The Dolphins came into Week 5 with a sliver of hope that the run game and Malik Willis might be enough against a Bengals team that had been scuffling. Instead, Miami dropped its fifth straight to open the season, and the familiar problems were all over the field.
There were a few bright spots, but not nearly enough. The run game held up again, and Ollie Gordon II kept flashing as the one reliable force Miami could lean on. Beyond that, the afternoon unraveled in the usual ways: turnovers, special-teams blunders, poor discipline and a defense that couldn’t finish the job.
Willis had the kind of day that only deepens the concern around him. He threw two interceptions in the first half, with one leading directly to a Bengals touchdown, and finished with a quarterback rating of less than 51.
He also lost a fumble and tossed a touchdown, but the bigger issue was the same one that has followed him all year. He holds the ball too long, hesitates when he spots an open man and misses chances before they disappear.
On the second drive of the second half, he nearly threw three interceptions in the end zone and again failed to see a receiver he should have found. That’s the kind of performance that puts a player on the bench.
Miami’s special teams didn’t help either. The Bengals opened the game with an 81-yard kickoff return while the Dolphins looked lost, missing tackles and losing lanes all over the field.
Malik Washington had some moments as a returner, but the unit as a whole was a mess. Riley Patterson’s missed extra point in the final minute only added to the damage.
If there was one Dolphins player who looked like he belonged, it was Gordon. Since taking over the starting role four games into Week 3, he has given Miami a downhill, physical runner who keeps churning forward. He still needs to be used more as a pass catcher, but on Sunday he was the clearest positive on either side of the ball.
A rookie who has shown promise still has work to do, too. Jacob Rodriguez piled up tackles again, but in the first half he gave up two touchdowns. The coverage was close, but not close enough, and he needs to read routes sooner before they turn into problems.
Up front, the offensive line was better in the run game than it has been in recent years, but it still hasn’t done enough to protect Willis. At the same time, Willis has made the line’s job harder by hanging onto the ball and drifting out of the pocket even when he has time.
The pass rush remains a major issue as well. Miami has been better at getting after the quarterback over the last two games, but it still isn’t consistent enough.
Burrow had too much time far too often, and when the Dolphins needed a finish, they couldn’t create it. The pressure is not there when it matters most, and the secondary is left exposed against quicker, bigger receivers.
Through five weeks, Miami still hasn’t led a single second of a game.
Then there’s the discipline problem that keeps showing up. Pre-snap penalties continue to stall Miami’s offense and extend drives for the other side. The Dolphins were flagged six times for more than 60 yards on Sunday, and those mistakes keep piling up.
In Other News...
Dolphins Rebuild Is Putting These Two Young Guards Under The Microscope
Miamis early-season stumble has only sharpened the focus on the interior of its offensive line, and two young guards are drawing most of the attention. With the team off to an 0-4 start, the Dolphins are treating the development of Kadyn Proctor and Jonah Savaiinaea as part of the bigger rebuild, looking for signs that the group can grow into something sturdier as the season goes on. Both have flashed enough to keep the staff interested, even if the results have been uneven.
Proctor has been the more eye-catching case in terms of raw ability, while Savaiinaea has shown the cleaner trajectory after settling into his second year. The evaluations have not been uniform, but the larger view remains encouraging, with coaches and analysts seeing enough progress to believe both players can matter to Miami down the line, even as the week-to-week scrutiny keeps getting tighter. [Read more 🡒]
Malik Willis Gave Bengals A Read Dolphins Fans Will Hate
The Bengals got a close look at Malik Willis, and Jordan Battle came away convinced there was something in the quarterbacks mechanics that helped Cincinnati sit on passes. Battle said Willis had a tell before releasing the ball, a small giveaway the defense picked up on, and the result was a disruptive afternoon for the Bengals secondary. Miami fans will recognize why that matters, because any hint that a defense can read a quarterback before the throw is the kind of thing that can travel fast.
Battle turned that awareness into production, intercepting Willis twice and helping Cincinnati force three turnovers in the game. The safety now leads the league with three interceptions on the season, which only adds to the intrigue for Dolphins observers who are watching how opposing defenses are diagnosing quarterbacks around the league. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Fans Will Love Whos Bringing The Energy Sunday
Miamis matchup with Cincinnati on Sunday afternoon will have a different feel in the booth, with FOX turning to Eric Collins and Mark Schlereth for the call. Collins, best known as the play-by-play voice of the Charlotte Hornets, has already built a reputation for bringing plenty of energy to whatever he covers, and that has made him an appealing name for fans who like their broadcasts with a little extra life.
Collins also has at least some recent NFL experience, having called a game last season, which only adds to the curiosity around this assignment. He may not be FOXs top announcing duo, but Dolphins fans have already shown plenty of interest in hearing him handle another one of their games, and this one should have no shortage of attention before the opening kickoff. [Read more 🡒]