Bengals Get Back on Track With Win Over Dolphins

The Cincinnati Bengals went south for a matchup with the Miami Dolphins on Sunday afternoon, looking to get back in the win column after back-to-back losses to the Steelers and Jaguars. They fended off a late Dolphins rally to leave Miami with a 31-24 victory.

Through four weeks, the offense had struggled to find consistency, and Cincinnati needed to depend on its defense to win games. However, the team played complementary football that led to a handful of short fields and additional possessions. Joe Burrow and the rest of the offense made the most of those opportunities, and the Bengals’ performance looked awfully similar to their Week 1 outing against the Buccaneers.

The defense forced three turnovers on the afternoon, picking off Malik Willis twice and recovering a Willis fumble. Just days after receiving backlash for revealing a tell in Willis’ throwing motion, Jordan Battle came away with both interceptions, recording his second and third of the season. Jonathan Allen was the one who recovered the fumble.

Miami also retained three additional fumbles.

Allen, Barrett Carter and Boye Mafe each recorded a sack and kept the passing attack in check, but the one negative for the defense came against the run. Ollie Gordon II rushed 18 times for 88 yards and a touchdown, and Willis added eight rushes for 74 yards and a score. In total, Miami rushed for 217 yards, by far the most the Bengals have allowed in a game this season.

Offensively, Burrow went 23-of-32 for 190 yards and four touchdowns to four different receivers. Tight ends Mike Gesicki and Tanner Hudson each caught one, Samaje Perine caught one out of the backfield, and Ja’Marr Chase came away with yet another outstanding grab, rising above two defenders to reel in a one-handed touchdown.

Chase led all receivers with six receptions for 77 yards, while Tee Higgins had a quiet outing with just two catches for 22 yards.

Both Perine and Chase Brown had double-digit carries Sunday, with Perine rushing 14 times for 68 yards and Brown rushing 13 times for 39 yards. The Bengals are still looking to become more explosive in the running game, and turning to Perine more often Sunday appeared to be much more effective.

Cincinnati didn’t play a complete game or look like the team it believes it should be, but the victory was a step in the right direction after the two losses. The team got back to playing complementary football and was a couple of mistakes away from winning the game in more convincing fashion.

With the bye week upcoming, the Bengals can now look to get their players back to full health and prepare for another AFC North battle in Baltimore on Oct. 25.