Bengals breeze past Dolphins to return to winners list

Although their realistic season expectations couldn’t be more dissimilar, the Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins came into Sunday’s meeting at Hard Rock Stadium under some pressure to deliver a winning result, with both sides looking to put disappointing recent performances behind them. Cincinnati arrived in Florida having suffered consecutive defeats, leaving its playoff ambitions in need of a boost against the lowly Dolphins.

Meanwhile, Miami were still searching for their first victory of the 2026 campaign. With Joe Burrow looking to steer visitors; 2026 ship back on course and the Dolphins desperate to give their home supporters something to cheer, there was plenty hinging on the Week 5 encounter.

The Bengals made a flying start after Dohnte Meyers returned the opening kickoff 81 yards to give Cincinnati excellent field position. Burrow needed next to no time to capitalise, finding tight end Mike Gesicki for a 4-yard touchdown to put the visitors ahead inside a couple of minutes.

Miami responded with an impressive drive built on its running game, despite continuing to deal with the absence of De’Von Achane. Malik Willis struggled to find completions through the air, but Ollie Gordon II helped move the Dolphins downfield before finishing the possession by getting on the scoreboard with a 1-yard rushing touchdown.

Cincinnati regained the advantage in the second quarter when Burrow connected with running back Samaje Perine for a 6-yard touchdown. 3 consecutive turnovers between the teams ensued. The Bengals initially capitalised on another Miami mistake, with Jordan Battle intercepting Willis to halt the Dolphins’ progress, but a lifeline was thrown to Miami when Chase Brown fumbled inside the red zone for an untimely turnover.

Battle struck again with a second interception, further disrupting Miami’s attempts to respond before halftime. The Dolphins struggled to protect possession, and Cincinnati headed into the break firmly in control after scoring 3 unanswered touchdowns, capitalised this time through a short-yardage pass to Tanner Hudson.

Miami showed greater urgency after the break, leaning heavily on its ground attack to create opportunities. Willis used his mobility to extend plays, while Gordon II continued to find space against the Bengals’ defensive front. However, the Dolphins were forced to settle for a 29-yard field goal from Riley Patterson.

The Bengals quickly restored their three-score cushion. Burrow found Ja’Marr Chase for a spectacular 45-yard touchdown, with the receiver producing an acrobatic catch in the end zone despite tight coverage from cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. The score extended Cincinnati’s advantage to 28-10 late in the third quarter and appeared to put the visitors firmly on course for victory.

The exuberant Miami outfit refused to fold, however, and mounted a lengthy drive early in the fourth quarter. Willis completed a 3-yard touchdown pass to rookie receiver Kevin Coleman Jr., who secured his first in the NFL. Tight end Greg Dulcich then caught the 2-point conversion, cutting Cincinnati’s lead to 10 points and giving the home crowd a rare sense of hope.

The Dolphins’ comeback hopes suffered a major setback on their next possession when Jonathan Allen stripped Willis of the ball, allowing Cincinnati to recover deep in Miami territory. The turnover handed the Bengals an opportunity to put the game beyond reach, and Evan McPherson converted a 26-yard field goal to make it 31-18 with just over 2 minutes remaining.

Miami continued to fight until the final whistle. Willis capped the Dolphins’ next scoring drive with a 1-yard rushing touchdown, bringing the score to 31-24 with 45 seconds left. But it was too little to late. Miami failed to recover an onside kick to retain possession, and Cincinnati were able to negotiate the dying seconds.

The result moves the Bengals to 3-2, providing a valuable response after back-to-back defeats. Burrow was outstanding completing 23 of 32 passes for 190 yards and 4 touchdowns, while Chase finished with six receptions for 77 yards. For Miami, Gordon II rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown, but Willis’ 2 interceptions and lost fumble proved costly as the Dolphins fell to 0-5. Despite a solid effort, concerns will intensify as to where a win will actually come from for this team in 2026.

Touchdowns
Cincinnati: Perine, Chase, Hudson, Gesicki
Miami: Gordon II, Willis, Coleman Jr.

Top Performers
Cincinnati: Burrow, Chase, Perine, Battle, Allen
Miami: Gordon II, Uche

Injuries
Cincinnati: Bozeman (forearm)
Miami: Savaiinaea (ankle), Brents (stinger)

Crowd: TBC @ Hard Rock Stadium