The Cincinnati Bengals came to Miami needing a win to climb above .500, and Joe Burrow gave them one with a sharp, steady passing show. Burrow threw four touchdown passes, including a 45-yard strike to Ja’Marr Chase that broke open the game, as Cincinnati beat the Dolphins 31-24 on Sunday. Miami entered at 0-4 while trying to build its new offense around Malik Willis and a powerful running game. The Dolphins fought to the final seconds, but early mistakes made their climb too steep.

Cincinnati landed the first punch almost right away. After a huge 81-yard kickoff return set up the offense near the goal line, Burrow found Mike Gesicki for a 4-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead. Miami answered with a tough, run-heavy march. Ollie Gordon II blasted 22 yards on one carry, then finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to tie it 7-7.

The Bengals took control in the second quarter because their offense stayed patient while their defense created chances. Burrow capped a long drive by tossing a 6-yard touchdown to Samaje Perine. Then a Bengals safety intercepted Willis twice in the quarter, stopping Miami possessions before they could grow. Cincinnati did lose a Chase Brown fumble near the goal line, but Miami could not turn it into points.

Burrow kept spreading the ball around. He hit Tanner Hudson for a 2-yard touchdown with 55 seconds left in the half, sending Cincinnati to halftime ahead 21-7. The score showed the difference in the first half: Burrow did not throw an interception, while Miami’s new quarterback faced a defense that kept jumping into passing lanes.

Miami did not quit after halftime. Willis used his legs, rushing for 74 yards, and Gordon powered the ground attack with 88 rushing yards and a touchdown. The Dolphins piled up 217 rushing yards, showing the physical style coach Jeff Hafley wants his team to build. A 29-yard field goal cut the score to 21-10 late in the third quarter.

But just when Miami needed a stop, Burrow found Chase racing down the middle for the 45-yard touchdown. Chase finished with six catches for 77 yards, and his score pushed Cincinnati ahead 28-10.

Willis led a bold fourth-quarter response. He ran 39 yards on one scramble, then threw a 3-yard touchdown to Kevin Coleman Jr. Miami added a two-point conversion to make it 28-18. Yet with 2:34 left, a Bengals defensive lineman sacked Willis, forced a fumble, and recovered it at the Miami 10. Cincinnati turned that gift into a field goal for a 31-18 lead.

Willis still drove Miami to one last touchdown, scoring himself from 1 yard out with 45 seconds left. But the following onside kick went out of bounds, and Burrow knelt out the win. Cincinnati is now 3-2 and heads to face the Baltimore Ravens with its playoff push gaining steam. Miami falls to 0-5 before meeting the New York Jets, but its late rally showed that its new identity has fight in it.

Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase Light Up Miami as Bengals Hold On