The Cincinnati Bengals ended a two-game losing run on Sunday, defeating the Miami Dolphins 31-24 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami to move to a 3-2 record on the season.
Quarterback Joe Burrow connected with wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase on four scoring drives, including a 45-yard reception that Chase hauled in at the end of a contested route. Both Chase, listed with a concussion, and Tee Higgins, carrying adductor and neck concerns, received medical clearance ahead of Sunday's kickoff — a development that drew considerable attention in the lead-up to the game. Between them, Higgins and Chase pulled in eight receptions totalling 99 yards.
Among Burrow's targets, his tight ends and running backs accounted for every reception, with the two backs and all four tight ends each hauling in at least one pass and three of those connections ending in touchdowns. The remaining players combined for 91 receiving yards on 15 catches.
On one drive that stayed alive through a third-down conversion Hudson pushed forward to earn, he later caught a pass from Burrow in the end zone to put points on the board.
Cincinnati's carry distribution between running backs Samaje Perine and Chase Brown drew attention during the contest. With a lead in hand, the Bengals turned to the ground game to manage the clock. Perine's carries gained ground at a rate of 5.2 yards apiece, while Brown's averaged out to 3.2. Perine, who had accumulated just 13 carries across the entire season before Sunday, handled the ball 14 times for 68 yards on the ground and added a touchdown reception through the air. Brown produced 38 yards on 12 carries. With the deficit trimmed to 10 points in the fourth quarter, Perine picked up a first down on a third-down carry. The structure of Cincinnati's running game had come under scrutiny following a performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars that raised tactical questions about the team's approach on the ground.
Miami's passing attack generated little traction across the first three quarters of play. Heading into the contest, the Dolphins' aerial attack ranked 31st across the league in yards gained through the air on a per-game basis. Quarterback Malik Willis threw two interceptions before halftime, finishing with 15 completions from 27 attempts for 137 yards, one touchdown pass, two interceptions, and a rushing score. A late charge in the fourth quarter was not enough to prevent Miami from dropping to an 0-5 record on the season, though Willis's passing and mobility offered some promise late in the game.
Willis joined the roster through free agency ahead of the new campaign on a three-year contract worth $67 million. The team faces two roster decisions: whether to spend a premium draft selection on a quarterback to follow Willis, or to direct that pick toward Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith instead.
Defensive end Boye Mafe contributed two pivotal plays, getting a hand on Willis mid-throw to produce an interception and later recording a sack. During the week's preparation, cornerback Battle had flagged that Willis's habit of patting the ball had shown up plainly on tape, and he followed through on that observation during the game.
Despite a failed attempt to punch the ball into the end zone from inside the half-yard line on a first-down play, Miami finished the game with 18 points — their highest single-game total of the season to that point. With All-Pro linebacker Jordyn Brooks sidelined for much of the opening half by a foot injury, linebacker Jacob Rodriguez — playing in his first NFL season — stepped into the middle and finished with 11 tackles. First-round 2024 draft pick Robinson applied pressure to the ball carrier to force a fumble during the contest. With running back De'Von Achane sidelined by injury, Alex Gordon stepped in at running back and handled the workload.
Head coach Brian Hafley enters his next chapter with a roster that offers tangible building blocks, with his opening campaign having fallen short of expectations. A rest week now awaits each of the two sides. In Week 7, Cincinnati heads to Baltimore for a matchup against the Ravens, while Miami also plays away from home against the New York Jets.
