Both the Cleveland Browns and the Miami Dolphins entered Sunday’s game at Hard Rock Stadium winless on the season at 0-2. When it was all said and done, the Dolphins were the team that got off the schneid and entered the winner’s circle for the first time this season.
Miami defeated Cleveland in overtime 30-24 as the the Browns rallied from an 11 point deficit to force overtime. With less than a minute in the fourth quarter, tied at 24. Corey Lemonier sack and stripped quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Then with four seconds left in regulation, the Browns had a chance to win the game but kicker Cody Parkey missed a 46-yard field goal.
With 8:26 left in overtime, Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi scored an 11-yard touchdown to win the game. He finished the game with seven carries and 28 yards.
After struggling with two interceptions in the first half, Miami quarterback Ryan Tannehill finished 25 of 39 for 319 yards and three touchdowns. Receivers Jarvis Landry and DeVante Parker both had receiving touchdowns on Sunday. Landry finished with seven catches for 120 yards and a touchdown. Parker recorded three receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown.
In his first start in the NFL, rookie Browns quarterback Cody Kessler was 21 of 33 for 244 yards. In his South Florida homecoming, former Miami Hurricanes running back Duke Johnson rushed for 69 yards on 10 carries for the Browns. The Browns player of the game was Terrelle Pryor who caught eight passes for 144 yards.
The Browns player of the game was Terrelle Pryor who caught eight passes for 144 yards. He also rushed for 21 yards and a touchdown.
Miami got off to a rocky start because, on the second play of the game, Tannehill threw an interception to former teammate cornerback Jamar Taylor at the Dolphins 30-yard line. Then on a third and nine play at the Dolphins 32-yard line, Dolphins defensive end sacked and stripped Browns Cody Kessler. Miami defensive end Jason Jones then recovered the football at the 39-yard line.
The very next drive, the Dolphins took the ball 61 yards down the field as Tannehill threw a 26-yard pass to receiver DeVante Parker to take a 7-0 lead.
With 13:47 left in the second quarter, Parkey got the team on the board with 46-yard field goal to make the game 7-3 Dolphins.
Later on in the second quarter, Tannehill’s pass to Kenny Stills was intercepted by Briean Boddy-Calhoun as he returned it for a touchdown to give the Browns the 10-7 lead with 7:01 left in the second quarter.
At halftime, the Browns were up 13-10.
Cleveland received the ball after halftime, but they were unable to capitalize on it. Parkey missed a 42-yard field goal that would have extended their lead to six points.
After the missed field goal, the Dolphins went on a drive that resulted in a Tannehill 42-yard touchdown pass to Jarvis Landry to take the lead 17-13 with 5:29 left in the third quarter.
With 14:17 in the fourth quarter, Tannehill threw another touchdown pass, this time to running back Damien Williams that extended their lead 24-13.
Then the Browns drove down the field on a nine play, 83-yard drive that ended in a Pryor touchdown run. Then the Browns converted a two-point conversion on a pass from Kessler to tight end Gart Barnridge to make the score 24-21
Kessler was injured on that drive as he took a hit from Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake. The officials took Keesler out of the game to check for a concussion, but he was later cleared.
Late in the fourth quarter with 3:14 left, the Browns tied the game with a 38-yard field goal.
In four days, the Dolphins will be back on the field again as they will travel to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals. Cleveland will also be on the road in Week 4 as they will play the Washington Redskins.
