The Sportsletter - A Miami Masterpiece 🐬

BY JEFF YODER

SEPT. 25, 2023 | SUBSCRIBE | WEB VIEW

Welcome Back 👋

In a non-stop weekend of highlights, the Swifties infiltrated the sports world. Taylor Swift’s appearance at the Chiefs-Bears game (to root for Travis Kelce) was enough to hijack the spotlight and create an upheaval on every sports news outlet that turned sportswriters into celebrity gossip TMZ. Sadly, we're not immune. What's news is news.

The Dolphins scored 70 points, but Taylor Swift got more NFL media coverage. The Chiefs' post-game press conference was a madhouse. God help us all.

"I've met her before. I set 'em up." -- Andy Reid

Letter Rip!

NFL

Week 3 Takeaways: A Miami Masterpiece 🐬

Photo: Carmen Mandato / Getty Images

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)

Cardinals def. Cowboys (28-16)

Chiefs def. Bears (41-10)

Steelers def. Raiders (23-18)

Monday Night Football

Eagles at Buccaneers (7:15 pm ET)

Rams at Bengals (8:15 pm ET)

SI: NFL Week 3 Takeaways: 5 Things We Learned, Including C.J. Stroud Reassuring Texans’ Draft Decision

ESPN: ‘We Drafted the Right Guy’: C.J. Stroud Makes History in 1st Texans’ Win

B/R: Dolphins’ CB Xavien Howard Rips Broncos Coach Sean Payton for Leaving Russell Wilson in During Blowout

Yahoo! Sports: Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce Make Relationship Arrowhead Official

MLB

2 Tickets to Paradise (October)

Photo: Adam Bettcher / Getty Images

Brewers & Twins Clinch Playoff Berths; Braves 1st Team to 100 Wins & Rangers Riding 5-Game Streak

Two more teams have secured their tickets to October! The Brewers and Twins both clinched postseason berths over the weekend, and Minnesota officially won the AL Central. That eliminates the Guardians and narrows our playoff-eligible field even further. After the Rangers reeled off five straight wins to retake the AL West, the AL Wild Card race is essentially down to the Mariners, Astros and Blue Jays. The Yankees are technically breathing, but it doesn’t look good. In the NL, the Wild Card outlook is a little more chaotic. The Phillies could clinch as soon as Tuesday, but six teams are still alive in the hunt for the final two NL Wild Card spots. We’re almost there — October is just one week away!

MLB Quick-Hitters

MLB Playoff Picture

American League

East: Orioles (97-59)*

West: Rangers (87-68)

Central: Twins (83-73)*

Wild Card 1: Rays (95-62)*

Wild Card 2: Blue Jays (87-69)

Wild Card 3: Astros (85-71)

Out: Mariners (84-71)

Out: Yankees (78-77)

National League

East: Braves (100-56)*

West: Dodgers (96-59)*

Central: Brewers (88-68)*

Wild Card 1: Phillies (87-69)

Wild Card 2: Diamondbacks (82-73)

Wild Card 3: Cubs (82-74)

Out: Marlins (81-75)

Out: Reds (80-77)

Out: Padres (77-79)

Out: Giants (77-79)

*Clinched Postseason Berth

CFB

That End in South Bend 👀

Photo: Michael Reaves / Getty Images

#9 Notre Dame vs. #6 Ohio State Had an All-Time Ending, But #10 Oregon Delivers Humble Pie for #18 Colorado

Wow. The college football gods brought a firestorm of incredible matchups on Saturday for Week 4, and fans across the country were gifted with a barrage of fun games to choose from. While the Oregon-Colorado game was super one-sided (42-6 in favor of the Ducks), we got OT in Death Valley, a shootout in the “nobody wants us bowl,” and a shocker in South Bend. I’ll elaborate…

Week 4 Rewind: Clemson took #4 Florida State into overtime in Death Valley, but it was the Seminoles who stamped their flag in South Carolina to claim the ACC. The “nobody wants us bowl” refers to the matchup between #21 Washington State and #14 Oregon State — the two Pac-12 schools without a future conference lined up. Wazzu got the win (38-35). And then, a Saturday night conclusion like no other — #9 Notre Dame rallied to take the lead late against #6 Ohio State, but a Buckeyes touchdown with 1 second left stunned the Irish faithful. Upon further review, Notre Dame only had 10 men on the field for their goal-line defense. Truly a game of inches. OSU Head Coach Ryan Day was fired up after some pre-game disrespect. This was an early game-of-the-year candidate, without a doubt.

Here’s a rewind of all the top highlights, plus the new AP Poll entering Week 5.

Notable Week 4 Highlights

#4 Florida State def. Clemson (31-24, OT)

#5 USC def. Arizona State (42-28)

#6 Ohio State def. #9 Notre Dame (17-14)

*Ohio State Scores TD With 1 Second Left

#7 Penn State def. #24 Iowa (31-0)

#10 Oregon def. #19 Colorado (42-6)

#11 Utah def. #22 UCLA (14-7)

#13 Alabama def. #15 Ole Miss (24-10)

#21 Washington State def. #14 Oregon State (38-35)

New AP Poll (Top-10)