CLEVELAND — The current Miami Dolphins’ regime may have reached a new low.
The Dolphins not only remain a one-win team. They are one that just got blown out by another one of the league’s worst, the Cleveland Browns.
In sporadic rain and wind on Sunday afternoon at Huntington Bank Field, the Dolphins were just as sloppy with four turnovers and an array of costly penalties in the 31-6 loss.
Miami (1-6) is now on its second separate three-game losing streak in the early going of the 2025 season.
The team could previously hang its hat on four of its five previous losses being close games decided in the final minutes. That wasn’t the case Sunday, and Cleveland merely improved to 2-5 after entering with the same record.
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw three interceptions and only passed for 100 yards as he completed 12-of-23 passes.
Miami was penalized 10 times for 98 yards in an undisciplined outing for coach Mike McDaniel’s squad.
Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins rushed for three touchdowns and had 84 yards on 25 carries as rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel merely played it safe by avoiding a turnover and going 13-of-18 passes for 116 yards.
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Dolphins running back De’Von Achane had 82 yards on 13 carries.
Tight end Darren Waller, who wasn’t targeted Sunday, leaving in the first half with a pectoral injury. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle had just one catch for 15 yards and was shaken up in the final minutes.
The first play from scrimmage of the second half served as a microcosm of the game — and the Dolphins’ season.
Already trailing, 17-6, Tagovailoa threw a pick-six as he missed Achane in the flat with a high throw. Achane reached up, deflected the ball into the air, and Browns cornerback Tyson Campbell, an American Heritage High grad who was traded to Cleveland from Jacksonville two weeks ago, returned it 34 yards for a touchdown.
It only got worse from there.
Backed up at his own 3-yard line and under pressure in the end zone, Tagovailoa threw another interception right to safety Rayshawn Jenkins, a former Miami Hurricanes standout. It set up a short Judkins touchdown, his third.
Two plays later, it was safety Ronnie Hickman intercepting Tagovailoa, and that was it for Miami’s quarterback. Rookie Quinn Ewers entered to finish out the game.
A quick 14-point swing in the second quarter tilted Sunday’s game quickly with a fumble sandwiched between two Browns touchdowns.
Early in the second quarter, Miami’s league-worst run defense reared its ugly head again, allowing Judkins to roll for a 46-yard touchdown to go up, 10-3. The Browns’ rookie running back exploded through the right side of the line, and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick failed to bring him down in the open field, going down briefly with an injury after the missed tackle.
The Dolphins lost the football on the ensuing kickoff, as Dee Eskridge had it jarred loose by Cleveland’s Grant Delpit on the return. Jenkins recovered the fumble.
After a couple of third-down conversions, Judkins was plunging into the end zone out of a Wildcat formation for a 3-yard touchdown that extended Cleveland’s lead to 17-3.
Miami scored before halftime to make it 17-6 with Riley Patterson booting through a field goal as time expired in the first half. He received a second try after an earlier miss off the upright was negated due to a Browns unnecessary roughness penalty.
The Browns scored first Sunday with two key Dolphins penalties leading to a short field goal from Andre Szmyt. Cornerback Rasul Douglas was called for illegal contact while covering Browns tight end Harold Fannin to give Cleveland a first down on third-and-14. Then, defensive tackle Zach Sieler committed a roughing-the-passer penalty to further advance Cleveland.
Achane reeled off a 46-yard run to follow to set up an early tying field goal.
Dolphins linebacker Tyrel Dodson and edge rusher Jaelan Phillips had sacks Sunday.
The Dolphins go back on the road next week, to face the Falcons in Atlanta next Sunday.
This story will be updated.
