Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense kept humming in the heat Sunday, and the latest drive pushed Cincinnati into comfortable territory against Miami.
Tanner Hudson finished it off with a 2-yard touchdown catch, helping the Bengals stretch their lead to 21-7. The scoring march was another sign that Cincinnati was controlling the game in South Florida, where the temperature was doing its part to make things miserable.
The Bengals also got a huge boost from their defense, and Jordan Battle was at the center of it. Malik Willis had already thrown two interceptions to Battle, giving Cincinnati extra chances and putting the safety in rare company. Battle had also pointed out before the game that Willis has a tell when he’s about to throw by patting the ball, and that read showed up again on Sunday.
According to Jay Morrison, Battle became the first Bengals player with multiple interceptions in a game since Logan Wilson in 2023.
The conditions added another wrinkle to the story. Per the Dolphins, the 90-degree temperature marked the hottest October game in Hard Rock Stadium history since the building opened in 1987.
Cincinnati’s touchdown drive included plenty of Burrow-to-pass-catcher connection before Hudson’s score. Burrow found Ja’Marr Chase for 8 yards to the Miami 2, then Chase’s play was followed by Samaje Perine runs of 3, 5 and 11 yards.
Burrow also hit Erick All for 13 yards after a short left throw that sent him out of bounds at the Miami 29, and later connected with Hudson again for 8 yards to the Miami 42. The possession ended with the touchdown to Hudson from 2 yards out and an Evan McPherson extra point.
The drive also included a 3-yard run by Chase Brown and an incomplete deep throw to Tee Higgins.
In Other News...
Joe Burrow Made Clear Why This Bengals Win Still Feels Off
Joe Burrow didnt let the Bengals 31-24 win over the Dolphins pass as anything close to a finished product. Even with the result in hand, he framed it as a game that left too much on the table, with Cincinnati aware that a victory can still come with plenty of correction baked in. The timing matters, too, with the bye week offering a brief pause before the AFC North grind tightens up again.
Burrow also highlighted what Cincinnati got from its playmakers, especially JaMarr Chase, who kept pushing through injuries and still came up with a long touchdown grab. Still, the bigger picture around the Bengals is less about one encouraging afternoon than about how cleanly they can play once the next stretch starts, with Baltimore waiting after the break and very little margin for the kind of mistakes that lingered here. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Get Their Reset But One Problem Still Looms Before Baltimore
Cincinnati heads into its bye week with a 3-2 record after hanging on for a 31-24 win over Miami in conditions that tested just about everything a team can bring to South Florida. Joe Burrow delivered four touchdown passes and the offense found enough rhythm to outlast the Dolphins, even if Zac Taylor had plenty to point to afterward as areas that still need cleaning up before the second half of the season really takes shape.
The trip came with the kind of grind that can linger well beyond one Sunday, and Taylor made clear the Bengals felt it after the game. Penalties and other mistakes still popped up in a win that otherwise gave Cincinnati a much-needed reset, but the larger concern now is how refreshed and sharp they can look coming out of the break with Baltimore waiting next on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Standouts In Win Could Complicate Their Lineup Decisions
Pro Football Focus latest grades from Cincinnatis 31-24 win over the Dolphins offered a reminder that the box score can only tell part of the story. Even in a victory, the Bengals came away with one of their lower team marks of the season, but there were still plenty of bright spots tucked inside the grading sheet, including strong showings from players who made the most of limited opportunities.
Tanner Hudson stood out on the offensive side, while the defense was paced by a top effort from Boye Mafe. The bigger takeaway for the Bengals may be what those performances mean when the staff starts sorting through snap counts and roles, especially with Chase Brown and Samaje Perine working so closely side by side. When multiple reserves and rotational pieces grade well in the same game, the next lineup call gets a little harder. [Read more 🡒]