The Miami Dolphins kept their playoff hopes alive Sunday afternoon, defeating Cleveland 20-3 at Huntington Bank Field.

With the win, the Dolphins improve to 8-8 on the season and are just one game out of the final AFC wild card spot.

Miami’s defense bothered Cleveland throughout the game. The Browns had just 276 yards of total offense, with quarterback Dorian Thomas-Robinson completing 24 of his 47 pass attempts (51.1 percent) for just 170 yards and one interception.

Quarterback Tyler Huntley was dynamic in his fourth start of the season, making plays with both his arms and legs. He finished the game completing 22 of 26 passes (84.6 percent) for 225 yards and a touchdown, giving him a game-high 52 rushing yards and a touchdown on seven carries (7.4 average).

Huntley started the game strong, completing six of his first seven passes. He led Miami into scoring position on the game’s second drive, with kicker Jason Sanders hitting a 54-yard field goal to give the Dolphins an early 3-0 lead with 5:46 left in the first quarter. This was Sanders’ ninth consecutive field goal from more than 50 yards, increasing his season mark from that distance to 12 of 14.

The Browns responded on their next offensive possession, as quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson and running back Jerome Ford led a 14-play, 66-yard drive that took 7:20 of game time. Cleveland was able to move the ball inside Miami’s 10-yard line, but the defense held strong in the goal-to-go situation, forcing kicker Dustin Hopkins to make a 25-yard field goal.

Punts from both teams maintained the 3-3 tie well into the second quarter when linebacker Tyrel Dodson, who had a game-high 15 tackles on the night, made a crucial defensive play for the Dolphins.

On a first-and-10 pass intended for wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, Dodson dropped back into coverage and intercepted Thompson-Robinson at the 50-yard line. Dodson, a six-year veteran, has recorded both career interceptions in his seven games this season with Miami.

The Dolphins’ defense made another crucial play later in the second quarter, stuffing running back D’Onta Foreman on fourth-and-1 to retain possession with 45 seconds left in the first half.

Huntley led Miami into field goal position with this quick drive, completing passes of 12, 7 and 9 yards to rookie wideout Malik Washington, who set up a 39-yard field goal from Sanders as time expired for the lead expanded to 6:3 at halftime.

Huntley continued his precise passing game from the break. He completed all four of his passes on Miami’s first drive of the second half, with a 16-yard strike to wide receiver River Cracraft that gave the Dolphins their first trip into the red zone of the game.

On the ensuing play, Huntley scrambled past the line of scrimmage and ran 13 yards into the end zone for a touchdown to extend Miami’s lead to 13-3 with 11:04 remaining in the third quarter. This was Huntley’s second rushing touchdown of the season.

The Dolphins’ defense continued to make big plays in the second half, including a strip sack by linebacker Emmanuel Ogbah that was tied up by defensive tackle Da’Shawn Hand, as well as a fourth-down stop in the red zone that preserved Miami’s 10-points Lead in the fourth quarter.

The offense tied the game with 3:38 left in the fourth when Huntley connected with tight end Jonnu Smith for a seven-yard score that gave the Dolphins a 20-3 lead. The touchdown was Smith’s seventh receiving touchdown of the year, tying the single-season record by a Miami tight end.

Wide receiver Tyreek Hill led the Dolphins with a team-high nine receptions and a game-high 105 yards (11.7 average). Washington had four catches for 41 yards (10.3 average) and Smith added three catches for 26 yards (8.7 average) and the touchdown.

Miami will travel to MetLife Stadium to take on the New York Jets (4-12) in Week 18. The time and date of the final game of the regular season have yet to be determined. With a win against the Jets and a loss to Denver in the regular season finale against Kansas City, the Dolphins reach the playoffs for the third consecutive year.