5 takeaways from the Dolphins' blowout 31-6 loss to the Browns

C. Isaiah Smalls II, Miami Herald on Oct 19, 2025

Published in Football

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The Miami Dolphins could very well be one of the worst teams in the NFL.

That much was confirmed Sunday when the Dolphins lost 31-6 to the Cleveland Browns to fall to 1-6. Only the lowly New York Jets – the Dolphins’ sole victory – have a worse record.

Whether you want to blame the run defense, the penalties or the turnovers, it doesn’t change the bottom line: this team just doesn’t have what it takes.

What comes next is unclear. If owner Stephen Ross wants to make changes, then when will they occur? Or will Ross stick it out with the current regime, as he reportedly wants to do?

Time will only tell, but it doesn’t change how unfortunate it is to be a Dolphins fan in 2025.

Run defense is lackluster

Quinshon Judkins came in with better per game rushing numbers than Josh Jacobs, Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley.

Throw in the stormy conditions that plagued Northeast Ohio and Judkins’ career day was a bit inevitable.

The former Ohio State standout finished with 25 carries for 84 yards and three touchdowns. Two of his trio scores came in the first half.

Miami, a team that already struggled with tackling, just couldn’t bring down the 6-foot, 220-pound back. Nowhere was that more evident than his first two touchdown runs, when he evaded his fair share of tacklers en route to the score.

Penalties are killer

Penalties are often a sign of an undisciplined football team and the Dolphins had more than double (11) the amount of infractions than the Browns (five).

What’s worse is that many of the Dolphins’ penalties came during key situations. Think back to the Browns’ first scoring drive when two penalties — cornerback Rasul Douglas’ illegal contact and defensive tackle Zach Sieler’s roughing the passer — put Cleveland into scoring range. Fast-forward to their next drive, and Ashtyn Davis’ interception got wiped off the board due to Minkah Fitzpatrick’s pass interference. The very next play: Judkins’ 46-yard scamper.

In total, the Dolphins’ 11 penalties lost the team 103 yards.

Passing game noexistent

To say the Dolphins’ passing game was nonexistent would be an understatement.

Tua Tagovailoa complete just 52% of his passes for 100 yards and three interceptions. Jaylen Waddle had one catch. And Darren Waller, who exited the game in the second quarter with a pectoral injury, didn’t even record a target.

Malik Washington led the Dolphins in catches with five for 30 yards. Dee Eskridge added a team-high 45 yards on two catches. De’Von Achane, the lone bright spot in the offense, finished with his 13 carries for 82 yards. He also grabbed three catches for 16 yards.

It’s not like Dillon Gabriel — 72% completion for 116 yards — had a much better day. The rookie just didn’t put the ball in harm’s way as much as the sixth-year veteran did.

Tagovailoa was later pulled in the fourth quarter in favor of rookie signal caller Quinn Ewers. The seventh-round pick completed five of his eight passes for 53 yards.

What an ugly, ugly day for the Dolphins offense.

Ball protection issues

Win the turnover battle, win the game.

The Browns certainly did that, forcing four total turnovers while not committing a single one themselves.

As previously mentioned, Tagovailoa threw three interceptions, one of which Browns cornerback Tyson Campbell returned for a touchdown. Another came when Tagovailoa, already deep in his own end zone, just threw the ball over the middle and landed in the hands of safety Rayshawn Jenkins who took the ball to the Miami 2-yard line. One play later, Judkins had his third score of the day.

The other turnover came courtesy of Dee Eskridge who coughed off the ball on a kick return in the second quarter.

In total, the Dolphins’ four turnovers led to 21 points.

Poor second-half execution

Here’s how each of the Dolphins’ second half drives ended:

Pick-six. Punt. Turnover on downs. Interception. Interception. Punt. Turnover on downs.

Regardless of how poor the defense is, you can’t turn the ball over three times in the second half — let alone any game — and expect to come out on top.

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