Dolphins seek bounce-back against Bengals
Each week in the NFL can feel like Judgment Day, and, at the moment, there’s a thumbs-down outlook for the Miami Dolphins, who got bullied 38-7 by the New England Patriots last Sunday.
“We got ‘out-physicaled’, and we didn’t adjust the way we needed to,” Dolphins head coach Adam Gase said. “Nothing was good.”
But the big picture shows that the Dolphins are 3-1 and lead the AFC East over those very same Patriots (2-2).
That perspective is important, but another “Judgment Day” looms this Sunday as the Dolphins visit the Cincinnati Bengals (3-1). If the Dolphins beat the Bengals, they will be 4-1 for the first time since 2003.
Miami quarterback Ryan Tannehill is 10-2 in his past 12 starts, matching Carson Wentz of the Philadelphia Eagles and Jared Goff of the Los Angeles Rams as the best record in the NFL among active passers.
But Tannehill was held to 100 yards passing and no touchdowns by the Patriots, who also intercepted him once.
The Dolphins’ running game was also shut down, their offensive line has suffered significant injuries – costing them two starters out for the year – and the defense also has a lot to prove.
Las Vegas agrees, making the Bengals six-point favorites. Now it’s time to see if the Dolphins are starting a downward spiral or if the Patriots loss was just a blip on the radar screen.
SERIES HISTORY: 22nd regular-season meeting. Dolphins lead series, 15-6. However, Cincinnati won the most recent matchup, 22-7, in 2016. But, since Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill and Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton have been in the NFL, Miami leads this series, 2-1, with one of those games going to overtime. Miami won the OT battle 22-20 in 2013.
