The Browns got the ball first in the third quarter. Two runs, incomplete pass — three and out and a punt to the Dolphins after only a minute-and-a-half. Miami took over at their own 28.

After a first down, Miami stalled at their 45, and the Browns got the ball back at their 20 after a touchback.

For the first time all day, the Browns then put together a sustained drive, begun with a 20-yard Delhomme-to-Watson pass. The drive stalled with a Miami sack at the Dolphins’ 29 — and Phil Dawson missed from 47. Way to get RID OF THE BALL when you are deep in opponent’s territory rather than take a sack and have to try almost a 50-yarder.

After a nice drive for Cleveland, the game remained tied at three.

Miami took over at its own 37 after the missed field goal try. The Dolphins used a Henne pass to move into Cleveland territory, but the Browns stuffed Miami at the 46, and rather than try another monstrous field goal, Miami pinned the Browns at the six-yard line with a punt.

Jake Delhomme went to work then, with two long completions moving Cleveland into Miami territory, and a 33-yarder set the Browns up in the Red Zone at the Dolphins’ three. The 94-yard drive was capped off by a three-yard Ben Watson touchdown catch, and the Browns had the largest lead of the day at 10-3 with little more than a minute to go in the quarter.

As the period ended the Dolphins had advanced into Cleveland territory to the 46.