The Miami Dolphins are still alive for the playoffs at 7-8 after a 29-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
However, their slim chances are contingent on winning their last two (in addition to getting massive help elsewhere), and the Cleveland Browns are next up for the Dolphins on Sunday afternoon in Northeast Ohio. While the Browns have fallen to the basement of the AFC North this year after making the playoffs, the Dolphins aren't good enough to overlook anyone.
As such, to get a little bit more information on the Browns, I touched base with A to Z Sports' Cleveland Browns beat writer Brandon Little.
1) After a playoff appearance in 2023, it was a gigantic step back in 2024. Obviously, it takes a lot to go wrong to end up at 3-12, but what have been the primary reasons?
The quarterback position continues to be the single thing that pulls the Browns back the most. If Deshaun Watson didn’t work out like they had hoped in 2024, it was always going to be a big problem. Injuries have once again been a big issue and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah has been a tremendous loss on the back half of the season. Cleveland’s offense was extremely bad early on, and they lost some games they should have. After that, things spiraled and never really got better.
As bad as the offense is, it has had an impact on a defense that was one of the NFL’s best last year. Couple that with the fact that the defense has its own issues, mainly being that Jim Schwartz was figured out a bit with what he is doing in Cleveland. It has been a total failure in every way for a team that planned to be back in the playoffs this season. Quarterback play and an anemic offense have to be at the forefront of what went wrong.
2) Despite the 7-8 record, the Dolphins' defense has been pretty good this season, sitting in the top 10 in both yards per rush and yards per pass attempt allowed. With David Njoku banged up as well as both of Cleveland's quarterbacks, what can the Browns do at this point to challenge the Dolphins' defense on Sunday?
Jerome Ford has been Cleveland’s best running back this season and he has been a pleasant surprise. However, his usage dropped big time when Nick Chubb returned, though he was the better player this season for the Browns. As the Browns tried to get Chubb up to speed, it hurt what Ford was doing. Cleveland has to get their run game going these last couple of games with Ford to give their offense any chance. He is averaging north of five yards per carry just to show he is capable.
Jerry Jeudy’s season really took off with Jameis Winston and he will cross over 1,100 yards against the Dolphins. If Dorian Thompson-Robinson is the guy on Sunday, he is going to have to do a much better job of getting the ball to Cleveland’s top wide receiver. Jeudy’s presence is that much more important if Njoku cannot go.
3) With teams looking to take away Tyreek Hill and the big play, Miami's offense has had to adapt this season, adopting a philosophy of extended drives and quicker, shorter plays as opposed to longer-developing deep shots down the field. A lot of quick passes and/or screen plays to De'Von Achane, Jonnu Smith, and Hill/Jaylen Waddle. Obviously, Myles Garrett is a wrecking ball who can bring pressure and blow up plays near the line of scrimmage. Who else could be a factor for the Browns' defense against this Miami offense on Sunday?
Denzel Ward will see plenty of time marched up with Hill and I expect he will see Waddle some as well. Ward has been one of the best cornerbacks in football this season and he will be relied on in coverage heavily against Miami.
An under-the-radar player to watch is second-year Isaiah McGuire, who has graded out as one of the best edge players in football since the Browns traded Za’Darius Smith, per Pro Football Focus. McGuire strives in the run game the most early in his career and he is a guy capable of chasing down those quick plays around the line of scrimmage.
