The Opening Drive 10/20: Victory Over Miami Answers Locker Room Questions; More Tests To Come
Browns addressed questions regarding Stefanski and the locker room, but more need to be answered this week.
Welcome to your VICTORY MONDAY EDITION of the Opening Drive. In a game featuring two teams desperate for a win, the Browns played with more desperation and beat the Dolphins going away, 31-6. The Browns’ defense, which sometimes disappears for stretches when they are on the road, returned in a significant way and dominated the game from start to finish.
The steady downpour of rain throughout the entirety of the game, along with some gusty winds, led the Browns’ offense to hand the ball off to Quinshon Judkins 25 times for a total of 86 yards and three touchdowns. Offense was hard to come by, and while the run game wasn’t efficient on a down-to-down basis, they stayed committed to running the football.
After the teams traded field goals, Judkins broke free for a 46-yard touchdown, and the Browns never looked back. The Dolphins committed 11 penalties for 103 yards while the Browns committed just five for 37.
Schwartz had the defense ready to play. They were flying all over the field making plays. They forced three interceptions and recovered a fumble, completely controlling the game. Rayshawn Jenkins, Tyson Campbell, and Ronnie Hickman all came up with takeaways, while the Browns limited Miami to just 219 total yards and a 1-for-13 effort on third downs. The way the defense dictated the tone of the game was impressive as they never let Miami get going and had Tua Tagovailoa in a bad place, eventually getting benched.
Below you’ll find the latest in the BFB catalog for supporters to dig into. Click the link to become a supporter if you haven’t already, and enjoy all the latest from Browns Film Breakdown.
What’s Going On at Browns Film Breakdown
Latest Podcasts:
Victory Monday Edition: Recapping the Browns 31-6 Win over the Dolphins
Joe Flacco Thoughts, Myles Garrett Quotes, Injury Report, and CFB Saturday
Latest Film Rooms:
Latest Articles:
The Browns needed this win for morale in a bad way. They needed to have a good showing to quiet some of the noise outside the building. The most important thing I needed to see, though, was the intensity and effort. There was a fear that Stefanski had lost this locker room, but they responded by playing with passion and intensity delivering the brand of football we want to see.
While they didn’t fix the offense on Sunday, they did what they had to do. The discipline in sticking to the run and being opportunistic when the defense gave them field position was critical. The Browns scored on every trip to the red zone, and they were aided by a defensive touchdown from Campbell, who returned an interception for a touchdown.
Schwartz deployed a three-safety dime package 23 times on Sunday, featuring Jenkins as extra safety, and he played with his hair on fire. He created pressure blitzing the quarterback, grabbed an interception, and played with some serious physicality, laying multiple hard hits on the Dolphins. The defense as a whole was flying around the field and doing a ton of hitting.
While the run efficiency is somewhat deceiving because of Judkins’ 46-yard scamper to the endzone, it was their commitment to the game plan that was most impressive. This offense still has issues to resolve, and will need to figure out how to create some explosive plays when the weather isn’t what it was today, but Dillon Gabriel did what was required of him to win the game handily, going 13-of-18 with no turnovers and a passer rating of 89.1. With a lead, he was able to manage the game efficiently and convert on some key third downs.
This game was about getting one win. Now you worry about the next one, but after the brutal schedule the Browns opened with, they needed to prove that they still believe in themselves and their coaching staff. It was a good response considering the weather conditions and game script. They showed they can dominate an inferior opponent and that they are still bought in on competing for Stefanski.
The Stefanski way is “one week at a time.” He still has plenty of questions to answer and much to prove with the rest of the 2025-26 season. However, his team played a good football game for him this week, and at the very least showed they can and will compete. So, I will take the win and commend their ability to impose their will on the Dolphins...for now. There is still much to learn about Stefanski and this team in the coming weeks.
There are winnable games ahead of them, and the AFC North is wide open. At 2-5, this team will need to attack this Patriots game with everything they have. Another win going into their bye week would give them some life with two weeks to get healthy, a much-needed self-scouting process, and the opportunity to potentially answer the other questions we have about this team’s direction…including those regarding Stefanski and this offense.
Browns Film Breakdown will return later today with some fresh All-22 content.
