The Dolphins’ passing game has been short on oxygen through four weeks, but Week 5 sets up like a chance to finally breathe. Miami spent less than 21 minutes on offense in its Week 4 loss to the Vikings in Minnesota, which left quarterback Malik Willis with few chances to push the ball downfield and tight end Greg Dulcich with little room to matter.
That could change fast against Cincinnati.
Dulcich already flashed in Week 3 against the Chiefs, catching five passes for 55 yards on seven targets, and the matchup this week looks even friendlier. The Bengals have been vulnerable to tight ends all season, and Miami has the kind of opponent that could let Dulcich turn a promising role into a real breakout.
Through four games, no defense has allowed more receiving yards to tight ends than Cincinnati’s 409. That lines up neatly with a long-running problem for the Bengals, who have struggled to handle the position for a while now.
If Miami wants to take advantage, Dulcich looks like the cleanest answer in the passing game. Cincinnati cornerbacks DJ Turner and Dax Hill are expected to make life difficult for Malik Washington whether he lines up in the slot or on the boundary, while Caleb Douglas looks set to miss another game and Chris Bell remains a boom-or-bust option. That leaves Dulcich as the obvious next option for Willis.
The bigger question is whether the Dolphins will actually use him enough.
Dulcich brings real value as a pass-catcher and is an excellent athlete when he’s allowed to play that way. Miami should be leaning on the run with Ollie Gordon II, Jaylen Wright, and even Willis as a runner, but Dulcich ought to be a featured part of the plan.
Instead, Week 4 offered a reminder that the usage hasn’t matched the opportunity. Rookie tight end Will Kacmarek out-snapped Dulcich 24-20, and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik continues to lean heavily on 21 personnel. Miami, as the source material notes, would be better served by using more 12 personnel.
According to SumerSports, the Dolphins are using 21 personnel - two backs and one tight end - at the NFL’s third-highest rate, while their 12 personnel usage - one back and two tight ends - ranks second-lowest. Pairing Dulcich with Kacmarek more often would make the offense harder to read. Kacmarek is mostly a blocker, but Dulcich can handle that work too and brings much more as a receiver.
A dual-back look with Gordon and Wright, while leaving Malik Washington isolated against DJ Turner on the perimeter, would be a rough setup for Miami. The simpler fix is right there: get Dulcich and Kacmarek on the field together more often and let the formation work for the Dolphins instead of against them.
In Other News...
Dolphins Get A Crucial Chance To Stop Their Slide In Week 5
The Dolphins return home in Week 5 looking for anything that can stop a four-game skid, and the timing at least gives them a game with some pressure on both sidelines. Cincinnati comes in off back-to-back losses of its own, so this is not exactly a heavyweight meeting between two teams feeling good about themselves. Miami will need to make the most of the chance, especially with the Bengals still working through their own issues on offense.
There is also some uncertainty around Cincinnatis top pass catchers, which could reshape how the matchup unfolds if the Bengals are missing key help at wide receiver. Even so, the betting market is still leaning toward the visitors, with FanDuel Sportsbook installing Cincinnati as a 6.5-point favorite. For a Dolphins team trying to regain some traction, this looks less like a comfort spot and more like a test of whether home field can finally matter again. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Fans Know These Bengals Wins Still Hit Different
The Dolphins meetings with Cincinnati have produced plenty of moments that still linger for Miami fans, from a memorable 1973 playoff game to a series of regular-season wins that helped build a long edge in the matchup. Miami owns a 17-9 all-time regular-season record against the Bengals, and that history has been shaped by standout performances from the likes of Dan Marino, Bob Griese, Mercury Morris and Brent Grimes, along with a few quirky finishes that made the rivalry feel a little bigger than the standings suggested.
Theres also a coaching connection and a handful of defensive plays that still get mentioned whenever these teams line up again, which is part of why the Bengals have never felt like an ordinary opponent for the Dolphins. Miami is trying to snap a two-game losing streak in the series, and for a fan base that remembers the better chapters so clearly, the chance to add another one carries a little extra weight. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Are Reaching A Point That Could Define Their Season
Early in the season, the AFC has already become a study in separation, with several teams stuck near the bottom and four still searching for their first win. For Miami, that backdrop matters because this is less about chasing the standings in September and more about understanding what kind of team Jeff Hafley and Jon-Eric Sullivan are trying to build in their first year of steering the roster. The Dolphins are in evaluation mode, and every week is adding another layer to the question of what pieces fit long term.
A team in that spot rarely gets to stay neutral for long, especially once the NFL trade deadline starts looming and front offices have to decide whether to hold steady or reshape the roster. Miamis situation is made more interesting by what is happening elsewhere in the conference, where even teams with ugly records can still show signs of traction. Tennessee, for example, has found some early chemistry between Cam Ward and rookie receiver Carnell Tate, a reminder that progress does not always arrive in neat order and that Miamis next move may matter as much as its next result. [Read more 🡒]