The Cincinnati Bengals got exactly what they needed in Miami, and Jordan Battle was right in the middle of it. The safety said during the week that the defense had spotted a Malik Willis “tell,” and when the game rolled around, Battle turned that scouting into two interceptions and a major role in a three-turnover day for Cincinnati.
Battle explained that Willis gives away the throw with a small motion before releasing the ball.
"He has a little slight little tap before every throw though, so I feel like we could use that as a key to break on the ball," Battle said. "He likes to tap the ball before he throws it, or he takes his hand off, and that that gives the read the break."
Jordan Battle on Malik Willis: “He has a little slight little tap before every throw though, so I feel like we could use that as a key to break on the ball. He likes to tap the ball before he throws it, or he takes his hand off, and that that gives the read the break.
He's obviously dangerous with his feet. We know we got to be alert for that.
Third and longs, they will run quarterback draws, and in the passing game, he will extend plays. So we got to be good downfield.
DBs are plastering, so we got to be alert for that. He will take chances.
We just got to be on, be alert on guys where they line up.”
- Mike Petraglia (@Trags) October 8, 2026
Not everyone loved Battle putting that out there publicly, since it gave Willis a chance to clean things up. But the Bengals linebacker?
safety? didn’t need to backtrack.
Cincinnati’s defense showed it had the read.
The first interception came early in the second quarter with the Bengals already leading 14-7. Battle jumped on a tipped pass and came away with the takeaway.
- NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2026
Just five minutes later, he struck again. This time, Willis tried to make a throw while moving and across his body, and Battle made him pay with another pick.
- NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2026
Battle’s day pushed him to three interceptions on the season and nine for his career. He’s now tied for the league lead in picks in this young NFL season, a strong start for a safety who turned film study into production in a hurry.
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