Cleveland Browns: 5 reasons winning streak stays alive vs Dolphins

3.  Dolphins don’t have the players

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick can still get a hot hand, but it’s a lot harder to warm up when there’s a dearth of playmakers in the huddle.

To make matters worse, the Dolphins just axed starting running back Mark Walton. He was the team’s leading rusher (201 yards). He was slammed with a four-game drug suspension, but was released after being charged with aggravated batter of his girlfriend, who was pregnant.

With Walton gone, the job falls to Kalen Ballage and his 1.9 yards per attempts. He’s had 64 carries. The Browns have been bad defending the run, but this might be the medicine that ails Wiks’ group.

At receiver, the Dolphins lean on DeVante Parker, who has 604 yards and four touchdowns on 40 receptions. Parker can hurt you, but he’s someone Ward should be able to control.

Offensive weapons the Dolphins have gotten rid of this season include left tackle Laremy Tunsil, receivers Danny Amendola and Kenny Stills, while the defense has lost end Cameron Wake and Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Depending on what the Dolphins do offensively, be sure to look for rookie linebacker Sione Takitaki. We’ve gradually been seeing more of the BYU product and I’d expect that to continue.

That said, if the Dolphins go to a three-receiver looks, Wilks will probably go with the 4-2-5 base scheme–three frustrating numbers for Browns fans unhappy with how the defense has played in 2019.