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Final Score
Dolphins — 7-0-0-0–07
Bengals — 10-6-3-3–22
The Bengals defeated the Dolphins on Thursday Night Football, thanks to strong performances on both sides of the ball.
A.J. Green was unstoppable for the Bengals, registering more receiving yards than the entire Dolphins offense for most of the game. He finished with 10 catches for 173 yards, most on long passes from Andy Dalton, who continues a strong start to the season.
After a promising start, the Dolphins offense was unable to move the ball consistently. A 74-yard bomb to Kenny Stills was the game’s first touchdown, but it would be Miami’s only scoring play. Ryan Tannehill was sacked five times, and he turned the ball over twice.
Cincinnati (2-2) travel to Dallas next Sunday, while Miami (1-3) begin a four-game home stand against Tennessee.
Game Highlights
Miami Score on Their Second Offensive Play
Kenny Stills. #OUDNA #Sooners t.co/Kjuq2Xi0vt
After the Bengals settled for a field goal on their opening drive, the Dolphins came out aggressive. They opened with empty backfield sets on the first two plays, and Ryan Tannehill connected on a 74-yard TD pass to Kenny Stills.
AJ Green Gets Cincinnati in the Endzone
The Bengals responded immediately with a seven-play, 90 yard drive, culminating with a short pass that AJ Green finished from seven yards out. Green also made a leaping grab on the drive for 51 yards.
Jeremy Hill didn’t appear at all on the drive, as he dealt shoulder injury.
Dunlap Strips Tannehill For the Game’s First Turnover
The Dolphins have struggled to move the ball after a touchdown on their opening drive, and Tannehill made his first mistake of the game right before the two-minute warning. He never felt Carlos Dunlap on the outside rush, who reached in and slapped the ball out of Tannehill’s hands. The fumble was recovered by Bengals veteran Domata Peko, giving his team great field position before halftime.
Another AJ Green Catch Sets Up Another Nugent Field Goal
Apologies for sounding like a broken record…
@ajgreen_18 reels in yet ANOTHER catch. Is it fair? 🤔 #WhoDey #TNF t.co/MzABj0xi1x
With two minutes left in the third quarter the Dolphins have 152 total yards, and AJ Green has 166 receiving yards. Green is all over the field tonight, his most recent grab a basket catch in stride for 43 yards. Unfortunately for the Bengals, Jeremy Hill was stuffed twice outside the endzone and the offense settled for three points.
Tannehill’s Second Turnover Ends Any Comeback Attempt
Tannehill. Ugh.
Miami showed signs of life midway through the final quarter, when a nice play from Jarvis Landry helped them drive into Bengals territory. But the drive had an abrupt end in the form of Chris Lewis-Harris, who was sitting in a zone when Tannehill threw the ball right at him.
Game Stats
Dolphins
Passing: Ryan Tannehill: 15/25, 189 yards, TD, INT, fumble lost
Rushing: Jay Ajayi: 6 carries, 33 yards
Receiving: Jarvis Landry: 7 receptions, 61 yards
Bengals
Passing: Andy Dalton: 22/31, 296 yards, TD
Rushing: Jeremy Hill: 21 carries, 71 yards
Receiving: AJ Green: 10 receptions, 173 yards, TD
Game Preview
One of the most feared defenders in football returns Thursday night when the Bengals host the Dolphins.
The last time Vontaze Burfict was on an NFL field, he was nearly winning a Wild Card game over the Steelers single-handedly. He had a forced fumble, a huge sack of Roethlisberger for a 12-yard loss, and a clutch interception that almost sealed the win for his team.
But the lasting memory of Burfict in that game was his hit on Antonio Brown, a penalty that gave the Steelers enough yardage for Chris Boswell to hit a field goal that ended the Bengals season. It also landed Burfict in the NFL doghouse, and the NFL served him with a three-game suspension in the offseason.
Burfict returns tonight against the Dolphins, and his presence could be needed after his team’s recent struggles. The Bengals defense was torched by rookie QB Trevor Siemian last week, as the Bengals dropped their home opener to the Broncos.
The offense he’ll face is struggling, as the Dolphins adapt to a new offense under first-year head coach Adam Gase. Miami is in the bottom half of the league in points, first downs, rushing, and Ryan Tannehill has been sacked six times.
These teams played on Thursday night in 2013, with Cameron Wake recording a game-winning safety in overtime to give the Dolphins a 22-20 victory.