Published Oct 14, 4:10pm ET by
Paul Lebowitz - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Oct 14, 4:10pm ET
Grok AI
Updated Oct 14, 4:15pm ET
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| Cleveland Browns | -3 (-105) |
| Miami Dolphins | +3 (-115) |
After the Chargers handed the Dolphins their 5th loss of the season in heartbreaking fashion with a last-minute drive, Miami QB Tua Tagovailoa called out teammates for their lack of accountability.
🎥 Tua Tagovailoa reveals players have been arriving late and not showing up to players only meetings: "We have guys showing up to player online meetings late, guys not showing up to player only meetings." (@MiamiDolphins) #PhinsUp pic.twitter.com/P05u2eb9cH
— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) October 12, 2025
In the loss, Tua completed 21 of 32 passes for 205 yards, 1 TD, and was picked off 3 times. In the game, he posted a 54.8 passer rating.
While what Tua said about his teammates might have been true, it's probably better not to call others out after an objectively bad performance in a loss.
Just when the Dolphins' situation seemed like it couldn't get worse, it got worse.
When apprised of and asked about his starting QB's comments, head coach Mike McDaniel said they were "misguided" and it was not the proper forum to air such concerns.
Like Tua's comments, McDaniel's statement is accurate in spirit, but it encapsulates the Dolphins' myriad problems.
Would Tua have said this had he been playing for former Miami interim coach Dan Campbell? If what Tua said is accurate, would the players have been so apathetic that they would show up late for meetings and essentially disregard their teammates if they played for Campbell?
McDaniel's time as head coach is running out. By now, it would be an act of kindness for owner Stephen Ross to pull the plug on McDaniel's tenure, stick Darrell Bevell in as interim coach, and conduct an extensive search for a long-term solution, starting immediately.
Remember one thing: Their win was against the 0-6 Jets. If they lose to the 1-5 Browns, could that be the end?
There's talent on this team. Tua can play; De'Von Achane is an excellent all-around back; Bradley Chubb is a Pro Bowl pass rusher. But they need strong guidance and an attitude adjustment. Some players need to be cleared from the locker room.
But first, they need to decide what they're doing with their head coach
It's a reasonable question to ask what the Browns' record would be if they had Tua as their QB.
Currently, they are on their second starting QB with Dillon Gabriel. Fans and media are desperately pushing Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski to put newly installed backup Shedeur Sanders in to play.
It should be obvious by now that Stefanski does not want to play Shedeur!!!!
As the season winds down, we will likely see Shedeur in part just to have a look, in part to garner some interest, and in part to shut everyone up.
In addition, Deshaun Watson might not be that far away. But he didn't play much better than Gabriel or Flacco when he was healthy. Stefanski didn't seem to want Watson, and he jettisoned Baker Mayfield, so perhaps someone should ask him exactly who and what he does want in a starting QB.
The Browns lost to the Steelers 23-9 in Week 6. Gabriel completed 29 of 52 passes for 221 yards. He was sacked 6 times for 38 yards.
Jalen Ramsey sack of Dillon Gabriel. Have to think #Steelers anticipated this play.
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) October 13, 2025
- 7 step drop
- Only two WRs in routes
- Both routes deep enough that Ramsey gets there as Gabriel finishes drop.
WR breaking open on out doesn't matter at this depth-timing. #Browns pic.twitter.com/L5etGRWAZV
Blaming Gabriel is silly. Flacco couldn't help the team score either. And Flacco showed in his first game for the Bengals that, if nothing else, he can still sling it.
The Browns have not scored more than 17 points in any game this season. They have a good enough defense that they could make the playoffs, particularly in a weakened AFC North, if their offense were just average.
On defense, they are 7th in the league for defensive passing yards per game and 3rd in defensive rushing yards per game.
They have a good running back in Quinshon Judkins, a Pro Bowl receiver in Jerry Jeudy, and a solid tight end in David Njoku. The frequent defense of Stefanski is that he's a two-time NFL Coach of the Year.
Great.
How long does he get to live off that while the team is losing non-stop?
| PLAYER | STATUS |
|---|---|
| Tyrel Dodson, MIA | INJURED |
| Storm Duck, MIA | INJURED |
| Elijah Moore, MIA | INJURED |
| David Njoku, CLE | INJURED |
For the Dolphins-Browns NFL Week 7 matchup, two teams that are vying for the first overall draft pick in 2025 will try to win a war of attrition.
The Dolphins are infighting and pointing fingers. They are rudderless and leaderless. However, unlike the Browns, they can score.
The Browns' defense is excellent. Their offense, supposedly head coach Stefanski's area of expertise, is woeful. This has been the case with the past...oh, who's counting?...number of QBs since he ran off potential NFL MVP Mayfield.
Will the loser of this game be looking for a new coach on Monday?
The underdog Dolphins will cover the 3-point spread and probably win the game outright, saving McDaniel for at least one more week.
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Miami Dolphins +3
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