Miami Dolphins vs. Cleveland Browns: 2024 Week 17 Recap

Game story

In Week 17 of the 2024 NFL season on 2024-12-29, the Miami Dolphins took care of business against the Cleveland Browns, pulling away with a 20–3 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 13 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Thompson-Robinson (Cleveland Browns) paced the passing game, with -25.20 total EPA, and -14.9% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Huntley (Miami Dolphins) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +8.17 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-9.4% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Cleveland Browns changed the game: (14:14) (Shotgun) 17-D.Thompson-Robinson pass incomplete short left to 3-J.Jeudy (5-J.Ramsey).

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 T. Huntley · Miami Dolphins · Passing · +8.17 total EPA · 37 snaps · +0.22 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Hill · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +7.34 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.82 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Smith · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +2.95 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.74 EPA/play
4. 4 R. Cracraft · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +2.10 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.10 EPA/play
5. 5 P. Strong · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +1.12 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.22 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Akins · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +0.84 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.10 EPA/play
7. 7 M. Washington · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +0.73 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.15 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Thompson-Robinson · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +0.73 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.24 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Miami Dolphins — T. Huntley (Q3 26:12)
• Miami Dolphins — J. Smith (T. Huntley pass) (Q4 3:43)

Field goals

• Miami Dolphins — J. Sanders (Q1 50:50)
• Cleveland Browns — D. Hopkins (Q2 43:29)
• Miami Dolphins — J. Sanders (Q2 30:01)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 3–0. Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the CLE 36 (Q1 50:50) — (5:50) 7-J.Sanders 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.McQuaide, Holder-16-J.Bailey..

The second quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the MIA 7 (Q2 43:29) — (13:29) 7-D.Hopkins 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-50-R.Sunahara, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the CLE 21 (Q2 30:01) — (:01) 7-J.Sanders 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.McQuaide, Holder-16-J.Bailey..

The third quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 7–0. Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the CLE 13 (Q3 26:12) — (11:12) (Shotgun) 18-T.Huntley scrambles right end for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q3 26:04) — 7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.McQuaide, Holder-16-J.Bailey..

The fourth quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 13–0. Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the CLE 7 (Q4 3:43) — (3:43) (Shotgun) 18-T.Huntley pass short left to 9-J.Smith for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the CLE 15 (Q4 3:38) — 7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.McQuaide, Holder-16-J.Bailey..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Cleveland Browns (Q4 14:14) — (14:14) (Shotgun) 17-D.Thompson-Robinson pass incomplete short left to 3-J.Jeudy (5-J.Ramsey). [WPA -9.4% · EPA -2.29]
• Cleveland Browns (Q2 30:45) — (:45) 27-D.Foreman right guard to MIA 38 for no gain (56-Q.Bell). [WPA -9.3% · EPA -1.98]
• Cleveland Browns (Q3 20:29) — (5:29) (Shotgun) 17-D.Thompson-Robinson sacked at CLE 43 for -9 yards (91-E.Ogbah). FUMBLES (91-E.Ogbah) [91-E.Ogbah], touched at CLE 44, RECOVERED by MIA-90-D.Hand at CLE 45. [WPA -9.2% · EPA -5.04]
• Miami Dolphins (Q3 26:51) — (11:51) (Shotgun) 18-T.Huntley pass deep right to 85-R.Cracraft to CLE 13 for 16 yards (31-M.Ford; 33-R.Hickman). [WPA +8.3% · EPA +2.10]
• Cleveland Browns (Q2 34:41) — (4:41) 17-D.Thompson-Robinson pass deep middle intended for 3-J.Jeudy INTERCEPTED by 11-T.Dodson at 50. 11-T.Dodson to 50 for no gain (3-J.Jeudy). PENALTY on MIA-11-T.Dodson, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, [WPA -8.1% · EPA -2.92]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Cleveland Browns (Q3 20:29) — (5:29) (Shotgun) 17-D.Thompson-Robinson sacked at CLE 43 for -9 yards (91-E.Ogbah). FUMBLES (91-E.Ogbah) [91-E.Ogbah], touched at CLE 44, RECOVERED by MIA-90-D.Hand at CLE 45. [WPA -9.2% · EPA -5.04]
• Miami Dolphins (Q3 18:22) — (3:22) 28-D.Achane right end to CLE 38 for -2 yards (30-D.Bush). [WPA -4.1% · EPA -3.86]
• Cleveland Browns (Q2 34:41) — (4:41) 17-D.Thompson-Robinson pass deep middle intended for 3-J.Jeudy INTERCEPTED by 11-T.Dodson at 50. 11-T.Dodson to 50 for no gain (3-J.Jeudy). PENALTY on MIA-11-T.Dodson, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, [WPA -8.1% · EPA -2.92]
• Cleveland Browns (Q4 4:01) — (4:01) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 17-D.Thompson-Robinson pass short right to 81-M.Woods pushed ob at CLE 21 for 3 yards (20-J.Brooks). [WPA -1.7% · EPA -2.85]

Quarterback report card

D.Thompson-Robinson led all passers in efficiency for Cleveland Browns, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Thompson-Robinson (Cleveland Browns) · 51 dropbacks · 47.1% completion · -14.9% CPOE · -0.49 EPA/play · -25.20 total EPA
• T.Huntley (Miami Dolphins) · 37 dropbacks · 59.5% completion · +22.4% CPOE · +0.22 EPA/play · +8.17 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Miami Dolphins generated the better offensive EPA per play (-0.08 vs -0.29), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Cleveland Browns: 12 drives, -26.50 total EPA, 1 scoring drives
• Miami Dolphins: 13 drives, -5.80 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Miami Dolphins leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• T. Huntley (Miami Dolphins) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Thompson-Robinson (CLE) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• T. Huntley (MIA) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q1 50:50 · CLE 36 · Score 3-0
   (5:50) 7-J.Sanders 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.McQuaide, Holder-16-J.Bailey.
2. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q2 43:29 · MIA 7 · Score 3-3
   (13:29) 7-D.Hopkins 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-50-R.Sunahara, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.
3. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q2 30:01 · CLE 21 · Score 6-3
   (:01) 7-J.Sanders 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.McQuaide, Holder-16-J.Bailey.
4. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q3 26:12 · CLE 13 · Score 12-3
   (11:12) (Shotgun) 18-T.Huntley scrambles right end for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q3 26:04 · CLE 15 · Score 13-3
   7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.McQuaide, Holder-16-J.Bailey.
6. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q4 3:43 · CLE 7 · Score 19-3
   (3:43) (Shotgun) 18-T.Huntley pass short left to 9-J.Smith for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Miami Dolphins TD (+7) — Q4 3:38 · CLE 15 · Score 20-3
   7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.McQuaide, Holder-16-J.Bailey.