Honestly, whenever someone mentions the Miami Dolphins vs Denver Broncos these days, your mind probably goes straight to one specific afternoon in South Florida. September 2023. The heat was oppressive, but the scoreboard was even more suffocating. 70 to 20. It's a scoreline that looks like a typo. It felt like a video game glitch where one person forgot how to hold the controller.
But if you actually look at the long history between these two franchises, it’s not just a story of one historic blowout. It's a weird, zig-zagging rivalry that spans back to 1966. You've got Hall of Fame quarterbacks, snowy playoff collapses, and a series record that is surprisingly lopsided in one direction—just not the one you’d expect if you only watch the postseason.
The Day the Scoreboard Nearly Broke
Let's talk about the 70-point elephant in the room. When the Miami Dolphins vs Denver Broncos met in Week 3 of the 2023 season, Mike McDaniel’s offense didn't just win; they dismantled the very concept of a professional defense. Tua Tagovailoa was basically playing darts. He started the game 17-for-17.
De'Von Achane, a rookie who most casual fans barely knew at the time, went for 203 rushing yards. Raheem Mostert added four touchdowns of his own. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, Miami was two points away from the all-time NFL regular-season scoring record. They chose not to kick the field goal to break it. Some called it class; others in Denver probably just wanted the nightmare to end.
What most people forget about that game is that Denver wasn't that terrible on paper going in. They had Sean Payton. They had Russell Wilson. But the Dolphins' speed was a track meet disguised as a football game. Tyreek Hill caught a 54-yard touchdown on the third play and the rout was on. It was the first time an NFL team scored 70 since 1966.
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A History of Regular Season Dominance
If you look at the all-time regular-season record, the Dolphins have historically owned this matchup. Miami leads the series 15-8-1. That’s a significant gap.
Early on, it was back and forth. The very first game in 1966 was a 24-7 Miami win. Then you had the 1971 tie—a 10-10 slog in Denver that felt like a relic of a different era. But for most of the 80s and 90s, when Dan Marino was under center, the Dolphins usually found a way to outlast the Broncos in the regular season.
One of the most memorable non-blowouts happened in 1998. It was a Monday Night Football classic. The Broncos were 13-0 and looking at a perfect season. Miami, led by Marino, handed them their first loss of the year, 31-21. It was a massive statement.
The Playoff Curse (For Miami)
Here is where the narrative flips. While Miami dominates the regular season, the Broncos have been the ones laughing when the stakes are highest. They've met twice in the playoffs, and Denver won both.
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The big one was January 1999. Just weeks after Miami ruined Denver's perfect season, they met again in the Divisional Round. This time, at Mile High, it wasn't even close. John Elway and Terrell Davis absolutely steamrolled the Dolphins 38-3.
- Terrell Davis: 199 rushing yards, 2 TDs.
- Dan Marino: 11-of-28 for 118 yards and 2 interceptions.
- Result: Denver went on to win the Super Bowl; Marino never got back to the big game.
It’s one of the great "what ifs" for Dolphins fans. They had the regular-season number on Denver, but they couldn't survive the altitude or the sheer force of that late-90s Broncos dynasty when it mattered.
Why the 2026 Matchup Matters
Looking ahead, the Miami Dolphins vs Denver Broncos rivalry is entering a new phase. As of January 2026, the schedules are finalized, and Denver is slated to host the Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High.
This isn't the same Denver team that gave up 70 points. They've been rebuilding under a more disciplined structure. Meanwhile, Miami has had to answer questions about their own consistency. Since that historic 70-20 win, the two teams have actually had very different trajectories. Stats show that in the period following that game, Denver actually managed a better winning percentage than Miami for a significant stretch. It's the ultimate "hangover" stat.
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Strategies for the Next Clash
If you're betting on or just watching the next time these two face off, keep an eye on these specific factors:
- The Altitude Factor: Miami is built for speed and humidity. Denver is built for thin air and fatigue. Historically, the Dolphins struggle when they have to travel to Colorado late in the season.
- The "Revenge" Narrative: NFL players have long memories. No one on that Broncos roster or coaching staff has forgotten the 70-point embarrassment. Expect a much more physical, defensive-minded approach from Denver to try and "shorten" the game.
- Quarterback Health: Both teams have dealt with massive swings in QB stability over the last few years. The winner of this matchup is almost always the team that can protect the ball—Miami’s 2023 explosion was fueled by three Denver turnovers.
Whether it’s a record-breaking shootout or a defensive grind in the snow, this matchup rarely delivers a boring game. The history is too weird for that.
If you’re looking to get ahead of the curve for the 2026 season, start tracking the defensive line rotations for Denver. Their ability to pressure the pocket without blitzing is the only way to stop the "track meet" offense Miami likes to run. Check the official NFL schedule release this spring to see if this lands as a "cold weather" game, which historically favors the Broncos.