The Cincinnati Bengals beat the Miami Dolphins 31-24 at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday. Miami nearly doubled Cincinnati on the ground, but the Dolphins gave the ball away 3 times and could not stop the Bengals on third down.

Cincinnati converted 9 of 13 third downs and did not throw an interception. Miami threw 2 interceptions and lost a fumble.

How It Happened

Cincinnati scored less than a minute into the game when Joe Burrow found Mike Gesicki for a 4-yard touchdown. Miami answered at 8:02 of the first quarter on a 1-yard Ollie Gordon II run to tie it.

The second quarter belonged to the Bengals. Burrow hit Samaje Perine for a 6-yard score at 11:51, then found Tanner Hudson from 2 yards out with 55 seconds left before halftime to take a two-touchdown lead into the break.

Riley Patterson's 29-yard field goal trimmed Miami's deficit in the third quarter. Burrow answered 39 seconds before the period ended, connecting with Ja'Marr Chase on a 45-yard touchdown.

Miami made it interesting in the fourth. Malik Willis threw a 3-yard touchdown to Kevin Coleman Jr. at 7:13, then hit Greg Dulcich for the two-point conversion. Evan McPherson's 26-yard field goal with 2:09 left pushed the Bengals' lead back out.

Willis scored on a 1-yard run with 45 seconds remaining, but Patterson's extra point failed. Miami ran out of time.

Key Performers

Joe Burrow, CIN: 4 passing TD – Gesicki 4 YDS, Perine 6 YDS, Hudson 2 YDS, Chase 45 YDS
Bengals passing: 23-32, 190 YDS, 0 INT, 0 sacks allowed
Ja'Marr Chase, CIN: 45-yard TD reception
Malik Willis, MIA: 1 passing TD, 1 rushing TD, 1 two-point conversion pass
Dolphins rushing: 34 ATT, 217 YDS, 6.4 avg, 2 TD

Burrow's 4 touchdown passes went to four receivers, and Cincinnati's passing game was not sacked once.

Miami's run game carried its offense. The Dolphins averaged more than 6 yards a carry and earned 13 first downs on the ground. Cincinnati managed under 4 yards a carry.

Miami's passing game could not keep pace. The Dolphins completed 15 of 27 passes for 114 net yards, were sacked 3 times and threw 2 interceptions. Cincinnati's passing attack produced 190 net yards without an interception.

What It Means

Cincinnati improves to 3-2 and 2-1 on the road. The Bengals gained fewer total yards than Miami but won on third down and in the turnover column, giving the ball away once to Miami's 3.

Miami falls to 0-5, including 0-2 at home. The Dolphins outgained Cincinnati and went 3 for 4 in the red zone, but the turnovers and a passing game that never found rhythm left them still searching for a first win.

The takeaway for Miami is stark: a running game that productive should win games. Until the Dolphins protect the ball and get more from the passing attack, that kind of rushing output will not be enough.