1985 · Divisional Round · Game 1

Pregame

AI summary based on verified facts

The Divisional Round matchup pairs the Cleveland Browns against the Miami Dolphins on 1986-01-04 at Orange Bowl. The conference bracket's postseason slate includes this matchup as one of the calendar's most-anticipated games.

The starting quarterbacks, the lead-back rotations, and the receiver rooms project the kind of game-script the wire copy has been writing into.[1][2]

AI summary based on verified facts

The Divisional Round game between the Cleveland Browns and the Miami Dolphins is the kind of postseason matchup where the conference's projected leaders carry their regular-season pacing into the bracket. The week of preparation produced the kind of game-plan continuity both staffs have been pointing toward.

The Sunday's biggest unknown is the front rotation against the home team's offensive line. The bracket continues for the winner.

AI summary based on verified facts

Around the conference the Divisional Round bracket produces the kind of matchups the wire copy has been writing into across the postseason slate. The Cleveland Browns versus Miami Dolphins game is one of the calendar's most-anticipated postseason windows.

The opposite-conference bracket carries through to its own conference matchup. The Sunday-night game is the most-anticipated matchup of the slate's closing window.

AI summary based on verified facts

Across the regular season both the Cleveland Browns and the Miami Dolphins tracked the kind of pace that anchored their conference seeding into the Divisional Round. The starting quarterbacks' passing lines came through. The lead backs' rushing workloads were the staffs' projected calls. Vegas opens the lines accordingly. A figure to follow: the front rotations' pass-rush production.

League standings entering Week 17

Standings as of kickoff, Week 17 (no future-game spoilers)

Around the league

  • Best record league-wide: Chicago Bears (15-1).

AFC

AFC Central

TeamRecStrk
Cleveland Browns8-8L1
Cincinnati Bengals7-9L2
Pittsburgh Steelers7-9L1
Houston Oilers5-11L4

AFC East

TeamRecStrk
Miami Dolphins12-4W7
New England Patriots11-5W1
New York Jets11-5W1
Indianapolis Colts5-11W2
Buffalo Bills2-14L6

AFC West

TeamRecStrk
Los Angeles Raiders12-4W6
Denver Broncos11-5W2
San Diego Chargers8-8L1
Seattle Seahawks8-8L2
Kansas City Chiefs6-10W1

NFC

NFC West

TeamRecStrk
Los Angeles Rams11-5L1
San Francisco 49ers10-6W2
New Orleans Saints5-11L3
Atlanta Falcons4-12W2

NFC Central

TeamRecStrk
Chicago Bears15-1W3
Green Bay Packers8-8W2
Detroit Lions7-9L3
Minnesota Vikings7-9L2
Tampa Bay Buccaneers2-14L4

NFC East

TeamRecStrk
Dallas Cowboys10-6L1
New York Giants10-6W1
Washington Redskins10-6W3
Philadelphia Eagles7-9W1
St. Louis Cardinals5-11L2

Game video

▶ Open in YouTube 1985 Playoffs AFC Divisional Cleveland Browns at Miami Dolphins · channel: Adam Hornyak

If the player above shows only a "Watch on YouTube" tile, the uploader has disabled inline embedding for this video. Click the button to open it on YouTube.

Game info

Roof
outdoors
Surface
grass
Weather
71°F, 79% humidity, wind 9 mph
Vegas line
Miami Dolphins -10.5
Over/Under
45 (push)

Score

Reveal through:

Cleveland Browns 21, Miami Dolphins 24[2][1]

1234T
Cleveland Browns7770714212121
Miami Dolphins3014733172424

Scoring plays

Q1

TeamPlayScore
DolphinsFuad Reveiz 51 yard field goal0-3
BrownsOzzie Newsome 16 yard pass from Bernie Kosar (Matt Bahr kick)7-3

Q2

TeamPlayScore
BrownsEarnest Byner 21 yard rush (Matt Bahr kick)14-3

Q3

TeamPlayScore
BrownsEarnest Byner 66 yard rush (Matt Bahr kick)21-3
DolphinsNat Moore 6 yard pass from Dan Marino (Fuad Reveiz kick)21-10
DolphinsRon Davenport 31 yard rush (Fuad Reveiz kick)21-17

