The Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins will kick off at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 29.
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns (3-12) are skidding toward the merciful end of a miserable year on a four-game losing streak. It’s long been too late to save their own season, but they still have a chance to wreck their opponent’s as they host the Miami Dolphins (7-8).
Game info, how to watch on TV, betting line
- Date: Sunday, Dec. 29
- Time: 1 p.m.
- Location: Huntington Bank Field, Cleveland
- TV Channel: CBS
- Radio: ESPN 850, 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX
- Betting line: -6.5 Dolphins / +6.5 Browns
- Over-under point total: 40
- Buy tickets HERE
Preview
The Cleveland Browns may be entering their second to last game of 2024, but their season has long been over. With little more than personal pride on the line in Week 17, the Browns will look to doom Miami’s season as the Dolphins enter Sunday needing help to make the playoffs.
Turnovers, costly penalties and miscues all over the field have repeatedly doomed Cleveland during a season that many thought would see the Browns translate the momentum of last year’s promising campaign into becoming true contenders. Instead, this season was fully off the rails by October and Cleveland’s future is as uncertain as ever — especially at the crucial quarterback position.
For the second consecutive week, that QB position will likely be filled by Dorian Thompson-Robinson on Sunday. In his first start against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16, DTR threw for 157 yards, ran for 49 and was intercepted twice.
After recovering from a finger injury earlier this year, the UCLA grad also mopped up for Jameis Winston after he threw his eighth interception in three games during the 21-7 loss to Kansas City on Dec. 15. Thompson-Robinson was back on the injury list this week listed as limited with a calf issue, but if he’s healthy enough, he’ll start against Miami, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said.
If DTR does play, the Browns front office will be watching him closely with an eye toward next season amid Cleveland’s ever-turning quarterback carousel. Deshaun Watson looked practically unplayable for most of the season even before suffering a season-ending Achilles tear. The $230 million man is expected to be back next year, if only because his gargantuan albatross of a contract makes it virtually impossible to move him anywhere else. While the offense looked more functional under Winston, the 30-year-old journeyman was a turnover machine. DTR was uninspiring in his first start, but could he grow into a viable option? Is the Browns’ next long-term answer at QB even in the building right now?
The uncertainty extends beyond Cleveland’s quarterback room. Defensive end Myles Garrett, who recently became the youngest player ever to record more than 100 career sacks, has two years left on a five-year, $125 million contract extension. Garrett, who turns 29 on Sunday, has made clear to both the media and Browns management that he is “not trying to rebuild.” While Garrett reiterated he wants to play out his career in Cleveland, he also left the door open to leaving town, saying playing elsewhere is “a possibility.” If he really doesn’t want to rebuild — as Cleveland almost certainly will in some capacity — could Sunday be the reigning Defensive Player of the Year’s last home game as a Cleveland Brown?
While Cleveland is already looking toward the offseason, Miami (7-8) desperately needs a win. Even if the Dolphins beat the Browns and and win in Week 18 on Jan. 5, they will still need other results around the league to go their way and keep their postseason hopes alive. A Browns win would knock the Dolphins out of the AFC playoff picture entirely.
Last week, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw for 215 yards and a touchdown as the Dolphins earned a gutsy 29-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers. Tagovailoa has thrown 17 touchdowns and four interceptions since returning from concussion protocol on Oct. 27.