CINCINNATI — The Bengals got a much-needed victory Sunday afternoon, defeating the Miami Dolphins 31-24 to snap a two-game losing streak and improve to 3-2 heading into their bye week. Joe Burrow threw four touchdown passes, Jordan Battle intercepted Malik Willis twice, and Cincinnati did enough to survive a late Miami comeback.
It wasn't always pretty, and the Bengals still have plenty to clean up before traveling to Baltimore in two weeks. However, Sunday's performance offered some encouraging developments, one particularly troubling defensive performance, and weather conditions that probably had everyone wishing they were somewhere else.
The Good: The Running Game
Well, look what we have here. The Cincinnati Bengals have a running game!
After managing a miserable 23 rushing yards against Jacksonville last week, the Bengals bounced back with 117 yards on 31 carries against Miami. It wasn't a dominant performance by any means, but Cincinnati finally demonstrated an ability to move the football on the ground and take some pressure off Burrow.
Samaje Perine led the way with 68 yards on 14 carries, averaging 4.9 yards per attempt. Chase Brown added 39 yards on 13 carries, while Burrow contributed another 10. Perine was particularly effective running between the tackles, consistently fighting for additional yardage and keeping the offense ahead of the sticks.
The improvement was evident in the second quarter, when Cincinnati put together a 13-play, 58-yard touchdown drive that consumed more than seven minutes. The Bengals followed that with another sustained touchdown possession before halftime, establishing a 21-7 lead.
Cincinnati doesn't need to lead the league in rushing, but it cannot afford to be completely one-dimensional. Sunday's performance was an encouraging step toward developing the balance this offense has desperately needed and will need down the road.
The Bad: Run Defense
Entering Sunday's game, Cincinnati ranked eighth in the NFL against the run, allowing just 99.5 rushing yards per game. Through four games, the Bengals had surrendered a total of 398 rushing yards, making their performance against Miami especially disappointing.
The Dolphins nearly matched half that four-game total in one afternoon, piling up 217 rushing yards on 34 attempts. Miami averaged an alarming 6.4 yards per carry, with several explosive runs exposing weaknesses that Cincinnati had largely managed to avoid this season.
Ollie Gordon II led Miami's running backs with 88 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, while quarterback Malik Willis added 74 yards on eight attempts, including a 39-yard scramble. The Dolphins also received 26 rushing yards from Cedrick Bell and another 18 from Malik Washington.
What had been one of Cincinnati's more dependable defensive strengths suddenly became somewhat of a liability.
With Baltimore waiting after the bye week, Cincinnati needs to get this corrected quickly. The Ravens have way more offensive firepower than Miami, and another performance like Sunday's could make for a very long afternoon.
The Ugly: The Heat
It was hot in Miami on Sunday. Really hot. The kind of hot that makes you question why anybody thought playing football outdoors in South Florida in October was a good idea.
The official temperature at kickoff was 90 degrees, tying the hottest game in Bengals history. However, that number doesn't come close to describing the conditions players and coaches were experiencing on the sidelines.
FOX sideline reporter Jen Hale reported temperatures reaching 114 degrees, and a later shot of her thermometer showed 112 degrees. Those readings reflected the extreme sideline conditions rather than the official air temperature, but either way, that's an absolutely miserable environment in which to play professional football.
The heat became more than just an uncomfortable talking point when a member of the officiating chain crew reportedly fainted during the second quarter. Players were also dealing with the effects of the conditions throughout the afternoon, making an already demanding game even more exhausting.
Credit both teams for battling through it, particularly Cincinnati, whose sideline was drenched in direct sunlight throughout the afternoon, while Miami's sideline enjoyed the shade provided by the stadium's design.
Fortunately, the Bengals have a bye week coming up, giving everyone an opportunity to recover before heading to Baltimore on October 25. After spending an afternoon in temperatures that would make the surface of Mercury feel welcoming, a week off probably sounds pretty good.
