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Week 5 · 2026

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

Cincinnati Bengals 31 at Miami Dolphins 24

A Fast Start in Miami

The Bengals needed a win in Miami, and the game began with a burst of speed. An 81-yard kickoff return put Cincinnati close to the goal line. Joe Burrow then found Mike Gesicki for a 4-yard touchdown, giving the Bengals a 7-0 lead. Miami answered with a hard-running drive. Ollie Gordon II broke free for 22 yards, then scored from 1 yard away to tie the game. The Dolphins had shown they could push back, but Cincinnati soon took control again.

Burrow Builds the Lead

In the second quarter, Burrow stayed calm and spread passes to different teammates. He threw a 6-yard touchdown to Samaje Perine, and Cincinnati’s defense gave him more chances. A Bengals safety intercepted Malik Willis twice, meaning he caught two Miami passes before their intended targets could. Cincinnati lost the ball on a Chase Brown fumble near the goal line, but Miami could not score from it. Burrow made sure that missed chance did not change the game. With 55 seconds left before halftime, he hit Tanner Hudson for a 2-yard touchdown, and the Bengals led 21-7.

Chase Breaks It Open

Miami kept running after halftime, and Willis helped with his own legs. He rushed for 74 yards, while Gordon finished with 88 rushing yards and a touchdown. The Dolphins gained 217 rushing yards as a team, and a 29-yard field goal pulled them within 21-10 late in the third quarter. Then Burrow found Ja’Marr Chase racing down the middle for a 45-yard touchdown. That big play gave Cincinnati a 28-10 lead and shifted the momentum back to the Bengals. Chase caught six passes for 77 yards. Willis led a late fight, throwing a 3-yard touchdown to Kevin Coleman Jr. after a 39-yard run. Miami later scored again, but a Bengals defender had forced a fumble with 2:34 left, and Cincinnati turned it into a field goal. The Dolphins’ final onside kick went out of bounds, so Burrow knelt to finish a 31-24 win. Cincinnati improved to 3-2, while Miami fell to 0-5.