Tyler Huntley stepped in for the injured Tua Tagovailoa and led the Miami Dolphins to a crucial 20-3 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
The win keeps the Dolphins’ playoff hopes alive, and they now need to win their season finale against the New York Jets and hope the Denver Broncos lose to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Huntley, nicknamed “Snoop,” scrambled for a touchdown and threw for another while starting in place of Tagovailoa, who was sidelined with a hip injury.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel praised Huntley’s performance, saying it showed how far the backup quarterback has come.
McDaniel added that the team held out hope until just before kickoff that Tagovailoa might play, but ultimately decided it was not worth the risk.
The Dolphins’ playoff fate is still uncertain, but they remain in the hunt for an AFC wild-card spot.
Huntley finished 22 of 26 for 225 yards and did not have any turnovers in his fourth start of the season.
The 26-year-old quarterback was with the Browns in training camp before being released in August.
Huntley downplayed any notion that he was seeking revenge against his former team.
The Dolphins signed Huntley in September after Tagovailoa suffered a concussion.
Tagovailoa’s status for next week’s game against the Jets is unclear, but Huntley has shown he can get the job done if necessary.
The Dolphins’ defense also played a key role in the win, harassing Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson all day.
Thompson-Robinson completed 24 of 47 passes for 170 yards but threw an interception and lost a fumble.
The Browns dropped their fifth straight game and finished 2-6 at home.
The team’s struggles have raised questions about the future of coach Kevin Stefanski, but his job appears safe for now.
The Browns are likely to look for a new quarterback in the offseason, as Thompson-Robinson is not seen as the long-term answer.
The Dolphins, meanwhile, are focused on making a playoff push, and Huntley’s performance on Sunday has given them new hope.
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