MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. _ The previously winless Dolphins won the game they needed to win badly Sunday when they defeated Cleveland, 30-24, in overtime. And just as everything else in this three-games-old season, it wasn't easy.
Running back Jay Ajayi scored on an 11-yard touchdown run to deliver the Dolphins (1-2) their first victory of the season.
There was a packed house (65,176) for the regular-season debut of renovated and newly-named Hard Rock Stadium. And although things were shaky at times _ the injury-riddled Browns, perhaps the worst team in the NFL, had a chance to take the lead in the fourth quarter _ the Dolphins came through with coach Adam Gase's first career victory.
The Dolphins don't have much time to celebrate. They're at Cincinnati on Thursday.
This one was almost decided in regulation. Cleveland linebacker Corey Lemonier got past right tackle Ja'Wuan James and sacked quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Lemonier recovered to give the Browns a chance at one of their best victories in recent years and one of the Dolphins' ugliest losses in recent years.
But Browns kicker Cody Parkey, signed Saturday, missed wide left 46 yards with four seconds left in regulation, his third miss of the day.
Cleveland won the toss in overtime and elected to kick. The decision seemed unwise _ a Dolphins touchdown would have ended the game _ but it proved wise when the Dolphins punted.
Tannehill went to Landry for a 32-yard gain on a beautiful pass to set up the game-winning touchdown.
Sunday's second half seemed to belong to the Dolphins, who turned a 13-10 halftime deficit into a 24-13 fourth quarter lead with 14:17 remaining.
But the Browns (0-3) weren't ready to quit.
Cleveland took possession with 6:17 remaining at its own 6-yard line. Running back Isaiah Crowell ripped off a 25-yard gain before quarterback Cody Kessler, the third-teamer, hit wide receiver Terrelle Pryor on a 40-yard reception before Parkey, who had missed two field goal attempts earlier, hit a 38-yard game-tying field goal.
Cleveland cut its deficit to 24-21 when fourth-team quarterback Pryor ran it in from 2 yards and Kessler threw a two-point conversion pass to tight end Gary Barnidge. The touchdown play came two plays after it appeared defensive end Cam Wake had a sack/fumble. But Wake was flagged for an offside.
The Dolphins extended their lead to 24-13 when Tannehill hit running back Damien Williams for a 10-yard touchdown pass.
The Dolphins went ahead, 17-13, when Tannehill threw a well-placed pass over two defenders to wide receiver Jarvis Landry, who cut back to the middle of the field to score on a 42-yard touchdown pass. The Dolphins appeared to have their offense going again at that point as they went 68 yards in four plays using 2:10.
Dolphins fans booed slightly at halftime as the Dolphins left the field and then again in the third quarter after running back Duke Johnson, the former University of Miami standout, reeled off a 15-yard run to the Dolphins' 17.
Cleveland took a 13-10 halftime lead when Parkey hit a 48-yard field goal that capped an eight-play, 45-yard drive in 1:15. That was shortly after the Dolphins tied the game at 10 when kicker Andrew Franks hit a 47-yard field goal with 1:57 left in the first half. Franks' kick capped a 10-play, 56-yard drive.
Cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun gave Cleveland took a 10-7 lead on his 27-yard interception return for a touchdown with 6:47 left in the first half. Tannehill, under pressure from defensive end Tyrone Holmes, who appeared to beat right tackle Ja'Wuan James, threw a pass that no one was near but Boddy-Calhoun.
Cleveland cut its deficit to 7-3 when Parkey hit a 46-yard field goal to cap a 10-play, 58-yard drive. Parkey, signed Saturday, missed wide left from 41 yards in the first quarter.
The Dolphins got on the scoreboard first when Tannehill, after throwing an interception to Jamar Taylor on the second play from scrimmage, hit wide receiver DeVante Parker on a 26-yard touchdown pass.
The 7-0 lead marked the first time the Dolphins scored first this season and only their second lead of the season. The Dolphins led Seattle, 10-6, for a span of three minutes, 37 seconds in the fourth quarter.
This was second consecutive game for the Dolphins against an opponent with significant injury issues. Cleveland was down to third-team quarterback Cody Kessler because of injuries to Robert Griffith III (shoulder) and Josh McCown (collarbone), and was without two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Joe Haden (groin), wide receiver Corey Coleman (hand) and kicker Patrick Murray (knee), among others. Murray's absence was felt when Parkey missed two field goal attempts, a 42-yarder in the third quarter and a 41-yarder in the first quarter.
