Joe Burrow Shines, Dolphins Spiral as Cincinnati Dominates in Miami
On a humid December afternoon in Miami Gardens, Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals delivered a performance that reminded everyone why they’re still a team to fear in the AFC. From the opening snap, Burrow looked dialed in - poised, precise, and completely in control - as the Bengals took it to a spiraling Miami Dolphins squad that’s rapidly losing its grip on the season.
Burrow, who continues to show flashes of his pre-injury form, wasted no time asserting himself against a Dolphins defense that’s been struggling to find consistency. His pocket presence was vintage Burrow - calm under pressure, eyes always downfield, and quick with his reads. Whether it was hitting tight windows or manipulating safeties with his eyes, the Bengals quarterback looked every bit like the franchise cornerstone Cincinnati has built around.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins - once a team with playoff aspirations - looked lost. The energy at Hard Rock Stadium was flat, and the fans made their frustration known early.
One image in particular stood out: a Dolphins fan in the stands wearing a paper bag over their head. It was a visual that captured the mood of a fanbase that’s seen too many seasons unravel like this one.
Tua Tagovailoa, who watched from the sideline, never saw the field. His absence continues to raise questions about the direction of this Dolphins offense.
Without him, Miami leaned on a quarterback rotation that included Zach Wilson and rookie Quinn Ewers, who was seen warming up pregame. But neither option sparked much optimism.
The offense lacked rhythm, timing, and identity - and against a Bengals team that smelled blood early, that was a recipe for disaster.
The Bengals' defense, for their part, came to play. They applied steady pressure, disrupted passing lanes, and forced Miami into a series of mistakes. It was a complete performance on both sides of the ball for Cincinnati - the kind of win that builds momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.
As the Bengals continue to climb, the Dolphins are left searching for answers. Whether it’s injuries, inconsistency, or just a lack of execution, Miami’s season is teetering. And with fans already expressing their discontent, the pressure is only going to mount.
Joe Burrow, on the other hand, just keeps doing what he does best: making plays, leading with confidence, and reminding the league that when he’s healthy, the Bengals are a problem.