CLEVELAND — The Miami Dolphins entered Sunday’s game at Cleveland needing to win both of their remaining games and needing Denver to lose next week at Kansas City.
They took care of one part of that equation by defeating the Browns, 20-3, on Sunday.
Now, the Dolphins (8-8) could have chance to earn their third consecutive playoff berth next week at the New York Jets (4-12).
Quarterback Tyler “Snoop” Huntley, the Hallandale High School alum, led the way Sunday at Cleveland with a passing and rushing touchdown and rookie left tackle Patrick Paul played the second half, much of it against Cleveland defensive end Myles Garrett, the youngest in NFL history to record 100 sacks.
The Dolphins also reached .500 for the first time since falling to 1-1 earlier this season.
Here are some more takeaways from Sunday:
Dolphins get impressive win
Sunday’s win at Cleveland, a game the Dolphins needed to win to keep their playoff hopes alive, was one of the most impressive victories of the coach Mike McDaniel era considering quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (hip) missed the entire game and left tackle Terron Armstead (knee) missed the second half.
The Dolphins, who have always had a string fighting spirit, showed a lot of grit.
No, it wasn’t pretty – Miami lost two challenges in three plays in the third quarter – but the Dolphins gutted out the victory behind Huntley and rookie left tackle Patrick Paul.
The Dolphins also put themselves in position to have their fifth consecutive winning season and third consecutive playoff berth. — Chris Perkins
Injuries, injuries and more injuries
Sunday, with Tagovailoa missing the game due to a hip injury, served as yet another reminder of the dangers of relying heavily on players with an injury history.
One of general manager Chris Grier’s infamous quotes came in January 2023, during his season wrapup press conference after the 2022 season, when he was discussing acquiring players with an injury history.
Take note that Grier mentioned Armstead, running back Raheem Mostert and edge rusher Bradley Chubb, all of whom battled injury problems this season.
“I think you can’t be scared with (injury) stuff,” Grier said. “Talk about Terron. He’s a Pro Bowl left tackle and the impact he had with us in terms of leadership and what he did on the field for us.
“Raheem is another guy people talked about being hurt and had a career year and everything he had done in terms of leadership and stuff again. If you’re scared — like Bradley again. He’s another one that people said was a good player and good person.”
You wonder whether the Dolphins, who will likely remain in “win now” mode next season, will break from that trend of relying so heavily on injury-prone players.
Looking ahead, Tagovailoa, right tackle Austin Jackson (ankle, knee) and edge rusher Jaelan Phillips (Achilles, knee) are young-ish players who now have an injury history. The Dolphins will be rolling the dice once again if they acquire a few veterans in that same category.
Tua’s absences
The Dolphins are now 3-8 record in games Tagovailoa misses in the McDaniel era (since 2022). Tagovailoa, counting Sunday’s absence, has missed 11 games in the last three seasons and some of those absences are late-season, when he’s needed most.
The Dolphins are now 2-2 in December-January games Tagovailoa has missed.
Jonnu Smith ties record
Tight end Jonnu Smith had an uncharacteristically quiet night (three receptions, 26 yards, one touchdown) but he had as touchdown in the fourth quarter, his seventh of the season, which tied the Dolphins single season record for touchdowns by a tight end. Anthony Fasano (2008) and Keith Jackson (1994) also had seven. Smith has next week’s game at the New York Jets to establish a new record.
Smith has already established single-season records for receptions by a tight end (76) and receiving yards by a tight end (802).
Dolphins on the road in December
The Dolphins are well-known for struggling in December road games in the McDaniel-Tagovailoa era. They’re now 2-5 on the road in December having defeated Washington last year and losing to San Francisco, the Los Angeles Chargers and Buffalo in 2022, and losing at Houston this season.
Jason Sanders does it again
Kicker Jason Sanders hit a 54-yard field goal in the first quarter to extend his streak to nine consecutive field goals of 50 or more yards. He also extended his team-record streak to 25 consecutive field goals when he hit a 39-yard field goal at the halftime buzzer.
Penalties aplenty
Flags were flying against the Dolphins early. They had four penalties (unnecessary roughness on right guard Isaiah Wynn, false start on fullback Alec Ingold, holding on center Aaron Brewer and holding on cornerback Storm Duck) for 35 yards in the first quarter. The Browns declined a holding penalty against wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
The Dolphins ended with nine penalties for 79 yards. That was their highest penalty yardage total since having 98 yards in Week 4. It was their worst showing since having 10 penalties for 75 yards at Green Bay.
