Dolphins’ Dynamic Duo Could Exploit Bengals’ Defensive Woes - But Cincinnati Has a Chance to Learn
The Miami Dolphins are bringing two explosive playmakers into Paycor Stadium on Sunday, and they’re heading straight for the Bengals’ biggest defensive soft spots.
Let’s start with the obvious: no team in the NFL has missed more tackles than the Bengals this season. And it’s not even close.
Cincinnati leads the league with 146 missed tackles - a staggering number that puts them well ahead of the next-worst team, the Steelers, at 113. That’s not just a stat; that’s a red flag waving high in the December wind.
Enter De’Von Achane and Darren Waller, two offensive weapons who are tailor-made to capitalize on that kind of vulnerability. Both will be central to rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers’ game plan in his first NFL start. And both have the kind of skill sets that don’t just challenge a defense - they expose it.
Achane’s Speed + Space = Trouble for Cincinnati
De’Von Achane isn’t just fast - he’s dangerous in the open field. And that’s exactly where the Bengals have struggled most.
Achane has emerged as a true dual-threat weapon in Miami’s offense. Last week against Pittsburgh, he logged 12 carries for 60 yards - solid, but not eye-popping.
What stood out was his work in the passing game: six receptions for 67 yards, second only to Darren Waller on the team. That’s been a theme all season.
Achane leads the Dolphins in receptions (61) and is second in targets (79), trailing only Jaylen Waddle. And among NFL running backs, he’s tied for third in broken tackles with 20.
So, yeah - if you’re a defense that can’t wrap up in space, Achane is the last guy you want to see coming out of the backfield.
With Ewers making his debut, expect a heavy dose of check-downs and quick reads - and Achane is likely to be the first name circled on every one of them. His ability to turn a short gain into a big play is exactly the kind of safety valve a young quarterback leans on.
For Cincinnati, that means linebackers and safeties will need to be sharp, disciplined, and - most importantly - sure tacklers. That hasn’t been their strength.
Darren Waller: The Tight End Matchup Nightmare Continues
If Achane is the speed threat, Waller is the matchup nightmare.
The Bengals have had a rough time defending tight ends all season. Sure, they held Baltimore’s tight ends to just two catches for 18 yards recently - but that came on only three total targets from Lamar Jackson, who barely threw the ball that afternoon. Go back one week earlier, and the picture changes: 11 catches, 137 yards, and two touchdowns allowed to Buffalo’s tight ends.
Now comes Darren Waller, who’s been nothing short of a sparkplug since returning from retirement. In his first game back in Week 4, he caught three passes - two of them for touchdowns. He added two more scores in last week’s loss to the Steelers, reminding everyone that he’s still a red-zone threat and a mismatch in the middle of the field.
Despite playing in just seven games, Waller is tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns (6) and trails only Achane in total scores. He’s been efficient, explosive, and clearly a favorite target for Miami quarterbacks.
And here’s where it gets even more interesting: Ewers, back in his Texas days, had a strong connection with his tight end, Gunnar Helm. In 2024, Helm led the Longhorns in receptions and was second in both yards and touchdowns. That comfort with throwing to the tight end could translate quickly at the pro level - especially against a Bengals defense that’s struggled mightily to cover the position.
A Defensive Test - and an Evaluation Opportunity
So yes, this is a tough matchup for Cincinnati. But it’s also a valuable one.
The Bengals are out of the playoff picture, which means the final weeks of the season are about more than wins and losses - they’re about evaluation. And there’s no better test for young defenders than trying to slow down players like Achane and Waller.
This is where defensive coordinator Al Golden can lean into one-on-one matchups and see what his guys can do. Dax Hill, who thrived as a slot corner at Michigan, could get a look in man coverage against Waller. That’s a matchup that would give the Bengals a real sense of Hill’s ceiling as a coverage defender.
Other candidates to cover Waller include Jalen Davis, Tycen Anderson, and DJ Ivey - all players Cincinnati needs to evaluate heading into 2026. The same goes for rookie linebacker Barrett Carter, who was drafted with coverage ability in mind.
Let him go toe-to-toe with Waller. Let him key on Achane when Ewers dumps the ball off.
Let him learn, even if it means getting burned once or twice.
And don’t be surprised if Demetrius Knight is sent on a few blitzes to test how Ewers handles pressure. These are the kinds of reps that matter when you’re building toward next season.
The Bigger Picture
The Bengals’ defense has clear flaws - missed tackles, poor tight end coverage, inconsistent communication. Achane and Waller are exactly the kind of players who can turn those flaws into game-changing plays.
But they’re also exactly the kind of players who force a defense to grow up fast.
This Sunday isn’t just about surviving Miami’s exotic playmakers. It’s about seeing who steps up, who competes, and who might be part of the solution in 2026. Because if the Bengals want to climb back into AFC contention next year, they need answers - and games like this one are where they start to find them.