Written by Jonathan Knight

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Useless nuggets of information from Sunday’s Browns game that you can certainly live without…

TURNING THE TABLES: After losing seven straight games to Miami over a 16-year period, the Browns have defeated the Dolphins four straight times since their last loss to the 'Fins the day after Christmas, 2004. Including their two postseason meetings, the Dolphins have seen their lead in the series trimmed to 9-8.

NO PACKING THE HOUSE: The Browns have now failed to top 70,000 fans for 17 consecutive home games. The last time they did was opening day, 2009, when 70,560 witnessed Minnesota’s win over the Browns.

BY A WHISKER: This was the 16th one-point victory in Browns history, coming barely nine months after their last - a 24-23 win over Carolina last November (which was also the last time they came from behind in the fourth quarter to win a game). They’ve lost 18 one-point games, most recently in November 2009 in Detroit (38-37).

GOOD WHEN IT COUNTS: Overall, Colt McCoy did not have a great day, completing less than 50% of his passes while compiling a quarterback rating of 71.2. Up to the final touchdown drive, McCoy had scuffled through a poor showing (10 for 26 for 135 yards 1 TD 1 INT - a 52.6 quarterback rating), but when the chips were down, he went 9 for 13 for 75 yards and a touchdown, good for a 109.5 rating on the series.

GRADUAL IMPROVEMENT: For the season, Colt McCoy now has a 78.4 quarterback rating, putting him 25th in the NFL. A year ago he finished with a 74.5 rating

SACK ATTACK: Though he was often pressured by the Miami defense, Colt McCoy wasn’t sacked and was only hit four times. Meanwhile, the Browns’ defense hit Chad Henne eight times and sacked hime five times, bringing their season total to 11 - third in the NFL behind Dallas and Philadelphia.

SILVER LINING: Though Miami nearly doubled the Browns in rushing yards (138-70), the Browns to average 3.7 yards per carry, while the Dolphins only managed 3.6.

TOP TARGETS: While Peyton Hillis and Ben Watson lead the team in receptions with 10 each, Mohamed Massquoi is atop the heap in receiving yardage with 148 on eight catches, an average of 18.5 yards per catch.

OUT-PUNTED: For the second time in three weeks, the Browns lost the punting duel. Miami’s Brandon Fields was spectacular, averaging 50.3 yards on three punts (48.3 net) with two touchbacks. Browns’ short-term solution Brad Maynard wasn’t bad, but significantly inferior to Fields, averaging 42.2 yards per punt (36.6 net) with none placed inside the 20.

PENALTY RELAPSE: Following a nice recovery in Indianapolis after the penalty orgy in the first half of the opener, the Browns regressed a bit in Week 3, getting flagged eight times for 85 yards. For the season, the Browns have now been flagged for 22 penalties.

CELEBRATING EARLY: Perhaps in early celebration of his 28th birthday on Monday, D’Qwell Jackson had another good game on Sunday, leading both teams with 11 combined tackles (six solo) along with a half-sack and a quarterback hit, a fumble recovery. For the year, Jackson is tops on the team with 30 tackles (22 solo) and is tied with Ahtya Rubin for the lead in sacks with 2.5.

ENDURING: Montario Hardesty both increased his workload and averaged more than five yards per carry (eight for 42) in the second half.

CRIBBS’ CATCH: Josh Cribbs’ dazzling scoring reception midway through the second quarter was just his fourth career touchdown reception.

UP TO NO. 2: With his field goal in the third quarter, Phil Dawson became the second-leading scorer in Browns history, surpassing Don Cockroft. Dawson now has 1,082 career points, trailing only Lou Groza’s 1,349.

MR. DEPENDABLE: Dawson has now made 26 consecutive field goals of 45 yards or less.

STAT SLAPPED: The Dolphins ran 14 more offensive plays than the Browns, tallied 89 more total yards, and controlled the football for more than 15 minutes longer. Conversely, the Browns’ offense was nearly as efficient when it had the ball, averaging 4.8 yards per play to the Dolphins’ 5.1.

GIVING UP THE BIG ONE: After not allowing a play longer than 20 yards last week in Indianapolis, the Browns permitted four plays of 20 or more against the Dolphins, with a pair gaining more than 30. Conversely, the Browns had just one - Cribbs’ 33-yard touchdown catch.

BENDING BUT NOT BREAKING: Through three games, the Browns’ defense has allowed 14 scores - but only five have been touchdowns.

WHERE WE RANK: Averaging 4.5 yards per play, the Browns’ offense ranks 28th in the NFL, while their 20.3 points scored per game puts them at 16th. Conversely, the Cleveland defense is allowing 4.7 yards per play, putting it fourth in the league and the 20.7 points allowed per game puts the Browns tied for 13th.

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