Another scorefest

If there's one thing the Browns don't need heading into Sunday's game down in Miami against the Dolphins, it's a red-hot team with a red-hot quarterback. And that's exactly what awaits them.

The Dolphins currently ride the crest of a three-game winning streak with a quarterback putting up stunning numbers with a cadre of receivers quite capable of making any secondary look amateurish, if not downright buffoonish.

And with the problems the Browns' secondary has encountered this season, Sunday's meeting does not bode well for a team that can ill afford to lose in a season that has come down to winning at all costs from here on out.

Wait a minute. This sounds awfully familiar.

If memory serves, the Browns' last game before entering the bye week was another of those win-or-kiss-the-season-goodbye affairs against a red-hot team with a red-hot quarterback and we all know how that turned out. So, too, do the Cincinnati Bengals.

The only difference this time is the Dolphins' best receivers are disgustingly healthy as opposed to the Bengals missing Ja'Marr Chase. Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has the luxury of throwing to Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, not even arguably the best receiver tandem in the National Football League.

Tagovailoa is having a spectacular season while fighting through concussion issues that sidelined him for two games. He has thrown for nearly 2,000 yards in seven games, winning six of them, and has passed for 945 yards and seven touchdowns in the last three with no picks (he has only three this season).

He has unerring accuracy and absolutely no fear throwing into extremely tight windows because of his deceptively strong arm. The lefty is also crafty and slippery in the pocket, absorbing only eight sacks for a team that throws the ball two-thirds of the time.

The Cleveland run defense, which has been spotty all season, needn't worry in this one. Running backs Raheem Mostert, the since-departed Chase Edmonds, along with newly acquired Jeff Wilson Jr. have  have combined for only 649 yards. This is a throw-first team.

Hill, who joined the Dolphins after six seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes II, has proved he makes quarterbacks look better than the other way around. The sure-handed speedster already has 76 receptions for 1,104 yards and three touchdowns mostly with Tagovailoa after nine games, stats many players would be thrilled with for an entire season.

Waddle is taking great advantage of playing second fiddle to his new teammate, scoring six times, each celebrated with his now-famous waddle, with 47 grabs for 814 yards. Both specialize in getting open, Hill frequently coming free after motioning away from the football.

In order to at least slow these two down, the Browns must play man defense and make it difficult for them to become available for Tagovailoa.  Zoning them will make life difficult. That would enable Tagovailoa time to locate his receivers and deliver the ball with amazing quickness.

Singling up those receivers slows him down and gives whatever kind of pass rush defensive coordinator Joe Woods calls a chance to be successful. The whole idea is to either flush him out of the pocket or make him throw the ball before wants to. It's all about timing. The more the rush messes with that timing, the less effective he will be.

The good news is the Browns will be stronger on defense for this one. Cornerback Denzel Ward is back after several weeks in concussion protocol, defensive end Myles Garrett is recovering nicely from his automobile accident a month ago and fellow quarterback disturber Jadeveon Clowney's ankle is better.

Rookie Martin Emerson Jr., who filled in nicely during Ward's absence, most likely will move over to slot corner, giving the Cleveland secondary its strongest coverage of the season on the outside.

However, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah's bad knee will sideline him for a second straight game, once again giving linebacker Sione Takitaki a shot at leading the team in tackles for a third straight week. He had 13 in the Bengals victory and eight in the loss to Baltimore.

On the other side of the ball, Wyatt Teller returns to right guard after missing two games, but David Njoku will miss his second game in a row with a high ankle sprain. That probably means tight ends Harrison Bryant and Pharaoh Brown will be used primarily as blockers.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski lately has heavily featured the ground game with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, enhancing their talents with jumbo run packages featuring the tight ends and extra offensive linemen, usually Michael Dunn and James Hudson III.

The whole idea is to keep Tagovailoa tethered to the bench as much as possible, minimizing his time in the huddle. Use the game clock as a weapon on offense so to speak. Worked beautifully against the Bengals and Joe Burrow.

Bottom line: Both teams have few problems scoring, although they do it in different ways, and numerous problems preventing the opposition from scoring, All of which portends a high-scoring game. 

A couple of stats here first: These two teams have met only 20 times over the years, the Dolphins holding an 11-9 edge. Since 1999, however, the Browns are 5-3 against the Dolphins, but only 1-2 in Miami. And they are less than mediocre coming out of the bye week, losing 12 of 21 since '99, 4-8 on the road.

The main differences between these two teams Sunday is one (the Dolphins) is playing consistent football and on a roll, and the other isn't. More importantly, one of is trying to stay alive and the other is very much alive and thriving. Home field and a hot quarterback says the Dolphins will outlast the Browns and just about short-circuit their quest for a miracle comeback. Make it:

Dolphins 34, Browns 28