South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
STAFF PREDICTIONS
Latest line: Dolphinsare favored by 11 ½ points. Over/ under: 42.
DaveHyde, Sports Columnist (Season record: 5-6): Dolphins 27, Bengals 13 Without Joe Burrow, the Bengals have gone nowhere on offense, so this sets up a gametheDolphins defense should control. That also should helpTuaTagovailoa, if healthy, get back to running the offense without having the full gameon his back. The Dolphins’ streak of having at least one takeaway in 17 consecutivegames— the longest current streak in theNFL— should continue Sunday.
OmarKelly, Dolphins Columnist (Season record:
5-6): Dolphins 28, Bengals
14
The Bengals are playing without their starting quarterback, struggle at stopping the run and can’t protect theirquarterback. That sounds like a recipe for disaster againstMiami — regardless ofwho starts at quarterback for them. The Dolphins lead theNFL in third-downdefense and rank second in the league in points allowed per game (18.6).
SafidDeen, DolphinsWriter (Season record: 7-4): Dolphins 27, Bengals 3
Whether it’sTuaTagovailoa or Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Dolphins should be able to handily beat the Bengals, who are in the bottomhalf of theNFL defensively and are playing with a backup quarterbackmaking his second start this season. With a win, the Dolphins will improve to8-4, whichwould be their best 12-game record since 2003.
KathyLaughlin, Sports Editor(Season record: 56): Dolphins 30, Bengals 10
TheJoe Burrow-versus-Tua Tagovailoa showdown that madeyou circle this one on your calendar months ago won’t be happening, but it undoubtedly will have playoff implications forMiami. The Dolphins defense should be able to deal with the 2-8-1 Bengals, even if theMiami offense is unsettled because of a struggling run gameand quarterback changes.
Keven Lerner, Assistant SportsEditor(Season record: 6-5): Dolphins 23, Bengals 10
The 2-8-1 Bengals are playing for pride yet again after No. 1 draft pick Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending knee injury twoweeksago. Brandon Allen, whowas promoted fromthe practice squad lastweek, will once again start forBurrow. Allen, who started three games for theDenverBroncos last season, will bemaking his fifthNFLstart. Stingy defense has theDolphins in contention for theirfirstAFC East title since 2008.
SteveSvekis, Assistant SportsEditor(Season record: 6-5): Dolphins38, Bengals 10
The Dolphins defense is prepared to have a dominant gamewith a double-digit combination of sacks and turnovers, and multiple defensivescores, very much a realistic possibility. Miami must get this eighth win before the season’s daunting final four games against the Chiefs, Patriots, Raiders and Bills, who are a combined 29-15.