MIAMI, Fla. -- Terrelle Pryor headed into this game saying he would "cut off a finger'' and "die on this field'' to get a win for the Cleveland Browns.

He stopped short of those two things, but did just about everything else. If he could've kicked a field goal, they might've won the game.

Instead, the Browns lost 30-24 with 8:26 left in overtime when running back Jay Ajayi ran in around left end for an 11-yard touchdown. The Browns, who kicked off a tough stretch of 4-of-5 on the road, fell to 0-3. The Dolphins improved to 1-2.

The tough loss came after new kicker Cody Parkey, signed Saturday to replace injured Pat Murray, pushed the 46-yard gamewinning field goal attempt wide right as time expired. It was his third miss in six attempts on the day.

"I know everybody will say it came down to Cody,'' coach Hue Jackson said. "Cody just got off the plane with us and I don't know him as well as I know this chair right here. It's a tough deal for him, but again, he didn't lose the game. Anybody who wants to say who lost the game, look right at me.''

The loss spoiled an amazing all-purpose game by Pryor, who took 14 snaps out of the Wildcat to ease the pressure on rookie quarterback Cody Kessler. He also started in place of Corey Coleman at the X receiver spot, leading all receivers with 144 yards on eight catches.

In helping the Browns erase a 24-13 fourth-quarter deficit, Pryor ran for a 3-yard touchdown out of the Wildcat to pull the Browns with 24-21 with 10:12 remaining, and caught a 40-yard pass on the field goal drive that tied it 24-24 with 3:14 left.

All told, he accounted for 200 of the Browns' 430 yards.

"Terrelle did an unbelievable job and it's a shame we lost because people will forget but that was one of the single-handed most impressive performances from a player that I've seen in awhile,'' said left tackle Joe Thomas.

It also spoiled an impressive debut by Kessler, who completed 21-of-33 attempts for 244 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions for a 85.9 rating. Kessler got off to a horrible start, with a delay of game, fumbled snap and strip-sack on his opening drive, but settled down and help close the 11-point gap in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime. Along the way, he made two throws of 25-yards to Pryor and one of 28 yards to Ricardo Louis.

"He was amazingly unflappable in the huddle,'' said left tackle Joe Thomas. "Obviously a guy that didn't expect to play at all this season going in there, on the road in a very loud environment, playing with as much poise and composure as he did, he surprised a lot of people. He impressed a lot of people including myself.''

Kessler not only had to overcome the bad first drive, but three missed field goals by Parkey and five penalties by right tackle Austin Pasztor, who was no match for defensive end Cam Wake. Wake strip-sacked Kessler on the opening drive, and drilled him late in the fourth quarter. The latter hit caused Kessler's right arm to bleed, but he was checked on the sidelines for a concussion and cleared. He also came up limping with an apparent sore hamstring.

When he returned from the sideline exam, he threw a beautiful two-point fade to Gary Barnidge after Pryor's TD run to narrow the gap to 24-21.

"It wasn't too big for him,'' said receiver Andrew Hawkins. "He didn't come off like a rookie, he wasn't in the huddle acting like a rookie. He wasn't timid, he wasn't nervous, he wasn't scared.

The loss also wasted a spirited performance by a battered Browns defense that was missing Joe Haden from the start with a groin injury and lost cornerback Tramon Williams to a shoulder late in the game. The Browns, with seven new starters in the game from last week alone, were down to third-teamers in some cases. Still, the Browns forced three Tannehill turnovers, including two interceptions and a crucial strip-sack that set up Parkey's missed gamewinning attempt.

"I told all of our guys, I love them to death and we've got to keep fighting,'' said Hue Jackson. "We've got get over the hump, and we will.''

Newcomer Corey Lemonier had the strip-sack of Tannehill (319 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs, 93.9 rating) with 20 seconds left in regulation and the score tied 24-24. He recovered at the Miami 27 to set up Miami's missed kick. Jackson shook his head on the sidelines.

