On Sunday December 29th,2024, the Cleveland Browns will be hosting the Miami Dolphins for a Sunday Night AFC matchup. Both teams made the playoffs in 2023 and both teams were eliminated in the first round AFC wildcard game. The Cleveland Browns lost to the Houston Texans in Houston and the Miami Dolphins lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in a frigid game in Kansas City. For the Cleveland Browns this will be the 4th primetime game in 7 weeks. And this game is expected to have playoff implications and be a potential playoff preview.

Both the Miami Dolphins and the Cleveland Browns are expected to make the playoffs in 2024. In 2023 `both teams were AFC Wildcard teams. The Cleveland Browns arguable dealt with more injuries than the Miami Dolphins in the 2023 Season. The Browns in 2023 had the top ranked defense in the NFL. That defense played it’s best at home during the 2023 season. The Miami Dolphins in 2023 had the NFL’s top ranked offense. On paper and in July this game projects to be the irresistible force versus the immovable object. A lot can change between now and then. And that includes the weather.

The weather in Cleveland Ohio in the middle of July is much different than in late December. It is expected to be cold and potentially a snow game. A tropical team from Miami Florida did not play well in a January playoff game in Kansas City last season. This game shouldn’t be much different.  So, Cleveland Browns fans will be bundled up and be ready for a playoff like atmosphere. It is expected to be cold, windy, and loud for the visiting Miami Dolphins. And the Cleveland Browns faithful could be treated to a clinching win. The only question might be will they clinch the playoffs or the AFC North?