A 31-24 final might look like Miami hung around with Cincinnati in Week 5, but the numbers didn’t tell the real story at Hard Rock Stadium. The Dolphins actually put up a season-high 24 points, nearly doubling their previous best of 13, yet the day still landed as a rough one in almost every important way.
The biggest problem was Malik Willis. He turned the ball over three times, and against Joe Burrow and the Bengals, that kind of sloppiness was never going to pass.
Willis is operating behind a young wide receiver group that may grow into something more, and he’s also dealing with steady pressure, but neither of those things explain away every mistake. One in particular stood out: on a second-and-goal from the 3, he made the same kind of error he’d already made earlier this season, rolling out, refusing to throw the ball away, and taking an unnecessary and ridiculous 8-yard sack.
Pressure or not, that’s the sort of play he has to clean up.
For Miami, the quarterback situation doesn’t need a verdict until next offseason, but anyone arguing the team should use its first-round pick on that spot probably found plenty of ammunition here.
The receiver room had a mixed day. Chris Bell’s 26-yard end-around, helped by strong blocks from Aaron Brewer and Kadyn Proctor, was a nice burst of creativity, but he still wasn’t much of a threat in the passing game.
Bell looks like he can become a productive NFL receiver, but he isn’t creating much separation right now. Malik Washington, meanwhile, continues to be the most reliable option in the group, which isn’t ideal if he’s the kind of player who really should be a third receiver on a contending team.
Willis did flash as a runner, though. He finished with 74 rushing yards, including a long of 39, and that part of his game remains one of the few steady positives. He’s been hesitant to take off too soon this season, but maybe the better path for 2026 is to let him run earlier and more often.
On the ground, Ollie Gordon II kept building his case as the top back with De’Von Achane gone. He turned in another solid outing with 88 yards on 18 carries.
Miami’s problems weren’t limited to the offense. The kick coverage units opened the game by allowing a long kickoff return, and that kind of start puts pressure on everyone else.
At some point, the Dolphins may need to keep churning the bottom of the roster if those spots can’t hold up in the kicking game. Riley Patterson also deserves attention after another missed extra point.
Bradley Pinion, though, was a clear bright spot with the punt game, a strong response after that floppy drop against San Francisco.
Defensively, the Dolphins limited Cincinnati to 307 total yards, but the third-down damage was brutal. The Bengals went 9-for-13, and that was the kind of number that kept Miami from ever really gaining control. The pass defense mostly kept the explosive stuff in check, except for one major exception, but it gave up too many easy completions underneath.
The big touchdown from Joe Burrow to Ja’Marr Chase was one of those plays where the coverage wasn’t nearly as bad as the result. Jason Marshall Jr. was right there, Chase made a tremendous 50-50 catch, and there was some bad luck involved too when the ball hit Chase’s shoulder pad first before falling softly enough for him to haul it in.
Chop Robinson, who had been a factor against Minnesota, disappeared again and didn’t make much of an imprint while Burrow was getting the ball out quickly. He also picked up a bad offside penalty in the fourth quarter.
Jacob Rodriguez piled up tackles again, but the rookie linebacker didn’t have a clean outing. He was beaten in coverage on Cincinnati’s first two touchdowns, though he did come away with credit for taking down an especially accurate Burrow throw on the touchdown pass to Samaje Perine.
Miami heads into its bye at 0-5 and won’t play again until Week 7 against the New York Jets. If that wasn’t obvious already, the path to wins is looking awfully steep.
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 🡒]