The Cincinnati Bengals turned a three-point halftime lead into a 45-21 win over the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on December 21, 2025. The Bengals vs Miami Dolphins Match Player Stats tell the clearest part of the story after halftime, when Cincinnati converted Miami turnovers into short fields and touchdowns.

Joe Burrow threw four touchdown passes without an interception, while Chase Brown scored three total touchdowns. Miami produced 389 total yards and averaged the same 6.7 yards per play as Cincinnati, but three turnovers changed the shape of the game.

The Bengals scored 28 straight points across the second half before Miami added a late touchdown. Cincinnati improved to 5-10, while Miami fell to 6-9.

Bengals vs Dolphins Match Overview

Miami and Cincinnati entered the game already eliminated from playoff contention. Cincinnati arrived at 4-10 after being shut out by Baltimore in Week 15, while Miami entered at 6-8.

The matchup also brought a major change at quarterback for Miami. Rookie Quinn Ewers made his first NFL start after the Dolphins moved away from Tua Tagovailoa as their starting quarterback.

Cincinnati stayed with Burrow even though its postseason hopes were already over. That decision gave the Bengals their normal passing structure with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins available.

Pre-Match Context

Miami’s plan centered on helping Ewers with its running game. De’Von Achane entered the week with 1,186 rushing yards and a 5.8-yard average, giving the rookie quarterback an established option out of the backfield.

The Dolphins were also playing without Tyreek Hill, whose knee injury had ended his season earlier in the year. Jaylen Waddle therefore remained the main vertical receiving option.

Cincinnati entered with major defensive problems across the season, but its offense still had Burrow, Chase, Higgins and Chase Brown available. Higgins had been listed as questionable because of a concussion before being cleared to play.

Quarter-by-Quarter Score

The first half remained close. The third quarter separated the teams.

Quarter-by-Quarter Game Breakdown

First Quarter: Achane Answers Cincinnati’s Opening Touchdown

Miami’s defense stopped Cincinnati’s opening drive when Zach Sieler sacked Burrow on third down. The Bengals responded on their next possession with a seven-play, 91-yard drive.

Burrow finished it with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Higgins. Miami answered almost immediately.

Achane broke a 48-yard touchdown run on the Dolphins’ next possession. The three-play, 65-yard drive tied the game 7-7 and showed why Miami wanted its running game involved early with Ewers making his first start.

Second Quarter: Miami Leads Before Cincinnati’s Fast Response

Cincinnati moved back in front with Evan McPherson’s 45-yard field goal.

Miami then produced one of its strongest drives. Ewers moved the ball through the air, and Malik Washington scored on a 9-yard run to put the Dolphins ahead 14-10.

That lead lasted less than a minute of game time. Cincinnati covered 56 yards in seven plays, and Samaje Perine scored from 4 yards out.

The Bengals entered halftime ahead 17-14. At that stage, neither team had separated itself statistically or on the scoreboard.

Third Quarter: Three Miami Turnovers Change the Game

The third quarter decided the result.

On Miami’s opening possession, Bengals safety Jordan Battle forced a fumble from Greg Dulcich after a completion. Cincinnati recovered at the Miami 34 and immediately used the short field.

Burrow found Chase Brown for a 9-yard touchdown to make it 24-14.

Miami’s next major mistake came when linebacker Barrett Carter intercepted Ewers. Cincinnati took over in Miami territory, and Brown scored again, this time on a 12-yard run.

The Dolphins later turned the ball over on downs before another Ewers interception went to Jalen Davis. Burrow then connected with Brown for a 5-yard touchdown.

Cincinnati scored 21 unanswered points in the quarter. The score moved from 17-14 at halftime to 38-14 entering the fourth.

Fourth Quarter: Cincinnati Extends the Lead

The Bengals continued the same run early in the fourth.

Burrow completed a 17-yard touchdown pass to former Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki. It was Cincinnati’s fourth consecutive touchdown drive after halftime and pushed the score to 45-14.

Miami responded late with a 97-yard drive. Jaylen Wright finished it with a 3-yard touchdown run.

The late score closed the margin, but the three-turnover third quarter had already put the game beyond Miami’s reach.

Team Stats Comparison

The total-yardage gap was only 18 yards, and both teams averaged 6.7 yards per offensive play. The larger differences came on third down and in turnover margin.

Cincinnati converted 6 of 12 third downs. Miami converted 2 of 10.

