Setting the Stage for the Week 17 Dolphins-Browns Matchup

Breaking down all the details for the Miami Dolphins-Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field

Miami Dolphins running back Jeff Wilson Jr. (23), shows a memorable stiff arm move against Cleveland Browns defenders during NFL action Sunday November 13, 2022 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. / BILL INGRAM/THE PALM BEACH POST / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Miami Dolphins will look to get back to .500 for the first time since September when they face the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on Sunday in a game that might or might not have playoff implications.

Here's all the pertinent info for this Week 17 Dolphins-Browns matchup.

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MIAMI DOLPHINS (7-8) vs. CLEVELAND BROWNS (3-12)

• Date: Sunday, December 29, 2024
• Time: 4:05 PM ET
• Site: Huntington Bank Field; Cleveland, Ohio
• Weather Channel Forecast: The temperature in Cleveland between 4 and 7 p.m. ET on Sunday is expected to be between 56-59 degrees with cloudy skies and a chance of rain between 19-24 percent. The wind is expected to range from 17-21 mph.
• TV: CBS (the game will be televised regionally in South Florida, Cleveland, and the Philadelphia, Indianapolis and Las Vegas areas.
• Announcers: Andrew Catalon (play-by-play), Tiki Barber (color analyst), Jason McCourty (color analyst), A.J. Ross (sidelines)

Additional content:
-- Is the end near for big-name Dolphins?
-- Rain, not cold, could be challenge in Cleveland
-- What the Christmas results mean for the Dolphins

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FINAL INJURY REPORT

• Dolphins — CB Kendall Fuller (knee) and LB Anthony Walker Jr. (knee) are out; T Terron Armstead (knee), WR Dee Eskridge (knee), WR Tyreek Hill (wrist), S Jordan Poyer (knee/finger), QB Tua Tagovailoa (hip) and WR Jaylen Waddle (knee) are qustionable.

• Browns — TE David Njoku (knee), DE Ogbo Okoronkwo (knee) and WR Cedric Tillman (concussion) are out; QB Jameis Winston (right shoulder) is questionable.

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DOLPHINS-BROWNS REGULAR SEASON HISTORY

Regular Season Series History: Dolphins lead 10-9

Last Five Meetings:

1. November 13, 2022 at Miami — Dolphins 39, Browns 17
2. November 24, 2019 at Cleveland — Browns 41, Dolphins 24
3. September 25, 2016 at Miami — Dolphins 30, Browns 24 (OT)
4. September 8, 2013 at Cleveland — Dolphins 23, Browns 10
5. September 25, 2011 at Cleveland — Browns 17, Dolphins 16

Series Superlatives:

• Dolphins' Largest Margin of Victory: 22 (2022 at Miami; Dolphins 39, Browns 17)
• Dolphins' Largest Margin of Defeat: 28 (1970 at Miami; Browns 28, Dolphins 0)
• Highest-Scoring Matchup: 72 points (2007 at Cleveland; Browns 41, Dolphins 31)
• Lowest-Scoring Matchup: 17 points (2004 at Miami; Dolphins 10, Browns 7)

Connections:

• Former Browns Players with the Dolphins: S Jordan Poyer, LB Emmanuel Ogbah, RB Raheem Mostert, DB Elijah Campbell, T Kendall Lamm, LB Anthony Walker Jr.
• Former Browns Coaches with the Dolphins: Head coach Mike McDaniel, assistant head coach/tight ends Jon Embree, defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, pass game coordinator/secondary coach Brian Duker, DB/pass game specialist Ryan Slowik
• Former Dolphins Players with the Browns: LS Rex Sunahara, T Geron Christian
• Former Dolphins Coaches with the Browns: WR/passing game coordinator Chad O'Shea

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BROWNS SCOUTING REPORT

Heading into Week 17, it appeared likely the Dolphins would miss the playoffs after being in the postseason last year and the other AFC team in that position is the Browns. Yes, the Browns made the playoffs in 2023, even though that seems crazy considering how bad their 2024 season has gone. While the defense certainly hasn't been great, it's the Cleveland offense that's most to blame for the collapse, and pointing the finger at QB Deshaun Watson probably wouldn't be out of line since the Browns made their playoff run while he was on IR last season and Joe Flacco was running the offense. Cleveland was so bad on offense with Watson, it didn't reach 300 total yards in any game until Week 7. Maybe the weirdest part about the Cleveland season is that two of its three victories have come against playoff-bound Baltimore and Pittsburgh.

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THE BIGGEST REASON THE DOLPHINS WILL WIN

Cleveland is down to its third quarterback with Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who still needs to show he can more than a third option for a team. The Browns won't have Nick Chubb, who's on IR, or injured tight end David Njoku in this game and scored 13 points in their past two games combined. The Dolphins defense has been good in recent weeks and it's easy to envision it completely shutting down the Browns in this game.

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THE BIGGEST REASON THE DOLPHINS WILL LOSE

The biggest X-factor in this game is whether the Dolphins will have anything at stake in terms of playoff ramifications. If they have been eliminated because the Chargers and Broncos both won Saturday, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Dolphins come out flat even if they want to finish the season with a winning record regardless. The elements also could be an issue, particularly if it becomes rainy and windy, and a wet ball on a wet field always can be a great equalizer.

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FINAL DOLPHINS-BROWNS PREDICTION

This will be the Dolphins' fourth and final shot at getting back to .500 this season for the first time since September and they can keep alive their streak of consecutive seasons with a winning record by defeating the Browns before turning their attention to the New York Jets in Week 18. Cleveland will play hard in this game, but injuries have left them talent-deficient on offense. The Browns committted 18 turnovers in their past five games and we can see at least a couple more in this one. This is the kind of game the Dolphins have managed very well over the past couple of years, and there's no reason to think this will be different, regardless of weather or playoff scenarios.

Final Score: Dolphins 23, Browns 9