The Bengals (3-1) rebounded from a 29-17 home loss to Denver on Sunday with a solid all-around game against a depleted team.
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Now, the Bengals. Also known as the team I never like to put faith in, especially when they lay points because Marvin Lewis loves to drive me insane.
It’s a bit of a coin-toss as to who’s going to win this game.
Last meeting: Miami defensive end Cameron Wake recorded three sacks, including a game-winning safety in overtime to seal a 22-20 triumph on Halloween 2013. For two teams that were both perennial playoff and Super Bowl contenders in the 1980s, that’s a surprising string of dominance from the Dolphins.
NFL Network will broadcast the game live beginning at 7:25 p.m. Toss in an injury to Tyler Eifert, 26, and no wonder the Bengals have started 1-2 this season.
The 1-2 Bengals will face a 1-2 Miami team that has a rookie head coach with high expectations. The combination of Bengals DT Geno Atkins and LBs Karlos Dansby, Vontaze Burfict and Rey Maualuga might be too much.
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES – Miami playing third road game in first four.
Bengals Web Site Editor Geoff Hobson provides a closer look at the Cincinnati Bengals.
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill is the Dolphins’ leading rusher with 54 yards on the season, and they used four running backs in Sunday’s win over Cleveland with limited success. Miami’s offense is capable of the occasional big play, but their default mode is stasis.
Green had five catches for 80 yards and a touchdown in the first quarter. The Dolphins finished the game with seven penalties for 68 yards, including an egregious roughing the kicker penalty that kept Cincinnati’s offense on the field. The plan is to have a four-man running back by committee for this game.
That might cause protection issues for Tannehill and it might be hard to establish any ground game.
If Hill doesn’t return, Bernard becomes a fantasy must-start.
Burfict was suspended by the National Football League for the first three games because of illegal hits.
Despite Tannehill’s contract – which runs through 2020 – we view this season as an extended tryout for him under Gase. He was listed as doubtful to play against Miami on Wednesday’s injury report. The Dolphins quarterback leads the team in both passing and rushing yards going into tonight’s game. The Dolphins have yet to find a primary RB, with Kenyan Drake and Jay Ajayi working in since an injury to Arian Foster (groin). Another key is Andy Dalton’s production, who has typically struggled in primetime games, and he has no excuse to struggle against a weak Miami defense.
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Both offensive and defensive penalties have hurt the Bengals lately. The Bengals are the better team, and they are coming off a loss.
