Miami recorded their eighth win of the season, defeating Cleveland 20-3 on Sunday evening at Huntington Bank Field. This marks the fifth consecutive season the Dolphins have won eight or more games, the franchise's longest streak since it recorded 15 consecutive seasons from 1989 to 2003.
The Dolphins have won six of their last eight games dating back to Miami's 23-15 win over the L.A. Rams on Nov. 11, 2024. Miami is one of seven teams in the NFL to record six wins since Week 10. Only Minnesota, Philadelphia, Kansas City and Detroit have more wins in that span.
We go Inside the Numbers, presented by BDO, to take a look at the most notable team stats, individual metrics, milestones and more from Miami's Week 17 win.
Huntley Has Precise Performance
In his fourth start of the season, quarterback Tyler Huntley completed 22-of-26 pass attempts (84.6 pct.) for 225 yards and a touchdown with a passer rating of 115.0, while adding seven carries for 52 yards (7.4 avg.) and a rushing touchdown. His 84.6 completion percentage and 11.0 passer rating were career highs for the Dania Beach native.
Huntley's 225 passing yards were the second-most in his career and his best performance in terms of yardage since he threw for 270 against Cleveland on Dec. 12, 2021. It marked the second time in his career that he has passed for a touchdown and rushed for a touchdown in
the same game.
His performance marked the first time a Dolphins player has passed for a touchdown and rushed for a touchdown since quarterback Tua Tagovailoa did so against New England on Sept. 12, 2021. He is the first Dolphin to pass for 225-plus yards, complete 80.0 percent of his passes, pass for a touchdown and rush for a touchdown without throwing an interception since Jay Fiedler against Dallas on Nov. 11, 2003.
Defense Nearly Pitches a Shutout
The Dolphins held Cleveland to three points on the afternoon, the fewest points Miami has allowed this season and the best performance since shutting out the N.Y. Jets on Dec. 17, 2023. It marked the second time that the Dolphins did not allow a touchdown in a game this season (Nov. 11, 2024 at L.A. Rams) and the fifth time under Head Coach Mike McDaniel.
The defense stepped up to make pivotal plays on several occasions, stopping the Browns in two goal-to-go opportunities and three times in the red zone, allowing one field goal. Miami forced four turnovers on downs, holding the Browns to zero fourth down conversions, and forced two turnovers on Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, marking the fourth time this season the Dolphins have had multiple takeaways in a game.
The defense held Cleveland to 276 total yards – 114 rushing, 162 passing – marking the eighth time this season Miami has limited opponents to less than 300 yards in a game. Only Philadelphia (10) and Tennessee (nine) have more such performances this season. The performance was Miami's seventh game holding opponents to 165 or less passing yards, tied for the most games in the NFL this season.
Dodson's Career Day Leads Defense
Linebacker Tyrel Dodson had a career-best performance in Cleveland, totaling a career-high 15 tackles (eight solo), one interception, one pass defensed and a quarterback hit. The 15 tackles are the most by a Dolphins player this season and the most since linebacker Jerome Baker had 16 against New England on Sept. 13, 2020.
Dodson is the first Dolphins player since at least 1994 to record 15 tackles and an interception in the same game, and one of two players to do so this season, joining Atlanta's Troy Andersen. He's totaled 103 tackles (56 solo) this year, marking the first time he has reached 100 tackles in a season in his career.
Dodson was the only Dolphins defender to play all 79 of Miami's defensive snaps in Cleveland. His career-high performance earned him AFC Defensive Player of the Week.
Smith Ties Tight End Touchdown Record
Tight end Jonnu Smith caught three passes for 26 yards (8.7 avg.) and a touchdown, which gave Miami a 20-3 lead in the fourth quarter.
Smith, who set the franchise record for receptions and receiving yards last week against San Francisco, tied Keith Jackson and Anthony Fasano for the single-season franchise record for receiving touchdowns by a tight end (seven) in Sunday's victory over Cleveland. Smith ranks second among AFC tight ends in receiving yards and ranks fourth in the NFL.
Sanders Adds to Franchise Record
Kicker Jason Sanders continued his franchise-record consecutive field goal streak, going two-for-two on his field goal attempts (54 and 39 yards) and two-for-two on extra points. He has now made 25 consecutive field goals, the longest streak in franchise history and the longest active streak in the NFL. With his eight points against Cleveland, Sanders' 2024 season marks the fourth-highest point total in franchise history and the third-best output of his career.
Sanders has converted 35-of-39 field goals (89.7 pct.) in 2024, the second-best total in his career and is tied for third in the NFL. He is the only kicker in the NFL to make a field goal in each game played this season. In doing so, Sanders has made a field goal in 16 consecutive games, which is the longest active streak in the NFL and the longest streak of his career, and is tied for the third-longest streak in franchise history.
He has made nine consecutive field goal attempts from 50-plus yards, the longest active streak in the NFL. It is the second-longest streak in Dolphins history and the longest since Sanders made 10 in a row across the 2019 and 2020 seasons. His 12 field goals from 50 yards or further are the most in franchise history in a single season.
Hill Eclipses 11,000 Receiving Yards
Wide receiver Tyreek Hill caught nine passes for 105 yards (11.7 avg.), recording his third game with 100 receiving yards this season. With his 105 receiving yards, Hill became the 43rd player in NFL history to reach the 11,000 receiving yard mark and just the seventh to accomplish the feat within their first nine seasons in the NFL.
The performance was Hill's 36th career game with 100-plus receiving yards. Since entering the league, only N.Y. Jets wide receiver Davante Adams has more such games (44). It was his 18th such game since joining the Dolphins in 2022, which is the third most in franchise history.
With his nine catches, Hill improved his season total to 79 receptions and recorded the seventh season of his career with at least 75 receptions, which is tied for the second most by a player in their first nine seasons; only Torry Holt has more with eight.
Individual/Team Stats and Milestones
Linebacker Jordyn Brooks added to his team lead in tackles, making nine stops (eight solo) to give him 137 on the season (83 solo), while adding his 11th tackle for loss. He now has the most tackles by a Dolphin in a single season since 2007.
Running back De'Von Achane carried the ball 10 times for 25 yards (2.5 avg.) and caught two passes for 13 yards (6.5 avg.). He leads NFL running backs with 78 receptions and 592 receiving yards and is tied for first with six receiving touchdowns (Rachaad White, Tampa Bay). Achane, who already holds the Dolphins running back record for receiving touchdowns and receptions in a season, climbed to fifth in receiving yards by a running back.
Defensive tackle Zach Sieler totaled four tackles against Cleveland, increasing his season total to 49 (24 solo). Dating back to Sept. 13, 2020 at New England, Sieler has recorded at least one tackle in each of the 81 games he has played, which is the longest active streak by a defensive lineman in the league.
Defensive tackle Calais Campbell recorded three tackles (one solo), a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit. He appeared in his 260th career game and started his 241st game. Campbell's 241 games started are the third-most by a defensive lineman in NFL history, trailing only Jim Marshall (277) and Bruce Smith (267).
