FIVE STORY LINES

1

POWER StRuGGLE: As a Miami columnist wondered: Is this the Sunday that “Tom Brady will be rendered mortal” and “the keys to the [AFC East] will change hands?” Dolphins (3-0) vs. Patriots (1-2 and losers of consecutive games by double digits for the first time since 2002) is seen as that big in South Florida. But know this: The Patriots are 61⁄2-point favorites and Brady is 14-0 at home vs. the Dolphins. 2

NO. 30: As Tom Withers of The Associated Press wrote: Maybe 30’s the charm. Baker Mayfield will be the 30th player to start at QB for the Browns since they were reborn in 1999. Says Mayfield: “Don’t really care.” Fans won’t either if he gives the Browns their first backto-back wins since 2014. They are 3-point underdogs in Oakland. 3

ALL IN: It is Week 4 and all four QBs taken in the top 10 of the April draft will be starting with the addition of Mayfield and Josh Rosen (Cardinals). None are favored. In the Cardinals case, they can’t do any worse. They’ve scored just three TDs, are last in every major offensive category and in line to start 0-4 for the first time since 1986. 4

hIStORy LESSON: Saints QB Drew Brees chases more history. He is 417 yards from breaking Peyton Manning’s career record of 71,940 yards passing. He also is four TD passes shy of becoming only the third player in history to pass for 500. The others: Manning (539) and Brett Favre (508). 5

NEXt …! Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are one of only three teams in history to score at least 38 points in each of their first three games. But beware Von Miller. Denver’s Mr. Everything LB has feasted on the Chiefs. He has eight sacks and 11 tackles for loss against them.