The Bengals also finished every red-zone trip with a touchdown, going 6-for-6. Miami scored touchdowns on both of its red-zone opportunities but reached that area far less often.

Key Numbers That Decided the Game

The turnover margin shaped the second half more than the overall yardage totals.

Cincinnati did not commit a turnover. Miami lost one fumble and Ewers threw two interceptions.

Those takeaways repeatedly gave Cincinnati favorable field position. The Bengals’ first two third-quarter touchdown drives covered only 34 and 35 yards because Miami had already surrendered possession in its own half.

Cincinnati also turned its passing possessions into points. The Bengals finished with four passing touchdowns, while Miami had none.

Third-down efficiency gave Cincinnati another edge. Its 6-for-12 rate helped extend drives, while Miami’s 2-for-10 performance created fewer chances to recover after negative plays.

Cincinnati Bengals Full Box Score

Cincinnati’s offense combined efficiency with ball security. Burrow completed 25 of 32 passes before Joe Flacco handled one late completion.

The running game produced 105 yards, but Brown and Perine also gave Cincinnati two rushing touchdowns.

Bengals Passing

Burrow finished with a 78.1 percent completion rate and a 146.5 passer rating.

Bengals Rushing

Brown led Cincinnati on the ground and remained involved as a receiver, which gave the Bengals another scoring option beyond Chase and Higgins.

Bengals Receiving

Chase supplied Cincinnati’s only 100-yard receiving game, but Burrow spread all four touchdown passes among Higgins, Brown and Gesicki.

Bengals Defense

The Bengals did not record a sack, but their defense created the game’s three turnovers.

Battle’s forced fumble opened the third-quarter turnover run. Carter and Davis followed with interceptions.

Bengals Kicking

McPherson converted a 45-yard field goal and all six extra-point attempts.

Bengals Returns

Cincinnati’s return game provided 117 kickoff-return yards and another 26 yards on a punt return.

Miami Dolphins Full Box Score

Miami gained more rushing yards than Cincinnati and finished with 389 total yards. The problem was possession value.

The Dolphins’ three turnovers came during a stretch in which Cincinnati scored on four consecutive drives.

Dolphins Passing

Ewers completed two-thirds of his passes in his first NFL start. His two third-quarter interceptions, however, both gave Cincinnati opportunities to add to its lead.

Dolphins Rushing

Miami scored all three of its touchdowns on the ground. Achane produced the biggest one with his 48-yard run in the first quarter.

Dolphins Receiving

Waddle led Miami in both catches and receiving yards. Ewers completed passes to nine different players, but none of those receptions produced a touchdown.

Dolphins Defense

Jordyn Brooks finished with 14 total tackles, the highest total on either team. Miami generated two sacks but did not force a turnover.

Chop Robinson and Kenneth Grant each added half a sack.

Dolphins Kicking

Miami did not attempt a field goal.

Dolphins Returns

Miami returned eight kickoffs for 218 yards as Cincinnati’s touchdown total created repeated return opportunities.

Top Performers

Joe Burrow

Burrow controlled Cincinnati’s passing game without giving Miami a turnover opportunity. He completed 78.1 percent of his throws and delivered touchdowns to Higgins, Brown twice, and Gesicki. His biggest impact came after the Bengals gained short fields in the third quarter. 

Cincinnati needed to convert those takeaways into points to build separation, and Burrow led touchdown drives after each one. His fourth scoring pass extended the run into the fourth quarter and moved Cincinnati’s lead to 31 points.

Chase Brown

Brown produced 109 yards from scrimmage and scored three touchdowns. He reached the end zone twice as a receiver and once as a runner, with all three scores coming during Cincinnati’s second-half surge. After Miami’s opening third-quarter fumble, Brown caught a 9-yard touchdown. 

Following Carter’s interception, he ran 12 yards for another score. Later in the quarter, Burrow found him from 5 yards out. That sequence turned Brown into the main finishing option while Cincinnati converted turnovers into touchdowns.

Ja’Marr Chase

Chase did not score a touchdown, but he led both teams in receiving yards. Burrow targeted him 11 times, and Chase caught nine passes for 109 yards. His role helped Cincinnati move the chains before the offense reached scoring territory. Miami had to account for Chase throughout the game, while the actual touchdown passes went elsewhere. 

That distribution mattered because Cincinnati could continue moving the ball through its leading receiver without depending on Chase to finish every drive in the end zone.

