Four touchdown passes from Joe Burrow and two interceptions by safety Jordan Battle carried Cincinnati past Miami by a final count of 31-24 on Sunday.
Three touchdown passes were distributed among tight ends Mike Gesicki and Tanner Hudson and running back Samaje Perine, with Burrow completing 23 of 32 attempts for 190 passing yards. Distributing the ball among nine different targets, the Bengals quarterback found consistent openings against a Miami secondary that lacked experience.
Twice in a row during the second quarter, Battle came away with interceptions off passes thrown by Malik Willis. After identifying a tendency by Willis to tap the ball just before releasing it — a pattern spotted earlier in the week — the defender converted that read on the Dolphins quarterback into one of the day's more productive performances.
With 45 seconds remaining, a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Willis brought Miami within seven points, a drive made possible by a 23-yard reception from rookie Kevin Coleman Jr., who had already found the end zone once earlier in the fourth quarter. Patterson's extra-point attempt clipped the left upright and fell short, and the ensuing onside kick crossed the boundary line before Cincinnati could recover it — two consecutive special-teams breakdowns that delivered the Bengals their first victory following a pair of defeats.
Across 27 attempts, Willis connected on 15 throws for 137 yards, with only five of those completions coming before halftime. Two interceptions and a fumble lost to the opposition were compounded by a pattern of delayed throws and receivers left uncovered throughout the game for the Dolphins' offseason addition at quarterback.
Late in the third quarter, a 26-yard carry by first-year back Chris Bell pushed Miami's offense inside Cincinnati's one-yard line, with Ollie Gordon adding further ground gains to set up the position. A loss of 8 yards on a sack left Willis in a difficult position, and a subsequent pass toward tight end Greg Dulcich came down incomplete, prompting Miami to send Patterson out for a 29-yard field goal that pushed the score to 21-10.
Holding a 3-2 record on the season, Cincinnati converted a string of Miami turnovers and miscues into a 21-7 advantage by the intermission. Dohnte Meyers took the opening kickoff 81 yards, leaving Miami's coverage unit exposed from the first play of the game.
Three plays after that sequence, Gesicki hauled in a 4-yard touchdown reception. Miami's offense turned to the ground game on the following possession, grinding out 51 rushing yards across 11 plays and 60 total yards while Willis went without a completion in two attempts through the air, before Gordon punched the ball across the goal line from a yard out.
Having entered the season at the third spot on Miami's running back depth chart, Gordon moved past Jaylen Wright into the backup role after De'Von Achane tore his ACL in Week 3 and was ruled out for the remainder of the year. Eighteen carries produced 88 rushing yards for Gordon on the day.
Bengals linebacker Swayze Bozeman, already listed as questionable heading into the contest due to a groin issue, picked up a right forearm injury during the third quarter and was unable to continue. Linebacker Jordyn Brooks left the field with a right foot injury midway through the second quarter before returning to the Dolphins' defense when the third quarter got underway.
Savaiinaea, who lines up at right guard, was helped off the field in the second period with an ankle injury and took no further part in the game. Cleared of a concussion after a second-quarter evaluation, cornerback Brents remained on the sideline for the remainder of the game due to a stinger.
A bye week falls on Week 6 for both clubs.