Date: Tuesday October 13, 2026

Writer: Anthony Iles

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WELCOME to MIAMI

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The Bengals traveled to Miami to face the winless Dolphins in one of the toughest weather environments imaginable. The temperature reached 90 degrees, and the heat index climbed to an incredible 114 degrees on the field. It was the hottest October game in Miami stadium history and the hottest road game in Bengals franchise history.

Games like this can easily become trap games. The Dolphins entered the matchup at 0-4, but they possess a solid defense and an offense still trying to establish its identity. With talented running backs on the roster, it was expected they would lean heavily on the ground game.

The Bengals defense answered the challenge.

While Miami did break off four significant runs during the game, Cincinnati largely kept the Dolphins’ rushing attack under control. As the game progressed, the defense adjusted to those outside running schemes and improved its tackling on the perimeter. Quarterback Willis never looked comfortable, thanks to consistent pressure and disciplined coverage. Safety Jordan Battle had an outstanding performance, recording two interceptions and helping shut down Miami’s passing attack.

Offensively, the Bengals quickly found their rhythm.

The game started with a spark when Charlie Meyers returned the opening kickoff 81 yards, giving Cincinnati excellent field position. Joe Burrow wasted no time capitalizing, connecting with tight end Mike Gesicki for an early touchdown.

Burrow was efficient all afternoon, finishing 23-of-32 passing for 190 yards and four touchdowns. The Bengals offense displayed great balance, rushing 31 times for 110 yards while controlling the tempo of the game. Burrow’s fourth touchdown pass was the highlight of the afternoon, a spectacular 45-yard connection to Ja’Marr Chase, who made a one-handed catch between two defenders.

The offensive line deserves a tremendous amount of credit. Burrow was never sacked, allowing the offense to operate comfortably throughout the game.

Special teams also made history. Kicker Evan McPherson extended his streak to 22 consecutive made field goals, setting a new Bengals franchise record.

Despite the victory, the Bengals know there is room for improvement. Several unnecessary penalties hurt field position, and a punt return miscue resulted in an avoidable mistake. Cleaning up those mental errors, along with continuing to improve tackling against outside runs, will only make this team stronger.

The win moves Cincinnati to 3-2 entering its bye week, while Miami falls to 0-5.

Interestingly, the last time the Bengals started a season 3-2 was in 2021, the year they went on an unforgettable run to the Super Bowl.

The timing of the bye week could not be better. It provides an opportunity for players to recover and prepare for a critical divisional showdown against the Ravens in Baltimore. Following that game, Cincinnati faces the Titans, Falcons, Steelers, Commanders, and Saints in a stretch that could define the season.

The AFC North remains highly competitive. The Ravens sit atop the division at 4-1, while the Bengals, Steelers, and Browns are all close behind. A victory in Baltimore would be significant for momentum, playoff positioning, and the division race.

Most importantly, there is still a lot of football left to play, and the Bengals appear to be finding their stride at the right time. You can feel the confidence building with each week. As Joe Burrow has said throughout the offseason and into the regular season, this team has a different feeling about it. He has compared that feeling to his 2019 LSU national championship team and the 2021 Bengals squad that reached the Super Bowl.

Now it’s time to make a statement.

Play consistent football. Stack wins. Capture the AFC North. Earn a playoff bye. Get back to the Super Bowl. And bring the Lombardi Trophy home to the Queen City.

Who Dey! 🐅🏈

Check out this podcast I created in Gemini Notebook using this article I wrote:

https://notebooklm.link.google/InCTLcvUCVJH