CLEVELAND (AP) — Tyler Huntley scrambled for a touchdown and made a throw in starting Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins beat the Cleveland Browns 20-3 on Sunday in their final game of the season. remained in playoff contention.
With Tagovailoa sidelined with a hip injury, Huntley did enough to keep the Dolphins (8-8) alive with one game remaining.
Miami needs to win next weekend against the New York Jets and hope the Denver Broncos lose at home to Kansas City to clinch a wild card spot. Unfortunately for the Dolphins, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and many of the top-seeded Chiefs’ starters are expected to be rested.
Tagovailoa’s status next week is unknown, but Huntley has shown he can get the job done if needed.
He completed 22 of 26 yards and had no turnovers in his fourth start of the season. The 26-year-old attended Cleveland’s training camp before being released in August.
The Browns (3 wins, 13 losses) suffered a five-game losing streak and finished with 2 wins and 6 losses at home. They will look to move up in the draft and look for a quarterback heading into 2025.
Dorian Thompson Robinson is not the long-term answer. In his second consecutive start, the second-year QB completed 24 of 47 passes for 170 yards. He also threw an interception, lost a fumble, and was flagged three times for intentional ground balls.
Both offenses had issues with the windy and wet conditions, but Huntley handled them well.
He ran for a 13-yard touchdown early in the third quarter to give the Dolphins a 13-3 lead. After rolling to his right, Huntley made several precise cuts as he made his way down the sideline and into the end zone.
The Browns had a chance to take the lead, but Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey broke up Thompson Robinson’s pass to Jerry Jeudy for the fourth point in the end zone.
Huntley connected with tight end Jonnu Smith for a 7-yard TD with 3:38 left.
Miami’s Jason Sanders kicked field goals of 54 and 39 yards. He’s on a franchise-best 25-point streak, helped by a 54-yard shot in the first quarter that bounced off the crossbar.
Dustin Hopkins, who had been on the bench due to a recent slump, kicked a 25-yard field goal to tie the Browns.
Suck Happy (Birthday)
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett celebrated his 29th birthday with a sack.
He won 14 Defensive Player of the Year awards this season, becoming the first player in league history to win this award four years in a row.
injury
Dolphins: LT Terron Armstead injured his knee in the second quarter and did not return. Patrick Paul took his place. …WR Jaylen Waddle (knee) is inactive.
Browns: CB Denzel Ward (shoulder) was injured in the second quarter and did not play in the second half. …LB Jordan Hicks was out with a head injury. …RB Jerome Ford (ankle) was ejected in the first half. He returned, but was on the field for only one play after halftime. …RB Pierre Strong Jr. left the game in the final minutes with an apparent head injury.
to the next
Dolphins: End the regular season against the Jets on January 4th or 5th.
Browns: Visit Baltimore next weekend.
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