STAFF PREDICTIONS

DAVE HYDE Sports Columnist

Prediction: Bengals 31, Dolphins 24

Season record: 4-0 Comment: Adam

Gase has the Dolphins' full attention after the Patriots debacle and cutting of Jordan Phillips. But Cincinnati is averaging 31.5 points a game, and if it hits that number it will be too much for the struggling Dolphins offense.

OMAR KELLY Dolphins Writer/ Columnist

Prediction: Bengals 27,

Dolphins 21

Season record: 2-2

Comment: The Dolphins are patched up with backups because of injuries on the offensive and defensive lines, contributing to their struggles at the line of scrimmage. The Dolphins will continue to struggle until those units get addressed and become more forceful.

KATHY LAUGHLIN Sports Editor

Prediction: Bengals 30,

Dolphins 17

Season record: 4-0

Comment: Sunday's game features two 3-1 teams heading in opposite directions.

The high-flying Bengals are coming off a thrilling 37-36 win at Atlanta as Andy Dalton connected with A.J. Green on a 13-yard touchdown with 7 seconds left. The Dolphins were dominated in a 38-7 loss at New England. As Dolphins coach Adam Gase put it, "We just got crushed." We could see much of the same in Cincinnati.

KEVEN LERNER Assistant Sports Editor

Prediction: Bengals 28, Dolphins 20

Season record: 2-2

Comment: The Bengals are off to their best start since 2015, mostly due to quarterback Andy Dalton's resurgence. He has thrown for 11 touchdowns in four games this season. The Bengals' defense ranks 29th in yards allowed. The injury-plagued Dolphins, who amassed only 172 total yards against the Patriots, rank third-worst in the NFL in yards per game at 286.

STEVE SVEKIS Senior Content Editor

Prediction: Bengals 23,

Dolphins 17

Season record: 2-2

Comment: The Dolphins caught a break when Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert was lost for the season last Sunday. Still, A.J. Green, who torched Miami in 2016 for 173 yards, is in full flight. It would be a difficult win for the Dolphins to get under the best of circumstances — with a healthy Sitton, Kilgore, McCain, Wake, Branch, Hayes, Jones and Parker — but the injury bug has drawn blood four games in.