Cleveland Browns carry must-win mindset to Miami vs. red-hot Dolphins

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. − The Browns went into the bye week coming off the high of a win over an AFC North rival. It was a win that gave them hope, despite a 3-5 record, their final nine games would not be essentially meaningless.

That win, though, was merely a temporary boost. For they come out of the bye in much the same predicament in which they entered, in need of wins to keep them at least mathematically alive for the playoffs.

So that's the backdrop as the Browns got on a plane and left the Northeast Ohio chill for the South Florida heat and humidity. They do so looking to tangle with one of the hottest teams in the AFC, the 6-3 Miami Dolphins.

The Browns ended the first eight games of the season by keeping a talented, albeit injured, Cincinnati Bengals offense in check in a 32-13 win. The Ja'Marr Chase-less Bengals, though, have nothing on what the Dolphins offense has been, especially through the air.

Third-year quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has find a new level in his play. It hasn't hurt that two of the top-five receivers in the NFL, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, have been his primary targets.

However, the benefit of coming off a bye week is the time off it gives players. That time off was huge for a number of injured Browns, including three of their best defenders in ends Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney, as well as cornerback Denzel Ward.

Those players are going to need to bring their talents to South Beach if the Browns want to start the post-bye stretch on the right foot. Otherwise, the chill they may feel when they leave Sunday evening won't just be the November Northeast Ohio weather.

Matchup to watch: Browns DE Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney vs. Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa

The onus on covering Hill and Waddle will primarily fall on Ward and Greg Newsome II in the Browns' secondary. They'll be tasked with trying to keep those two talents from getting loose and wreaking havoc. To put all of it on those two, or the secondary as a whole, is to underestimate the importance of a good pass rush in good pass coverage. That's why Garrett and Clowney have to play near their peak. Tagovailoa is known for getting the ball out fast. Garrett and Clowney are known for getting to the quarterback fast. Well, whoever wins that race more often than not is going to certainly help determine who wins the game.

Cleveland Browns player to watch: RB Nick Chubb

Don't overthink this too much. The secret to keeping Miami's potent offense from doing too much damage is to keep them on the sidelines. That's where the Browns' rushing game, No. 3 in the league led by the No. 2-ranked rusher, figures into things. Chubb has chewed up the yardage to the tune of 841 yards over the first eight games. When he's on, which is often, he's almost impossible to bring down with just one tackler. The Browns need Chubb, and Kareem Hunt, to help them methodically chew up yards and chew up clock, keeping the Dolphins offense from chewing them up.

Miami Dolphins player to watch: LB Bradley Chubb

Let's make this a family thing, if you will. While his cousin figures to be key to the Browns' offensive success, the recently-acquired Bradley Chubb is going to be a big part of what Miami's defense does in this game. In his first game with the Dolphins after being picked up at the trade deadline from Denver, Chubb played in 54 of Miami's 74 defensive snaps in last Sunday's win at Chicago with one assisted stop in the game. Both teams expect to see more Chubb in his second game for the Dolphins. It just can't be to the point where he completely alters what the Browns can do on offense.

Three numbers: Just call it 'Third-and-Tua'

147

The Dolphins' quarterback has had success on all three downs. However, Tagovailoa has been dominating on third down, with the highest third-down passer rating in the league since 1991 at 147. He's 42-of-61 for 601 yards and eight touchdowns on third down this season. His 10.54 yards-per-attempt average is the fourth-best in the league since 1991.

2

The Browns had just two wins coming out of the bye week between 2011-19. Since Kevin Stefanski was hired as the coach in 2020, they've posted 2-0 records in the game after the break. A year ago, they held on for a 24-22 win at home over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 14, while they emerged from the 2020 bye with a 10-7 win over the Houston Texans in Week 10.

266

The Browns have faced Hill twice during his time with the Kansas City Chiefs: in the AFC Divisional round following the 2020 season and in the 2021 season opener. In those two games, Hill has caught 15 passes for 266 yards and one touchdown. A year ago, Hill had 11 catches for 197 yards and his lone scoring catch against Cleveland, a game-changing 75-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

Contact Chris at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com.

On Twitter: @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns look to cool off red-hot Dolphins in must-win game