Bengals Beat Dolphins 31-24 Behind Burrow’s Four Touchdowns

The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Miami Dolphins 31-24 behind Joe Burrow’s four touchdown passes, building a substantial lead before holding off Miami’s fourth-quarter rally. Sunday’s Week 5 matchup at Hard Rock Stadium ended in regulation, with Cincinnati improving to 3-2 and Miami falling to 0-5 despite a strong finish in front of 58,223 fans.

For the Bengals, this was a road victory built on scoring efficiency rather than a huge passing-yardage total. For the Dolphins, it was another frustrating result: their most productive quarter came last, after Cincinnati had already created enough separation to withstand the comeback attempt.

A Second-Quarter Swing Sets the Tone

The opening quarter finished level at 7-7, but Cincinnati took control before halftime. The Bengals outscored the Dolphins 14-0 in the second quarter, turning an even start into a 21-7 advantage at the break. That stretch ultimately supplied the decisive cushion.

Cincinnati added another seven points in the third quarter while Miami managed three, leaving the Bengals ahead 28-10 entering the fourth. An 18-point deficit meant the Dolphins needed both offensive production and a much quieter finish from Cincinnati’s attack.

Miami delivered a significant push, outscoring Cincinnati 14-3 over the final 15 minutes. The Dolphins narrowed the final margin to one possession, but the Bengals’ three fourth-quarter points helped preserve their lead. The late surge made the result closer without producing a completed comeback or an overtime finish.

The available game summary does not identify individual turnovers, sacks, red-zone stops, fourth-down attempts or the sequence of late possessions. The clearest documented turning point remains Cincinnati’s unanswered second quarter, followed by Miami’s unsuccessful effort to erase the deficit.

Key Performers: Burrow Makes His Throws Count

Joe Burrow — 23/32, 190 YDS, 4 TD. Burrow completed 71.9% of his passes and turned a modest yardage total into four touchdowns. His scoring production was the central individual story of Cincinnati’s win. The supplied passing line does not include an interception total.

Ja’Marr Chase — 6 REC, 77 YDS, 1 TD. Chase led the game in receiving yards, averaging 12.8 yards per catch and accounting for roughly 41% of Burrow’s passing yardage. His touchdown added to a productive afternoon for Cincinnati’s passing attack.

Ollie Gordon II — 18 CAR, 88 YDS, 1 TD. Gordon was the game’s leading rusher and a bright spot for Miami. He averaged 4.9 yards per carry, giving the Dolphins meaningful ground production even as the scoreboard forced them to pursue a late comeback.

NerdSports Stat: Burrow threw a touchdown on 12.5% of his pass attempts against Miami—one scoring pass for every eight attempts.

What Comes Next

Cincinnati leaves Miami Gardens above .500, with a 2-1 road record and another victory to support its early AFC playoff positioning. Miami remains winless, and its encouraging fourth quarter must become more consistent production across an entire game.

Both teams next play Sunday, October 25, at 10:00 AM PDT. The Bengals host the Baltimore Ravens in an important AFC North matchup, while the Dolphins host the New York Jets with a chance to begin changing their AFC East outlook.

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