Quinshon Judkins Shines with Hat-Trick in Browns' Dominant 31-6 Win Over Dolphins
In a statement-making performance, Quinshon Judkins led the Cleveland Browns to a much-needed 31-6 victory over the Miami Dolphins in Week 7, recording a rare hat-trick that revitalized the team and put the Browns back on track after a tough stretch of losses.
A Star is Born
Quinshon Judkins, the Browns' standout running back, was the undisputed star of the night. The rookie running back was nearly unstoppable, scoring three touchdowns, including a 46-yard rush that displayed both his speed and power. Judkins’ first touchdown came in the second quarter, a highlight reel-worthy 46-yard sprint that left defenders grasping at air. His second touchdown came in the third quarter, this time from Wildcat formation, proving that Judkins has the versatility to impact the game in a variety of ways.
"It feels amazing," said Judkins post-game. "This win was all about the team. We’ve been through some tough times, but tonight we showed what we’re made of. I just did my part, but it’s the whole team—offense, defense, special teams—that made this happen. We’re not done yet; this is just the beginning."
The former SEC standout’s performance was a major boost for a team that had been struggling to find rhythm in the early part of the season. His three-touchdown game marked the first time a Browns player had done so since Nick Chubb in 2022, cementing Judkins’ place in Browns history early in his career.
Dillon Gabriel’s Solid Debut
Making his first home start for the Browns, rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel also turned in a promising performance. Gabriel completed 13 of 18 passes for 116 yards, showing poise in a game that was largely controlled by the ground attack. Although he didn't throw for a touchdown, his efficient play kept the offense moving and set the stage for Judkins’ explosive day.
Gabriel said of the win, “It’s all about execution. Judkins carried us today, and the defense kept their foot on the gas. We’re playing complementary football, and that’s how we’ll win games moving forward.”
Browns’ Defense Dominates
While the offense was firing on all cylinders, the Browns’ defense also had a standout performance. The defensive line, led by the relentless Micah Parsons, recorded two sacks and kept the Dolphins’ offense off-balance for the majority of the game. The secondary, including standout performances from rookie Ronnie Hickman and cornerback Denzel Ward, contributed to the dominance with two key interceptions and several pass deflections.
The Browns' defense forced the Dolphins to punt on multiple occasions and limited their ability to gain momentum. The Dolphins’ star quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, struggled to find a rhythm and was eventually benched late in the third quarter after an underwhelming performance.
Special Teams Contribution
It wasn’t just the offense and defense that contributed to the Browns’ victory; special teams also made their presence felt. Gage Larvadain provided an electric return early in the second half, setting up great field position and giving the offense a short field to work with. Meanwhile, Grant Delpit’s pressure on the Dolphins’ special teams led to a crucial fumble recovery, further solidifying Cleveland’s control of the game.
Looking Ahead
With the win, the Browns improve to 3-4 on the season, giving them hope as they head into their next match against the New England Patriots. Judkins’ standout performance, combined with solid contributions from Gabriel and the defense, indicates that the Browns may be turning a corner after a rough start.
“We’re taking this one game at a time,” said head coach Kevin Stefanski. “Tonight was about showing resilience and playing complementary football. We’ve got a lot of work ahead, but we’ll enjoy this one and keep building on it.”
For Cleveland, the road ahead is crucial as they look to make a push for the playoffs. With a solid offensive attack and a defense that continues to improve, the Browns may have finally found their stride. As Judkins said, “This is just the beginning.” If this performance is any indication, the Browns are far from finished.
The Saints catch major shade from former HC Dennis Allen after Kellen Moore's offense struggles versus Chicago Bears
The victory for the Chicago Bears in Week 7 was clearly an emotional one. Even though it came against a then 1-5 New Orleans Saints squad, Dennis Allen was taking on his former team. The new defensive coordinator for the Bears was formerly the DC and head coach for the Saints.
Dennis Allen's postgame celebration centers around fresh start after getting fired by Saints
Allen didn't hold back on his excitement or appreciativeness of his new chance to coach with Chicago. After receiving a game ball for his unit's performance, Allen made a strong statement that seemed to knock the Saints for firing him just a hair.
"Sometimes the good lord just has a frickin' plan for you that you don't know about. Sometimes you ain't good enough for somewhere else. That's perfectly fine. I love being here." -- Dennis Allen after Bears beat Saints
This reaction makes plenty of sense. Allen's team won, heavily due to his defense's success. They were ballhawks and often confused the pass protection for New Orleans. The Saints struggled to run the ball against the front seven of the Bears as well.
"Week 7 was another strong outing for Allen’s unit, outside of two drives, against the Saints’ offense. Chicago forced four turnovers on Sunday with another turn over on downs. Improved health for the defense is a major reason why Allen’s unit is starting to finally click." -- Kole Noble, A to z Sports Chicago
This performance is one where confidence jumps for Chicago. Allen has clearly had a positive impact on the locker room and earned their trust. Now, they'll look to build on this victory over New Orleans and prove that this winning streak is no fluke entering the latter half of the regular season.
Meanwhile for the Saints, it is a tough pill to swallow. Fans wanted Allen out badly and hoped this would be an opportunity for their offense to make him look silly. Instead, Allen got the last laugh and indirectly threw some shade at his former organization at the same time.
Potential concern for Kendre Miller and Erik McCoy
The injuries to Miller and McCoy may not bear a ton of good news for the Saints. Rather, Nick Underhill noted that there is "concern" for both of their injury situations as of now. Both players left the game against Chicago and did not return.
"Saints C Erik McCoy had his elbow in a sling wrapped in ice postgame. RB Kendre Miller sounded hopeful about his knee issue but didn’t want to get into any specific injury talk." --
This is an issue for multiple reasons. If Miller misses time, it increases the workload for Alvin Kamara, who had to shoulder a massive workload a season ago. As a veteran player, it would be great to keep giving him some breaks with Miller mixed in as often as he has been early on this season.
The loss of McCoy would be an even bigger loss, though. The interior offensive line has been the weakest part of the Saints offense as a whole throughout Kellen Moore's first campaign, but McCoy has been the best player there. Trevor Penning has shown improvement, but he missed the start of the year due to injury.
Spencer Rattler plays much better when he is on time and able to trust that he will get said time to maneuver his reads and throw without pressure in his face. As of now, the Saints have no proven backup center on the roster who would be able to step in for McCoy, even if he did miss a short span. With a potential long-term injury looming, that situation seems like a possible back-breaker for the passing offense in New Orleans.
