Kevin Stefanski goes back to basics and produces his second-largest margin of victory in six years

Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns and NFL analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.

Finally, Kevin Stefanski surprised us. Two times, really.

The predictable coach went off script at the opening coin toss when he took the ball first and put his offense on the field to start the game. He said it was weather-related, of course. He didn’t want his offense heading into the 17 mph winds in the fourth quarter.

The Browns’ three-and-out first series elicited boos from the simmering home crowd already drenched by a steady rain. But the ugly afternoon that could have ensued did not happen largely because of Stefanski’s second surprise.

He committed to his running game, and Quinshon Judkins rewarded him with three touchdowns – a 46-yard home run and two short runs from the Wildcat formation -- among his 25 rushing attempts.

For the first time all season, the Browns built a two-score lead in the first half, triggering a three-turnover assault by the defense in the second half as the Browns romped to a 31-6 win over the tuned-out, undisciplined Miami Dolphins.

Safety Grant Delpit, who said mid-week that he’d forgotten what a win felt like, said with a smile, “I remember now. It feels good.”

It’s hard to remember such a lopsided Browns victory. This matched the second-largest margin in Stefanski’s six years as head coach. The only bigger one was a 27-0 whitewash of Arizona in 2023 – 34 games ago.

It also halted that ridiculous streak of 11 games without scoring 20 points. The end of a three-game losing streak put the Browns at 2-5 and temporarily cooled the seats of Stefanski and, yes, GM Andrew Berry.

Berry took a bow, too, because Tyson Campbell, who was acquired in trade for cornerback Greg Newsome prior to the Pittsburgh game 10 days ago, had one of the best games a Cleveland cornerback has had in some time.

Campbell saved two touchdowns and scored one on a Pick 6.

“I told him that’s a hell of a way to introduce yourself to the team,” said Myles Garrett.

Campbell is a big corner, but he flashed his track speed for the second game in a row by running down running back De’Von Achane after a 46-yard sprint and preventing a 77-yard touchdown. (He saved a TD running down tight end Darnell Washington in his first game in Pittsburgh last week.) Later in the first half, Campbell broke up a pass in the end zone for Jaylen Waddle when he turned his head just in time to deflect the ball. Miami had to settle for field goals both times, their only scores of the game.

Campbell’s Pick 6 came on the first play of the second half when safety Rayshawn Jenkins jolted Achane just as Tua Tagovailoa’s pass was arriving and Campbell grabbed the deflection and tight-roped 34 yards down the right sideline to the end zone.

Of the three plays, chasing down Achane, one of the fastest players in the league, was the most impressive.

“A lot of people don't know I got a track background,” Campbell said. “I’ve won state championships [in the 100 and 200 meters] in the state of Florida, so I knew I was capable of catching him. At that point, it was really just ‘want to’, and just laser focus on him and the way he was carrying the ball.”

Other defensive takeaways were turned in by a Delpit strip of fumble on a Miami kick return and recovery by Jenkins, and interceptions by Jenkins and safety Ronnie Hickman. Coupled by the fact that Dillon Gabriel executed another turnover-free game – thanks to an interception erased by one of Miami’s 11 accepted penalties – the Browns had a rare plus-4 turnover game.

Judkins gave the home crowd a jolt of excitement on the very first play after Gabriel’s reprieve on the would-be interception. Judkins blasted through the defensive line, pivoted through a Minkah Fitzpatrick tackle attempt, and outraced cornerbacks Rasul Douglas and Ethan Bonner on his 46-yard touchdown.

His 3- and 2-yard TDs came as a Wildcat QB – a play put in this week because of the dire weather forecasts, Stefanski said. He juggled the water-soaked ball on the first one before ramming over the goal line.

“I actually like Wildcat a lot,” Judkins said. “It was something that I ran [at Ole Miss, before his last season at Ohio State] prior to me being here, and I'm very familiar with it, so.”

The Dolphins’ entire defensive game plan focused on stopping Judkins, and his 3.4-yard average (84 yards on 25 rushes) reflected that attention. But other than his three TDs, the 25 rush attempts were the relevant stat of the day.

The overall 33-to-20 runs-to-pass drop-backs ratio was a welcome return to sensibility in Stefanski’s game plan.

Thanks to the penalty-nullified interception, Gabriel was turnover-free for his third start in a row. His efficiency (13 of 18 for 116 yards, 89.1 passer rating) enabled the defense to tee off and resulted in his first NFL win.

You know that Garrett loved the run-oriented offensive game plan. He spoke out against the Pittsburgh game plan on Friday.

“I’m always going to tell it how it is,” said Garrett, who broke his three-game sackless streak with one takedown of Tagovailoa. “I mean, that’s just my nature. I’m going to shoot you straight. And I have no problem saying what I say to them up here, and vice versa. I’m not trying to say anything to disparage anybody or to get anybody removed from their position, or anything like that.”

Which brings us back to Stefanski, who needed a win – ugly or lopsided – more than anyone in the city. He wouldn’t let on that he was feeling the heat, of course.

But Joel Bitonio took us behind the curtain when he spoke of Stefanski’s “intensity” during the practice week.

“We had a little intensity on Monday,” said the veteran guard and offensive captain. “ I think that was just frustration boiling over, but he was intense and laid out expectations, especially on us on offense. I think the guys answered the bell.” 

Added Delpit, “It's not fun losing. So you just gotta take this win and run with it.”

And run and run and run with Judkins.