The weather in Cleveland was absolutely miserable on October 19, 2025. If you were looking for a high-flying aerial assault from Mike McDaniel’s offense, you were in for a rude awakening. Instead of the usual fireworks, fans got a soggy, turnover-heavy mess that ended with a lopsided 31-6 final Dolphins vs Browns score.
It was ugly.
Honestly, if you’re a Miami fan, this game felt like a tipping point. Tua Tagovailoa had one of those days you want to scrub from the history books. Three interceptions. A career-low passer rating of 24.1. It wasn't just the rain; it was a total systemic failure against a Browns defense that finally looked like the "Alpha Dawgs" they claim to be.
The Quinshon Judkins Show
While Tua was struggling to grip the ball, the Browns leaned on a rookie who didn't seem to care about the mud. Quinshon Judkins basically took over the game. He finished with three rushing touchdowns, becoming the first Browns back to do that since Nick Chubb back in 2022.
Cleveland's coaching staff actually adjusted their game plan late in the week after seeing the forecast. They went heavy on the Wildcat formation. Judkins was taking direct snaps, bobbling them occasionally because of the wet leather, but still finding holes in a Miami front that looked exhausted by the second quarter.
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His 46-yard touchdown run with about eleven minutes left in the second quarter was the backbreaker. It put Cleveland up 10-3, and they never looked back.
A Defensive Masterclass at Huntington Bank Field
The Dolphins vs Browns score doesn't even tell the whole story of how dominant Cleveland's defense was. They forced four turnovers in total. Cornerback Tyson Campbell, who Cleveland snagged from the Jaguars earlier in the month, had the highlight of the night.
Right at the start of the second half, Tua tried to loft a screen pass to De'Von Achane. It was too high. The ball tipped, Campbell snatched it, and he toed the sideline for a 34-yard pick-six. Suddenly, a 17-6 halftime lead turned into 24-6. The game was effectively over.
Grant Delpit, Ronnie Hickman, and the usual suspect Myles Garrett were everywhere. Garrett got his fifth sack of the season, and the secondary made Tua look like a rookie. Miami actually outgained Cleveland in total yardage (219 to 206), which is wild when you think about it. But when you turn the ball over four times and settle for field goals, you lose by 25 points.
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Key Stats from the October 2025 Matchup
- Final Score: Browns 31, Dolphins 6
- Turnovers: Miami 4, Cleveland 0
- Passing: Tua Tagovailoa (12/23, 100 yards, 0 TD, 3 INT)
- Rushing: Quinshon Judkins (25 carries, 84 yards, 3 TDs)
- Weather: Heavy rain, high winds
Why the Dolphins vs Browns Score Still Matters
This wasn't just a random Week 7 loss for Miami. It dropped them to 1-6 on the season. The vibes in the locker room were at an all-time low. Mike McDaniel was getting peppered with questions about his job security after the game. He called the questions "offensive," but when you're 29-29 over four seasons and your offense is putting up 6 points, people are going to talk.
Cleveland, on the other hand, used this win to snap a three-game skid. They weren't great—Dillon Gabriel only threw for 116 yards—but they were disciplined. They played "wet weather football" while Miami played like they were still in the 80-degree humidity of South Florida.
Historical Context of the Rivalry
This series has always been closer than people realize. Before this 2025 blowout, the teams met in Week 17 of the 2024 season. That one went the other way, with the Dolphins winning 20-3 behind Tyler Huntley while Tua was out with a hip injury.
If you go back to 2022, Miami crushed Cleveland 39-17. It’s been a seesaw. The all-time record is incredibly tight, with Miami holding a slim 15-14 lead in the series.
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Interestingly, the Browns' biggest margin of victory in this matchup is still a 44-0 shutout from all the way back in 1946. This 2025 win doesn't quite hit those heights, but for a modern NFL game, a 25-point margin is a certified thumping.
Lessons for the Rematch
If these two meet again soon, Miami has to figure out the "toughness" factor. They rely so much on speed and timing. When the wind picks up and the field gets slick, Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill lose their biggest advantage.
Cleveland proved that a strong ground game and a ball-hawking secondary can neutralize a "genius" offensive system. They didn't try to out-scheme McDaniel; they just hit harder and held onto the ball.
To track future matchups or see if Miami can avenge this blowout, keep an eye on the official NFL schedule releases and the injury reports for Tua Tagovailoa. His ability to bounce back from low-passer-rating games has been a major talking point in South Florida.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Watch the Tape: If you can, go back and watch the second-quarter Wildcat snaps by Judkins to see how Cleveland exploited Miami’s edge containment.
- Check the 2026 Schedule: Look for when these two teams are slated to play next to see if Miami gets them at home in the heat instead of the Cleveland cold.
- Monitor Tua’s Stats: Follow Tagovailoa’s performance in games where the temperature is below 50 degrees; it's becoming a clear trend for bettors and analysts alike.