Q4

TeamPlayScore
DolphinsRon Davenport 1 yard rush (Fuad Reveiz kick)21-24

Recap

AI summary based on verified facts

The Miami Dolphins won the Divisional Round game on 1986-01-04 against the Cleveland Browns 0-0. . . . For the other side Bernie Kosar went 10 of 19 for 66 yards with 1 touchdowns and 1 interceptions. Earnest Byner ran for 161 on 16 carries with 2 touchdowns. The Sunday's outcome maps to the kind of game-script the staff was projecting Friday.[1][2]

AI summary based on verified facts

The Miami Dolphins took the Divisional Round game over the Cleveland Browns on 1986-01-04. . . .

The afternoon's outcome maps to the kind of postseason game-script both staffs have been projecting since the regular season closed. The offensive line's pocket time on the dropbacks produced the kind of pass-protection the winning playbook called. The defensive unit's pressure produced the kind of takeaway that defined the closing two quarters. The Divisional Round's afternoon ends with the projected outcome.

The week of preparation produced the kind of game-plan continuity the wire copy has been writing into. The closing-drive coverage was the kind of stop the winning unit has been generating.

AI summary based on verified facts

Miami Dolphins 0, Cleveland Browns 0. The Divisional Round's box score reads: . . . On the other side: Bernie Kosar went 10 of 19 for 66 yards with 1 touchdowns and 1 interceptions. Earnest Byner ran for 161 on 16 carries with 2 touchdowns.

AI summary based on verified facts

The Miami Dolphins's Divisional Round game against the Cleveland Browns on 1986-01-04 ended with the kind of game-script the wire copy has been writing into. The conference bracket continues to shape across the calendar's projected postseason pacing.

How it unfolded

. . . The Sunday's offensive output produced the kind of full-sixty pace both playbooks have been working through across the bye-week preparation. On the defensive side Bernie Kosar went 10 of 19 for 66 yards with 1 touchdowns and 1 interceptions, and Earnest Byner ran for 161 on 16 carries with 2 touchdowns.

The turning point

The in-game adjustment that, in postseason play, decided the closing two quarters. The winning front's pressure on the third-down dropbacks produced the kind of pass-rush volume the unit has been generating across the calendar's back half.

By the numbers

. The lead-back rotation: . Receiver room: .

Personnel watch

The rotation produced the kind of full-sixty effort both staffs have been projecting. The offensive line's pocket time was the kind that, in postseason play, anchors the bye-week preparation. The receiver room's distribution carried the offensive production.

What it means

The Divisional Round's outcome maps to the projected postseason pacing. The next-round bracket continues. The film room note is the in-game adjustment that decided the closing two quarters.

Box score

BrownsDolphins
Team totals
First Downs1720
Total Yards313330
Turnovers11
Passing
Comp/Att10/1925/45
Pass yards66238
Pass TD11
Interceptions11
Sacks taken10
Sack yards lost40
Net pass yards62238
Rushing
Rushes3719
Rush yards25192
Rush TD22
Discipline
Fumbles11
Fumbles lost00
Penalties62
Penalty yards4920

Passing

PlayerC/AYdsTDIntRate
CLE
Bernie Kosar10/19661156
MIA
Dan Marino25/452381168.6

Rushing

PlayerAttYdsTDLong
CLE
Earnest Byner16161266
Kevin Mack1356012
Curtis Dickey628010
Bernie Kosar2606
MIA
Ron Davenport648231
Tony Nathan721012
Woody Bennett417017
Joe Carter2606

Receiving

PlayerRecYdsTDLong
CLE
Earnest Byner42508
Ozzie Newsome222116
Clarence Weathers112012
Herman Fontenot1505
Harry Holt2206
MIA
Tony Nathan10101039
Bruce Hardy551018
Nat Moore429110
Dan Johnson217010
Joe Rose117017
Mark Clayton115015
Woody Bennett1606
Joe Carter1202

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Canonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1985 Divisional Round - Cleveland Browns at Miami Dolphins - Game Thread