Poof! Unbeaten Dolphins turn into punching bag

Before kickoff, the undefeated Miami Dolphins were given the option of forfeiting the game to spare them the embarrassment of yet another Game 4 disaster.  They declined, and then got pummeled by the Kansas City Chiefs.

"We graciously offered them the forfeit because we all knew things would turn ugly out there," said Chiefs head coach Dick Vermeil.  "But they saw our struggling 1-2 record, their egos got in the way, and they paid for it."

Part of the folklore of the Sunday Football Picks, in addition to the solar-powered Buccaneers and artificial turf-challenged Packers, is the fourth-game weakness of the Dolphins, who were dominant as always in their first three games.  Then came the 48-30 spanking in K.C.

"We partied all week because we knew we were playing Miami," said Chiefs quarterback Trent Green.  "Not having to practice was like getting an extra week of vacation, and our offense still put up enough points for two games."

Miami's rock-solid defense had allowed an average of just 12.3 points per game until Sunday's inevitable landslide.  The reality of the 3-0 curse might finally be sinking in with Dolphins head coach Dave Wannstedt.

"I think we should petition the NFL to schedule our bye week on the fourth weekend next year because we're slamming into a brick wall after such fabulous starts," Wannstedt said.  "And my face is distorted enough as it is."

The real winners were the Kansas City fans, who reportedly raked in $55 million from bets.  Drunken oddsmakers made Miami a 3-point favorite, and K.C. fans feasted on gullible gamblers across the country.  Seven Chiefs fans ended up hospitalized after they literally busted a gut laughing at the game's line.

The almighty Picks Gods scowled down on QT and Mark, who both were given plenty of warning but bullheadedly chose Miami anyway.  At least QT made up for it with her incredible Cowboys, who were victorious as 12-point underdogs in St. Louis.  That's huge!