As the second quarter started, Jake Delhomme hit Ben Watson with a key third-down pass to give the Browns field position at the Cleveland 30. But then — again — the Browns stalled, and Cleveland booted the ball back to Miami at the Dolphins’ 24.
Joe Hadcen immediately intercepted Chad Henne, setting the Browns up at the Cleveland 36-yard line. The “reward” for this turnover was an immediate three-and-out. Once again, a punt to the Dolphins, who this time took over at the Miami 20.
A Miami penalty send the Dolphins backwards, and the Browns were able to hold and get the ball back in what was becoming a Punt Fest at the Cleveland 41 on a nice Josh Cribbs return. If nothing else the Browns had the edge, at this point, in the field position battle.
A Peyton Hillis run gave the Browns a first down in Miami territory as the mid-point of the quarter approached. But then Cleveland stalled again at the Miami 42, just on the outside of realistic field goal range. Reggie Hodges pinned the Dolphins at their own one-yard line, but it was an opportunity missed.
Two Miami first downs followed before an Abram Elam interception put the Browns in business at the Dolphins’ 28 yard line with a little less than four minutes left in the half.
Jake Delhomme hit Ben Watson with another third down conversion as the Browns entered the Red Zone at the Miami 18 just before the two-minute warning was given to both benches.
The Browns stalled at the 14, and Phil Dawson put the first points of the afternoon on the board with a 32-yard field goal with 1:43 left in the half.
After the kickoff the Dolphins moved deep into Cleveland territory, but went backwards to the 46 after a penalty. From the 42, Miami got a 60-yard field goal from Dan Carpenter with two seconds left in the half to send the teams to the intermission tied at 3-3.