Examining the Tactical Defensive Adjustments Used to Force Four Consecutive Turnovers in the Bengals vs Dolphins Third Quarter
The Cincinnati Bengals delivered a staggering offensive performance on Sunday December 21 2025 by routing the Miami Dolphins 45 21 at Hard Rock Stadium. Quarterback Joe Burrow spearheaded the attack with 309 passing yards and four touchdowns achieving his second best career passer rating of 146.5. Despite both teams having been eliminated from playoff contention the previous week the Bengals played with a sense of urgency that overwhelmed a struggling Dolphins squad. The victory moves Cincinnati to 5 10 on the season and serves as a significant milestone for Burrow who surpassed 20,000 career passing yards during the contest. By reaching this mark in his 75th career game Burrow becomes the fifth fastest player in NFL history to achieve the feat.
The impact of the game shifted dramatically in the third quarter when the Cincinnati defense forced four consecutive turnovers from Dolphins rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers. Defensive standout Jordan Battle forced a fumble while rookie linebacker Barrett Carter and cornerback Jalen Davis each recorded their first career interceptions. The Bengals offense capitalized on every mistake scoring four touchdowns in a span of just fifteen minutes to turn a tight 17 14 halftime lead into a blowout. Running back Chase Brown was the primary beneficiary of the short fields becoming the first player in Bengals history to record two receiving touchdowns and a rushing touchdown in the same quarter. Brown finished the day with 109 scrimmage yards providing a dynamic dual threat alongside star receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
Reactions from the Cincinnati locker room reflected a team finally finding its rhythm after an injury plagued season. Head coach Zac Taylor praised the complementary football displayed by his units noting that the defensive pressure allowed Burrow to play with maximum confidence. Joe Burrow echoed these sentiments stating after the game that the performance represented exactly how the offense is supposed to look and feel. On the opposing side the Dolphins fell to 6 9 as Quinn Ewers struggled in his first career NFL start. While Ewers showed early promise with scoring drives to De'Von Achane and Malik Washington his second half interceptions proved to be an insurmountable hurdle for the Miami coaching staff to overcome.
Strategically the Bengals utilized a diverse array of weapons to exploit the Miami secondary including former Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki who celebrated a 17 yard touchdown with a "Griddy" dance in front of his former fans. By spreading the ball to eight different receivers Burrow successfully neutralized the Dolphins' aggressive pass rush led by Zach Sieler. Defensively Cincinnati focused on containment after allowing a 48 yard touchdown run to Achane in the first quarter eventually holding the league's fastest running back to minimal gains for the remainder of the afternoon.
Looking at the future outlook the Bengals will return home to host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday while the Dolphins prepare for a difficult road matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. For Cincinnati the emergence of Chase Brown as a consistent three touchdown threat provides a promising blueprint for the 2026 season. Meanwhile Miami enters the offseason facing significant questions regarding their quarterback hierarchy and the health of their defensive core. As the regular season enters its final two weeks both organizations are focused on player evaluation and building momentum for a bounce back year in a highly competitive AFC landscape.