Tua stays involved
Tagovailoa, dressed in gray sweats, was active helping counsel and encourage his teammates on the sideline Sunday. He wasn’t overbearing, rather he was involved such as when Huntley went to the sideline, Tagovailoa would sit on the bench and go over things with Huntley and quarterback coach Darrell Bevell.
He was seen talking to left guard Robert Jones and left tackle Patrick Paul as they came off the field at halftime. It appeared Tagovailoa was encouraging and offering instruction.
Armstead battles right knee ailment
Armstead, the 33-year-old five-time Pro Bowl selection, asked out of the game late in the second quarter after apparently battling a right knee injury the entire first half. You wonder if Sunday was Armstead’s last game with the Dolphins.
Armstead, who contemplated retirement after last season, has a $22 million salary cap hit next season and the Dolphins would probably prefer to develop rookie Patrick Paul, their second-round pick.
Armstead, a Pro Bowl selection and team captain in all three of his seasons with the Dolphins, asked out of the New York Jets game four games.
What sort of chance do the Dolphins have to make the playoffs?
The bottom line: The Kansas City Chiefs must defeat the Broncos in Denver for Miami to make the playoffs with a win at the Jets next week. However, the Chiefs, who have clinched homefield advantage throughout the AFC playoffs, will almost assuredly be resting Patrick Mahomes and numerous other key players. The last time the Chiefs encountered a similar situation where they had homefield advantage locked up before the regular-season finale was in 2020. Then, a 6-9 Los Angeles Chargers, with none of the make-the-playoffs motivation the host Broncos will possess, rolled into Arrowhead Stadium and dominated a Chad Henne-led 14-1 Chiefs 38-21. A player named Darwin Thompson started at running back in his final regular-season NFL game, so that gives you an idea of what Andy Reid’s mindset will be. The Chiefs lost in the Super Bowl that year, 31-9 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. — Steve Svekis
Tua Tagovailoa’s fragility dwarfs all other NFL quarterbacks’
With the missed start on Sunday, it marked the seventh time an injury has caused Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to miss at least one start in the 79 games since he was named the starter in 2020. Among active quarterbacks, that number is far ahead of the next-least-durable quarterback’s, with the Steelers’ Russell Wilson, the Browns’ Deshaun Watson, the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson and the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott each having incurred four injuries that each necessitated at least one start on the shelf since the beginning of the 2020 season. The quarterback the Dolphins passed on with the fifth selection in the 2020 draft, Justin Herbert, has had one injury that has caused him to miss at least one start, being forced out of 2023’s final four games.
The Amazing Calais Campbell update
By hauling down Dorian Thompson-Robinson for a 3-yard loss, the incredible 38-year-old defensive tackle, logged his 11 tackle for loss this year, marking his 10th NFL season with more than 10 TFLs.
De’Von Achane is on the verge of Dolphins franchise rarefied air
Only two players in the team’s history have ever piled up more than 1,450 total yards in a season: Ricky Williams twice (2,216 in 2002 and 1,723 in 2003) and Tyreek Hill (1,814 in 2023 and 1,742 in 2022). With 73 total yards against the Jets, second-year running back De’Von Achane would become the third such player, passing Delvin Williams’ 1,450 yards in 1978.
The 2025 opponents are set in stone
Along with the home-and-home games against the AFC East’s Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots and New York Jets, the Dolphins are slated for home games against the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Chargers and road visits to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts. A 17th opponent is slated to be the Washington Commanders, though the expectation is the game will be played at a neutral field.
Again, what was Chris Grier thinking at backup quarterback?
In the five games Tua Tagovaiola hasn’t started, the Dolphins offense has scored 60 points (12.0 per game), with only five touchdowns.
On deck: New York Jets, MetLife Stadium, Saturday or Sunday, TBA
You could have gotten steep odds in the preseason that neither team in this matchup would have a playoff spot clinched by New Year’s Day, but here we are. For their part, however, the 4-12 Jets have led in the fourth quarter of six of their seven home games, and were tied 20-20 against the Bills in the other home game. Six of the Jets’ seven home opponents were still alive for the playoffs entering Week 16, with a combined record of 57-49, a .538 win percentage.