The Browns won the toss in OT and let the Dolphins go first. The defense held, but the Browns started at their 9. A sack and a holding call against oft-penalized Pasztor thwarted their chances. They punted from the 13.

The Dolphins took over at the Browns' 44 and Ajayi sprinted around left end for the gamewinning touchdown three plays later.

"We have one of the best teams in the NFL,'' said Pryor. "We can battle with anybody. We just have to find a way to win.''

Jamar Taylor's pick



The Dolphins basically gave Jamar Taylor to the Browns for nothing -- a swap of seventh-round picks on draft day -- and defensive coordinator Ray Horton predicted Taylor would be extra motivated for the game. Taylor wouldn't admit that on Friday, but he wasted no time showing it. On the Dolphins' second play, Tannehill's first pass, Taylor picked him off. Unfortunately for the Browns, they couldn't cash in after Kessler was strip-sacked. It was his first NFL pick.



Briean Boddy-Calhoun's pick-six



Boddy-Calhoun, claimed off waivers from the Browns Sept. 4, picked off Tannehill in the second quarter on a pass intended for Jarvis Landry and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown that put the Browns up 10-7. It marked the first time in Browns history a player had a pick-six in his first NFL game.



Cody Parkey's first day



Parkey, a 2014 Pro Bowler, never practiced with the Browns until pre-game warmups. He missed three of six on the afternoon. He pushed his first attempt wide left, a 41-yarder in the first quarter.

He made his second kick, a 46-yarder to pull the Browns to within 7-3 with 13:32 left in the second quarter; and his third, a 48-yarder with 42 seconds left in the half, to put the Browns up 13-10 at the half.

With 5:17 left in the third quarter, Parkey hit the left upright on a 42-yard field goal attempt. That kept it 13-10 Browns. He also missed what would have been the game winner on the last play of regulation.



Austin Pasztor's penalties



The Browns hurt themselves with penalties all game, especially right tackle Austin Pasztor. He was flagged five times, twice for false starts and three times for holding, including once in overtime. Pasztor was trying but struggling to hold off Cam Wake. The Browns struggled to generate points by going backwards so often.



Haden's absence a big blow

The Browns suffered another huge blow Sunday when cornerback Joe Haden was ruled inactive for the Dolphins game with his groin injury. Haden warmed up before the game on the Hard Rock Stadium field with the trainers, but couldn't play.

Haden, who underwent ankle surgery in March, suffered the groin injury late Thursday and sat out Friday's walk-through. He was coming off a sensational game against the Ravens in which he picked off two passes and broke up two more.

Tramon Williams started in his place opposite Taylor and Boddy-Calhoun stepped in as the third corner.

The Browns were also without starting strong safety Ibraheim Campbell. Rookie Derrick Kindred started in his place.



Nine starters out

Haden's absence Sunday made for a total of nine starters out for the Browns since before the start of training camp when Desmond Bryant suffered a torn pectoral muscle and went on injured reserve. The others are quarterback Robert Griffin III (IR), quarterback Jake McCown, end Carl Nassib, receiver Corey Coleman, center Cam Erving, Campbell, and Murray.

In addition, the Browns had seven new starters in the game from just last week.

Inactives

In addition to Haden, rookie offensive lineman Shon Coleman was ruled inactive on gameday. The others inactives had already been ruled out. They were McCown (broken collarbone), Coleman (hand), Campbell (hamstring), Erving (bruised lung) and Nassib (hand surgery).

Coleman in cast

Coleman was on the sidelines with a cast on his right hand before the game. He will not need surgery, but is out 4-6 weeks.

McCown and Griffin in slings

McCown was in a sling to protect his broken left collarbone. Griffin was also in a sling with his fractured shoulder.

Dolphins inactives

Dolphins inactives included starting running back Arian Foster and starting center Pro Bowl Mike Pouncey.

Rookie running back Kenyan Drake out of Alabama started in place of Foster and first-year center Anthony Steen will start for Pouncey.

Next up

The Browns visit the Redskins next Sunday.