MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins will tumble into their bye week without a victory for the first time since 2019.
Quarterback Joe Burrow threw 4 touchdown passes as the Bengals dominated the Dolphins 31-24 at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 11.
The Dolphins struggled offensively for the fifth straight week as Malik Willis endured his worst performance yet as Miami's starting quarterback. Willis finished 15 of 27 for 137 yards with a touchdown, 2 interceptions and a lost fumble.
Miami (0-5) is on bye next week and will return on Oct. 25 at the New York Jets. Cincinnati (3-2) is also entering a bye and will return the following week at the Baltimore Ravens.
Here are five instant takeaways from the Dolphins' loss to the Bengals:
Malik Willis struggles mightily
Willis completed
just one of his first eight passes and threw two first-half interceptions that helped the Dolphins fall into an early hole. He had multiple passes deflected or batted at the line, including his first interception.
Even as Willis gained momentum with short completions on the final drive of the first half, there was no payoff due to his mistakes. On the drive, he fumbled a low snap and fell on it, costing the Dolphins their last timeout.
With nine seconds left at midfield, Willis threw short to Greg Dulcich to convert fourth down but the tight end was tackled inbounds, allowing the half to expire with the Bengals leading 21-7.
In the second half, Willis and the Dolphins offense drew boos from the home crowd after he took a sack on second-and-goal inside the Bengals' 5-yard line. Miami was forced to settle for a field goal on the drive.
The few Dolphins fans left in the stadium for Miami's penultimate offensive series offered more boos when Willis lost a fumble while moving carelessly through the pocket. He has now lost a fumble in four or five games as Miami's starter.
Willis did manage some success running the ball, finishing with 8 carries for 74 yards and a touchdown.
Is Ollie Gordon II an RB1?
Miami's second-year running back continues to look like a potential lead back.
Gordon rushed 18 times for 88 yards and a touchdown . He broke off some of the offense's best plays, including a highlight 13-yard carry that was initially signaled as a touchdown before being ruled down at the 1-yard line.
The emergence of Gordon has helped soften the blow from De'Von Achane's season-ending knee injury, even if it hasn't yet paid off in the win column.
Defense (largely) limits Bengals stars
The Dolphins defense managed to keep Cincinnati's stars in front of them for nearly three full quarters.
Cincinnati's running backs and wide receivers had not managed a gain longer than 14 yards prior to Joe Burrow's backbreaking 45-yard touchdown pass to Ja'Marr Chase, which extended the Bengals' lead to 28-10 in the final minute of the third quarter.
Close may only count in horseshoes and hand grenades, but for a winless Dolphins team looking for any progress to cling to, this should be viewed as a success.
Special teams open with disaster again
After struggles last week in Minnesota, special team coordinator Chris Tabor's unit once again had multiple poor sequences in the first half.
The Bengals returned the opening kickoff 81 yards, setting up Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati offense with a short field for a Mike Gesicki touchdown pass.
On the Dolphins' first kickoff return, Jaylen Wright briefly bobbled the kick, though it ultimately may have helped him as he returned the kick to the 40-yard line.
On Miami's next kickoff, an attempted "dirty ball" kick fell short of the landing zone, moving the ball out to the 40-yard line. Thankfully for the Dolphins, a personal foul on the Bengals on the same play moved possession back to the 25-yard line.
Special teams performance improved in the second half, however.
After Miami's offense lost yardage and went three-and-out on its opening drive, Bradley Pinion executed a 58-yard directional punt, pinning the Bengals inside their own red zone. When the Dolphins defense got a stop, Malik Washington fielded a 66-yard punt at the 4-yard line and returned it 27 yards to give the Dolphins offense room to work.
In the fourth quarter, Miami dropped a kickoff inside the Bengals 5-yard line. The Cincinnati return man caught it and stepped out of bounds at the 4-yard line.
Injuries nag at Dolphins vs. Bengals
A smattering of minor injuries cost several Dolphins starters snaps as they fought to stay in the game.
Veteran linebacker Jordyn Brooks went down an injury in the first half and was surrounded by kneeling teammates and team medical staff. He limped off with trainers by his side and entered the blue medical tent. He did not return until the third quarter.
Jonah Savaiianaea left the game in the second quarter with an ankle injury. He was replaced by Jarrett Kingston at right guard and did not start the second half.
Other injuries included cornerback JuJu Brents, who cleared concussion protocol and overcame a stinger to return to the field, and safety Michael Taaffee, who stuck in a hard hit on Semaje Perine and left the game with a chest injury.
Eric J. Wallace is deputy sports editor for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at ejwallace@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dolphins vs. Bengals revealed these 5 important developments
