MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Cleveland couldn't handle a red-hot Tua Tagovailoa, who threw three touchdown passes, as the Browns fell to the Miami Dolphins 39-17 on Sunday.
Tagovailoa has been figuratively on fire since returning from his concussion scare earlier in the season, tossing 10 touchdown passes and no interceptions since returning in week 7. He finished the game with 285 yards on 25-of-32 passing.
Cleveland (3-6) struck first for the games first points as rookie Jerome Ford returned the opening kickoff 48-yards to give the Browns great field position. Jacoby Brissett and the offense would capitalize on the starting position as he threw a one-yard touchdown pass to tight end Harrison Bryant to give the Browns an early 7-0 lead.
From that point on, the Dolphins would rattle off 24-straight points behind Tagovailoa and a defense that sacked Brissett three times and force a fumble out of Nick Chubb on the Browns second possession of the game.
The Browns struggled all day on offense, only converting 5 of 12 third down attempts and being held to a season-low 113 rushing yards. Amari Cooper was held in check to just 32 yards on three Receptions. Cooper was coming off a 131-yard performance in last weeks' win over Cincinnati.
Miami (7-3) pushed their lead to 17-7 right before halftime as Tagovailoa completed six of his seven passes on the drive, the final completion being a 14-yard touchdown throw to Trent Sherfield to cap off the drive.
The Browns would pull to within 30-17 when Nick Chubb broke loose for a 33-yard touchdown run to pull Cleveland within striking distance of a comeback.
However, the Dolphins would snuff out any hopes of late game heroics as they would run nearly five minutes off the clock on their following possession and get a 33-yard field goal from Jason Sanders to extend their lead to 33-17 with 8:15 remaining in the game.
Miami's defense would then put do their part and force a turnover on downs on Cleveland's ensuing possession.
Jacoby Brissett completed 22 of 35 passes for 212 yards to go with his touchdown. Nick Chubb finished the game with 11 carries for 63 yards.
Jeff Wilson rushed for 119 yards on 17 carries and one touchdown as the Dolphins piled up 491 yards of offense.
Jaylen Waddle had four receptions for 66 yards for Miami, and his fellow speedy receiver Tyreek Hill caught five passes for 44 yards, including a 2-yard TD catch in the third quarter that made it 30-10.
The Browns will be back on the road at Buffalo next Sunday.
Cleveland 7 0 3 7 = 17
Miami 7 10 13 9 = 39
First Quarter
CLE—Harrison Bryant 1 pass from Jacoby Brissett (Cade York kick), 12:13.
MIA—Alec Ingold 13 pass from Tua Tagovailoa (Jason Sanders kick), 6:13.
Second Quarter
MIA—Jason Sanders 39 field goal, 11:05.
MIA—Trent Sherfield 14 pass from Tua Tagovailoa (Jason Sanders kick), 0:32.
Third Quarter
MIA—Raheem Mostert 24 run (Jason Sanders kick), 11:35.
CLE—Cade York 37 field goal, 6:56.
MIA—Tyreek Hill 2 pass from Tua Tagovailoa (kick failed), 0:37.
Fourth Quarter
CLE—Nick Chubb 33 run (Cade York kick), 13:09.
7 plays, 76 yards, 2:28
MIA—Jason Sanders 33 field goal, 8:15.
MIA—Jeff Wilson Jr. 20 run (kick failed), 7:07.
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