MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Dolphins had seen how potent their passing game could be for weeks.
On Sunday, they saw what they could do on the ground following the recent trade deadline move.
Jeff Wilson, the newest member of the Dolphins’ backfield, led a potent rushing attack with 119 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries as he and Raheem Mostert (65 yards and a touchdown on eight carries) led Miami to a 39-17 rout of the Cleveland Browns at Hard Rock Stadium.
The Dolphins (7-3) head into their bye week on a four-game winning streak and also shut down one of the league’s best running games in front of an announced crowd of 66,563, which according to the team, was the most tickets distributed for a Dolphins home game since the stadium was modernized in 2015.
Meanwhile, the chants started late in the third quarter.
“M-V-P, M-V-P!”
How quickly things can change in the NFL.
Less than a year after some of those same fans likely doubted whether Tua Tagovailoa was the right quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, they watched as he directed an offense that Cleveland barely slowed down.
It was the first game in which the Dolphins did not attempt a punt since 2003.
Tagovailoa completed 25 of 32 passes for 285 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 135.0 passer rating.
The Browns, who are still waiting for Deshaun Watson (the quarterback many wanted the Dolphins to go after to replace him), finished with 112 yards on the ground. But most of that came when Nick Chubb spun off a tackler and sped down the sideline for a 33-yard touchdown that cut Miami’s lead to 30-17 with 13:09 left in the fourth quarter.
Chubb, who finished with 63 yards on 11 carries, was held under 100 yards for the fourth time this season. Miami has not allowed a 100-yard game to a running back this season.
Tagovailoa’s former backup, Jacoby Brissett, completed 22 of 35 passes for 212 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. The Dolphins’ defense recorded three sacks as Christian Wilkins and Melvin Ingram each had one.
The Dolphins’ defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah (elbow) and Keion Crossen (shoulder) both left the game in the first half and did not return. Cornerback Justin Bethel also left the game in the fourth quarter.
