of the game, Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill slipped behind Turner-Yell, who decided to double team Robbie Chosen, and scored on a 54-yard touchdown reception. Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II was in coverage on Chosen, but Turner-Yell bit on the in-breaking route, leaving Hill wide open. In the second quarter, Dolphins wide receiver Braxton Berrios made a 11-yard reception with Turner-Yell in coverage.
Courtland Sutton
Sutton’s performance added to a laughable afternoon for Denver. The Broncos receiver caught eight passes for 91 yards and a touchdown but fumbled the ball twice and dropped a wide-open touchdown in the end zone. With under two minutes to go in the second, Dolphins safety Jevon Holland punched the ball out of Sutton’s arms before linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel recovered it and ran 29 yards to Denver’s 3-yard line. On Denver’s next offensive possession, Wilson scrambled out of the pocket and found Sutton open in the back of the end zone, but the veteran wideout dropped the pass. Sutton’s day got worse when Holland knocked the ball out after a 29-yard reception in the third quarter. Another Dolphins TD soon followed.
Vance Joseph
Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph’s return to Denver is off to a bad start. On Sunday, the Dolphins were playing Madden on rookie mode to the point it was laughable. Tua Tagovailoa completed 17 passes in a row, including a no-look shovel throw to Achane in the second. Hill seemed to be wide open on every play. And the Dolphins’ ran the ball effortlessly. Denver gave up 10 touchdowns and 726 total yards against Miami and has allowed 102 points since the second quarter of last week’s loss to Washington. Joseph said in the offseason that he was looking to improve on the formidable defense the Broncos built since he was fired as head coach in 2018. Clearly, he has done the opposite.
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