The Bengals experimented with fourth-round pick Ryan Finley earlier this season before turning back to veteran Andy Dalton. Dalton, who helped the Bengals win their first game of the season against the Jets on Dec. 1, is completing just 59.7 percent of his passes with 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He is 1-10 as Cincinnati’s starter this season. Star receiver A.J. Green has not played this season. The Dolphins intercepted Eli Manning three times last week. Edge: Dolphins
Special teams
The Dolphins have played it safe on special teams since Dec. 1, when their punter threw a touchdown pass to the kicker in a win over the Eagles. A big reason is Miami has signed 10 players in the past two weeks and some of those players have seen action on special teams, including new kick returner Trevor Davis. The Dolphins will continue to rely on kicker Jason Sanders (20 of 26). Cincinnati kicker Randy Bullock (23 of 27) has been solid, while returner Brandon Wilson is one of six players to return a kickoff for a touchdown this season. Edge: Dolphins
Intangibles
Dolphins 27, Bengals 17
Kathy Laughlin, Sports editor (Season record:
11-3, 8-6):
The Bengals will clinch the No. 1 pick in the draft with a loss to the Dolphins. They undoubtedly will take LSU star quarterback Joe Burrow if they land the top pick. The last time Cincinnati had the first pick, it chose Carson Palmer in
2003. The Dolphins, who have won two of their last three home games, could fall out of the top five in the
2020 draft order with a win. Dolphins 30, Bengals 24
MICHAEL HICKEY/GETTY
Joe Mixon is 75 yards shy of rushing for 1,000 on the season. The Dolphins have struggled defending the run all season, allowing 140.9 rushing yards per game and 4.6 yards per attempt. Making matters worse is that Dolphins lost Raekwon McMillan, the team’s best run-stuffing linebacker to a hamstring injury that got him placed on injured reserve.
Ryan Fitzpatrick has completed less than 60 percent of his passes in three of the past four games, and the lone exception to those struggles produced Miami’s 37-31 win over Philadelphia, a game in which the 15-year veteran completed 69.2 percent of his attempts and threw three touchdown passes. The Dolphins need that Fitzmagic to win games because of all the struggles this team has had this year.
The Dolphins have had success sustaining drives lately, despite the team’s troubling third-down conversion rate of 33.5 percent. Where the offense has taken a downward turn is in the red zone. Three weeks ago Miami was ranked fourth in the NFL when it came to red-zone efficiency, but heading into Sunday’s game the Dolphins ranked 22nd, turning 53.8 percent of possessions that get inside the 20-yard line into touchdowns. The Bengals have the third-stingiest redzone defense in the NFL.
Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) has rushed for 282 yards over his last two games, including 136 against the Patriots on Dec. 15 in Cincinnati.
Safid Deen, Dolphins writer (Season record: 9-5, 7-7):
The Dolphins should deliver a win in their final home game that leaves many confused about their NFL draft standing. The Dolphins need the Giants pull off a road win over the Redskins to help their case, while keeping an eye on the Lions, who could jump ahead of Miami, too.