Week 10: Dolphins vs Browns

Week 10: Dolphins vs Browns

Week 10 is here! The Miami Dolphins are back to the best version of themselves offensively. There are media outlets actually talking about the Dolphins as one of the best offenses in the league. Tua Tagovailoa is getting kudos from the national media.

Dan Orlovsky and Ryan Clark have been singing his praises on national tv this week. Orlovsky’s long-term support for Tua is starting to pay off in making him look right!

Tua had perhaps his most efficient game as the quarterback of the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. He completed 21 passes on 30 attempts for 302 yards, three touchdowns, and no turnovers. He averaged 10.6 yards per attempt. The third time he’s done that in the six games he’s started this season. To put it into perspective is something he did just once prior to the 2022 season. In week 10, he will face a tough Browns defense. It will be nice to see a solid game against a stout defense.

Week 10 Notes: Outstanding Offense, Struggling Defense

Tyreek Hill has been magnificent this season! He has even helped mentor Jaylen Waddle and the rest of the receivers. Hill is a valuable asset to Tua but that goes without saying. Hill has over 1,100 yards through just nine games. Tua only played in six and a half of those games so he is doing with whoever is at QB. Tyreek now has the record for the most receiving yards through nine games of the season in NFL history (1,104 yards). Hopefully, he adds triple digits to those numbers in week 10.

Hill had seven catches for 143 yards and a touchdown against the Bears on Sunday. The fifth time this season that he’s been over 100 yards. I can’t speak highly enough of what the Dolphins have got in return for the haul they sent to the Kansas City Chiefs for the three-time First-Team All-Pro.

Need Some Defense

Miami’s win on Sunday didn’t come without a struggle though. The defense allowed Justin Fields and his offense to feast on them all afternoon. Fields has looked largely average this season but achieved the best QBR rating of his two-year NFL career against Miami. The Dolphins allowed Fields to break the NFL record for rushing yards by a quarterback. They allowed the second-year Bears QB to rush for 178 yards and a touchdown.

The Dolphins continue to struggle against scrambling QBs this season. Sunday’s game highlighted some potential issues on a defense that has been plagued by injury so far this season.

Bradley Chubb had a quiet debut, but we’ll allow him the time to settle into the scheme and his life in Miami. Judging by the contract he’s going to be with us for a while. He is certainly a key addition bringing something Miami desperately needed in a valuable pass rusher. Running back Jeff Wilson had a great debut, seeing more of the football than anticipated in a McDaniel offense he already knows well. Wilson rushed for 51 yards on nine carries and caught three passes for 21 yards and a touchdown.

Miami Dolphins vs Cleveland Browns

The Dolphins will host the Cleveland Browns in week 10. Cleveland will be led by former Dolphins quarterback Jacoby Brissett with a point to prove. The Browns have already confirmed that Deshaun Watson will start in Week 11 despite not having practiced with the team all season.

Jacoby Brissett has been up and down as the starting quarterback for the team, but mostly inconsistent. He was effective against the Ravens in Week 7, and even more effective in Week 8 as the Browns beat the Bengals. That said, he’s only thrown seven touchdowns this season with five interceptions.

Amari Cooper is the guy Miami needs to eliminate as a threat in the game. He is one of the league’s best route runners. The Dolphins have struggled in coverage at times. Xavien Howard must be ready for this tough week 10 matchup.

Behind Cooper, the Browns wide receiver group is manageable. Tight end David Njoku has had a few strong performances, and Donovan Peoples-Jones sits third in receptions. The Browns pass game should be manageable. Miami can then focus on the run game. Cleveland has a strong ground game.

Chubb Cousins

Sunday is all about shutting down Nick Chubb. The Dolphins need to be physical at the line of scrimmage. Miami must stop Nick from hitting his stride and getting up to full speed. The key to slowing Nick’s production is getting to him before he picks up speed or hits the second level. That’s the main concern for this defense. The Browns style does play into the strength of Miami’s defense right now. Which is the front seven, run defense, and the addition of Bradley Chubb (Nick’s second cousin).

Double Myles Garrett. Every Play in Week 10

Miami’s offense can bail out an average defensive performance right now. We saw that on Sunday against the Bears. With numerous injuries across the board in the secondary this season. Byron Jones is still yet to play this season and might not return for the remainder. Miami has to have a good day offensively and make every possession count.

Kader Kahou, one of Miami’s undrafted free-agent rookies, played almost every snap at cornerback on Sunday. That highlights how thin the Dolphins are on the back end. Yet, I have to say that Kahou has been impressive thus far as Miami enters week 10.

The number one priority here has to be keeping Myles Garrett away from Tua. Garrett is one of the league’s most impressive game wreckers. He was instrumental in the Browns beating the Cincinnati Bengals in their last game. Fresh off a bye, Garrett and the defense will be full of energy, and enthusiasm. Miami’s offensive line better be ready!

That said, I do believe Mike McDaniel will have a plan for getting the ball out fast. Maybe even faster than we’ve seen this season already. If Miami can scheme around the Browns biggest threat on defense, there’s no reason Tua and his receivers can’t throw for 300 yards once again.

Avoid Turnovers

Efficient drives from the Dolphins offense are pivotal. Take care of the football, drive down the field, and limit opportunities for Nick Chubb. The Browns have struggled on third down conversions in their last three games, converting just 35%, which hurts their season average. If Miami can force them off the field and win the possession game, they should be 7-3 come Monday morning.

I believe Tua and the offense will have another strong day, perhaps with less yardage, but getting the ball out fast and driving on the Browns in Miami. Keep Nick Chubb quiet! Dolphins 27 Browns 20.

Week 10 Injury Reports

Cleveland’s injury report currently lists cornerback Denzel Ward (concussion), tight end David Njoku (ankle), and linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah (knee) as questionable. Neither Ward or Njoku played in the Browns Week 8 Monday Night game against the Bengals, but both will have had almost two weeks of recovery time come Sunday.

For Miami, both River Cracraft (illness) and Austin Jackson (ankle) are listed as questionable.

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