Team Records
Cleveland Browns: 4-6 (3rd in the AFC North)
Miami Dolphin: 2-8 (4th in the AFC East)
All-Time Record: Miami leads the series 11-8
The Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns have played 19 times dating back to 1970. The Browns have been at home for eleven (11) of those match-ups and have a record of 7-4 at home against the Dolphins.
The last time these two teams squared off was in an overtime loss for the Browns in Miami. At that time, the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback was Cody Kessler with Isaiah Crowell, Duke Johnson, and Terrell Pryor as Kessler’s primary skill position players.
Headlines Of The Game
Browns
Coming off of “Helmetgate” in Week 11, the Browns are without multiple defensive players. The Browns may be distracted with so much going on around the team and not be focused on the playoff race ahead of them.
Dolphins
Winning two of their last three games, the Dolphins recently put safety Reshad Jones and safety Bobby McCain on injured reserve and waived running back Mark Walton (story here from Dolphins Wire). The Dolphins are a beat-up, but scrappy team. They do not just roll over to their opposition and are well-coached.
Key Personnel for the Dolphins
QB
Ryan Fitzpatrick, 160 for 253 attempts (63.2% completion percentage), 1,687 yards (26th), 8 TDs (30th), 8 INTs (13th)
RB
Kalen Ballage, 64 rush attempts for 122 yards, 3 TDs, 13 receptions on 22 targets, 50 receiving yards, 0 receiving TDs
WR
DeVante Parker, 40 receptions on 72 targets, 604 receiving yards, 4 receiving TDs
Albert Wilson, 14 receptions on 25 targets, 84 receiving yards, 1 receiving TDs
Allen Hurns, 17 receptions on 25 targets, 223 receiving yards, 1 receiving TDs
TE
Mike Gesicki, 28 receptions on 43 targets, 294 receiving yards, 0 receiving TDs
Keys To Victory
Don’t fall for the trap – it would be really easy for the Browns to look past Week 12 against the Dolphins and towards their Week 13 game in Pittsburgh. This is how you fall for a trap game and potentially create the worst Browns home loss of the season. The Browns need to show up big.
Lean on the rushing attack – the Miami Dolphins have allowed the third-most rushing yards in the NFL in 2019 and the Browns have the formidable duo of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt in the backfield.
Learn how to create pressure – with Myles Garrett on the field, creating pressure was not too much of a challenge. With Myles Garrett suspended, Larry Ogunjobi suspended, and Olivier Vernon likely out, the Cleveland Browns can use this game as a learning experience. In this game, the Browns can work on creating pressure from different areas of the field and learn how to play without Myles Garrett on the field.
Stop Ryan Fitzpatrick – the Dolphins do not have a running game to lean on with Mark Walton released, Kalen Ballage struggling, and their best backfield asset being undrafted rookie, Patrick Laird.
Final Prediction
Browns win 31-20.
The Browns have some struggles discovering their post-Myles Garrett defense. The Browns offense comes together after understanding they must carry the team through these rough waters.
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