The Bengals headed into their bye week with a needed 31-24 win over the Dolphins, and they did it in brutal conditions that clearly left a mark on everyone involved.
Cincinnati improved to 3-2 after a game that kicked off with a real-feel temperature of 104 degrees in Florida, the hottest opening temperature in Hard Rock Stadium history. The heat was so intense that Zac Taylor said even pregame had him feeling it.
“Nothing really at this point in October gets you ready for this heat,” Taylor said. “I mean, somebody told me it started as the hottest game here in October history, which I can attest to.
I've coached here for four years, and pregame; I was worn out. And so our players fought through that.
“Yeah, I told them. I made that statement to them because I know they're dead tired right now, and I didn't want them to think that's just in their mind.
They're like, 'What's wrong with me?' It was a hot day, and they battled through it, and they found a way to win.
And I don't discount that at all.”
The Bengals didn’t exactly make it easy on themselves. They still sit last in the division because of tiebreakers, and the finish was messy enough to leave plenty for the coaching staff to sort through.
Cincinnati had two personal fouls, lost the ball twice in the red zone, took a kickoff at the four-yard line, and had a penalty on a field goal that turned into a touchdown. Taylor also pointed to Miami rushing for more than 200 yards.
“There are a lot of frustrating things on our end. We had two personal fouls.
We fumbled twice in the red zone. We caught a kickoff on the four-yard line.
We had a penalty on a field goal that led to a touchdown. Gave them four points.
Gave up over 200 yards rushing,” Taylor said. “So, plenty to clean up.
The bye hits us at a great time. I know these guys are worn out.
We've had some down to the wire games last three weeks.
“I know how hot this one was today. So the bye week comes at a great time for us to be 3-2.
These guys will regroup. We know who we are today.
There are a lot of things we have to clean up to be better when we go to Baltimore in two weeks.”
Joe Burrow gave Cincinnati the kind of efficient day it needed, throwing for 190 yards and four touchdowns with a 126.3 passer rating. Even with that production, the Bengals averaged just 4.9 yards per play, compared with Miami’s 5.2.
Jordan Battle also came through with the team’s first multi-interception game since 2023, helping keep the Dolphins under 25 points. After a week full of injury questions, Burrow helped steady the offense, and the Bengals found enough answers to leave Florida with a win before the break.
Cincinnati now gets an extended rest period before turning its attention to Baltimore and returning to practice for game planning.
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