De’Von Achane

Achane produced 90 yards from scrimmage and scored Miami’s first touchdown. His 48-yard run tied the game late in the first quarter and accounted for more than half of his rushing total. Miami continued to run effectively as a team and finished with 129 rushing yards. 

The game situation changed after halftime, however, as turnovers created a widening deficit and reduced the value of staying patient with the ground attack. Achane still averaged 5.4 yards per rushing attempt on his 15 carries.

Quinn Ewers

Ewers completed 20 passes for 260 yards in his first NFL start and helped Miami reach 389 total offensive yards. He connected most often with Waddle, while Dulcich and Waller also contributed intermediate gains. The third quarter changed his debut. 

Carter intercepted one pass with Cincinnati already leading, and Davis intercepted another later in the period. Both turnovers became Bengals touchdowns. Ewers did move Miami 97 yards on a fourth-quarter touchdown drive, but the score had already reached 45-14 before that response.

Starting Lineups and Primary Offensive Personnel

Both offenses entered with their main backfield and receiving options available, although Miami had changed quarterbacks during the week.

Ewers was the key change. Miami announced before the game that the seventh-round rookie would make his first NFL start.

Cincinnati’s main offensive skill group stayed intact, with Burrow throwing to Chase and Higgins and Brown handling most of the backfield work.

Injury Report and Key Absences

Several injury situations affected the available personnel before kickoff.

Miami also listed Tua Tagovailoa as its emergency third quarterback. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Isaiah Johnson, Kendall Lamm, Tahj Washington and Matthew Butler were among Miami’s other inactive players.

For Cincinnati, Fant, Charlie Jones, Bralyn Lux, PJ Jules, Joseph Ossai and Jordan Jefferson joined emergency quarterback Jake Browning on the inactive list.

Season Series and Head-to-Head History

The matchup was the first meeting between Cincinnati and Miami since September 2022.

Miami still held the historical series advantage after the 2025 game, 18 wins to Cincinnati’s nine.

Cincinnati, however, won the two most recent meetings in 2022 and 2025.

AFC Position After Week 16

Neither team remained in postseason contention after this game.

The result therefore did not restore either team’s playoff path. Cincinnati moved one game closer to Miami in the AFC standings while both clubs shifted their attention to finishing the regular season.

Broadcast Information

The game had originally appeared in earlier schedule releases in a different broadcast window, but the final Week 16 schedule placed it in the Sunday 1 p.m. ET CBS window.

Conclusion

Cincinnati’s win gave the Bengals a positive response after their Week 15 shutout loss and moved their record to 5-10. With postseason qualification already gone, their remaining games became a chance to finish the season with Burrow back in the lineup and the offense operating with its main playmakers. Cincinnati’s next game was a Week 17 home matchup with the Arizona Cardinals.

Miami dropped to 6-9 and remained outside the playoff race. The Dolphins still had two regular-season games to evaluate Ewers and other younger players after changing quarterbacks late in the year. Their next assignment was another home game, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 28. For both teams, the final weeks shifted from playoff positioning toward evaluating how their current personnel would carry into the offseason.

For more match updates, read: Dodgers vs Washington Nationals Match Player Stats

Bengals vs Miami Dolphins Match Player Stats FAQ

Who won the Bengals vs Miami Dolphins game?

The Cincinnati Bengals won 45-21 on December 21, 2025. Cincinnati led only 17-14 at halftime before scoring 28 straight second-half points.

What were Joe Burrow’s stats against Miami?

Joe Burrow completed 25 of 32 passes for 309 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. He finished the game with a 146.5 passer rating.

How many touchdowns did Chase Brown score?

Chase Brown scored three touchdowns. He had one rushing touchdown and two receiving touchdowns while producing 109 total yards from scrimmage.

What were Quinn Ewers’ stats in his first NFL start?

Quinn Ewers completed 20 of 30 passes for 260 yards. He did not throw a touchdown and was intercepted twice during Miami’s scoreless third quarter.

How did De’Von Achane perform against Cincinnati?

Achane rushed 15 times for 81 yards and a touchdown. He also caught three passes for nine yards, giving him 90 total yards from scrimmage.

What decided the Bengals vs Miami Dolphins Match Player Stats battle?

Turnovers created the largest separation. Cincinnati committed none, while Miami had three, and the Bengals repeatedly turned those extra possessions into second-half touchdowns.

What was the score by quarter?

Cincinnati scored 7, 10, 21 and 7 points by quarter. Miami scored 7, 7, 0 and 7, producing the 45-21 final score.