Joe Burrow’s four touchdown passes carry Bengals past late Dolphins rally

Burrow built the separation before halftime

Cincinnati set the tone almost immediately. Burrow opened the scoring with a four-yard touchdown pass to Mike Gesicki at 14:03 of the first quarter, and after Ollie Gordon II answered with a one-yard Miami rushing touchdown at 8:02, the Bengals took control in the second period. Burrow found Samaje Perine from six yards out with 11:51 left in the half, then hit Tanner Hudson for a two-yard score with 55 seconds remaining to send Cincinnati to the break ahead 21-7.

It was not a gaudy yardage day for Burrow, but it was an efficient one. He completed 23 of 32 passes for 190 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions, and Miami never recorded a sack. Cincinnati also converted 9 of 13 third downs, a strong number that helped the offence stay on schedule even without a flood of explosive plays.

The Bengals spread the scoring around, which kept the stat line balanced and the pressure broad. Gesicki, Perine, Hudson and Ja’Marr Chase all caught touchdown passes, while Chase led the receiving group with six catches for 77 yards. His 45-yard touchdown at 0:39 of the third quarter became the game’s biggest strike, stretching the margin back to 18 points just as Miami was trying to climb in.

Miami ran hard, but the giveaways were heavier

The Dolphins did plenty well enough to make this uncomfortable. They finished with 331 total yards to Cincinnati’s 307, and their ground game was the most productive unit on the field. Miami ran 34 times for 217 yards, good for 6.4 yards per carry, with Gordon gaining 88 yards and Willis adding 74, including a 39-yard run. That production helped Miami post 23 first downs and stay within reach into the final minute.

What Miami could not overcome was the turnover gap. Willis completed 15 of 27 passes for 137 yards and one touchdown, but he was intercepted twice and sacked three times for 23 yards in losses, leaving the Dolphins with 114 net passing yards. Jordan Battle accounted for both interceptions, and Cincinnati’s pass rush got one sack apiece from Barrett Carter, Jonathan Allen and Boye Mafe.

The full giveaway count landed at 3-1 in Cincinnati’s favour. Miami lost one fumble in addition to the two interceptions, while the Bengals’ only turnover was a lost fumble by Chase Brown. In a one-score finish, that arithmetic mattered as much as any yardage table. Miami moved the ball often enough; Cincinnati simply wasted less of what it created.

Our take: Cincinnati’s cleaner game held up under pressure

The third quarter offered the clearest summary of the afternoon. Miami narrowed the score to 21-10 on Riley Patterson’s 29-yard field goal with 5:13 left in the period, but the Bengals answered before the quarter ended when Burrow hit Chase for that 45-yard touchdown with 39 seconds remaining. Instead of entering the fourth quarter down one score, the Dolphins were back in a three-possession hole at 28-10.

Miami still made a real push. Willis threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Coleman Jr. with 7:13 left in the fourth, then connected with Greg Dulcich for the two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 28-18. Evan McPherson answered with a 26-yard field goal at 2:09, and Willis later scored on a one-yard run with 45 seconds left, but the failed extra point left the Dolphins needing more than time allowed.

Cincinnati’s advantage was not domination in raw totals. It was precision. The Bengals did not allow a sack, Burrow avoided the turnover column entirely and the offence finished with four touchdown passes on 10 drives. Miami, by contrast, produced the more dangerous rushing numbers and still had to chase from behind because the passing game gave away too much. When one team is cleaner on third down, cleaner in protection and cleaner with the ball, a seven-point road win usually follows.

Scoring moments

1. Period 1 · 14:03

   Mike Gesicki 4 Yd pass from Joe Burrow (Evan McPherson Kick)

2. Period 1 · 8:02

   Ollie Gordon II 1 Yd Rush (Riley Patterson Kick)

3. Period 2 · 11:51

   Samaje Perine 6 Yd pass from Joe Burrow (Evan McPherson Kick)

4. Period 2 · 0:55

   Tanner Hudson 2 Yd pass from Joe Burrow (Evan McPherson Kick)

5. Period 3 · 5:13

   Riley Patterson 29 Yd Field Goal

6. Period 3 · 0:39

   Ja'Marr Chase 45 Yd pass from Joe Burrow (Evan McPherson Kick)

7. Period 4 · 7:13

   Kevin Coleman Jr. 3 Yd pass from Malik Willis (Malik Willis Pass to Greg Dulcich for Two-Point Conversion)

8. Period 4 · 2:09

   Evan McPherson 26 Yd Field Goal

9. Period 4 · 0:45

   Malik Willis 1 Yd Run (Riley Patterson PAT failed)