Bengals vs Miami Dolphins: Match Player Stats & Full Game Breakdown

Joe Burrow had something to prove, and he proved it in one afternoon. The Cincinnati Bengals blew out the Miami Dolphins 45-21 in Week 16, with Burrow throwing for four touchdowns and running back Chase Brown scoring three times in a single quarter. Both teams were already eliminated from playoff contention, but the box score reads like a team playing for something much bigger. Here’s the full player-by-player breakdown.

Final Score and Game Overview

Cincinnati Bengals 45, Miami Dolphins 21 — played December 21, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

• Halftime score: Bengals 17, Dolphins 14
• Second-half scoring: Bengals 28, Dolphins 7
• Turnovers: Dolphins committed four in a row during the second-half collapse
• Records after the game: Bengals 5-10, Dolphins 6-9

This game was close for a half. Cincinnati led by three points at the break, and it looked like a competitive Week 16 matchup between two non-playoff teams. Then Miami turned the ball over four straight times, and the Bengals scored 28 unanswered points to turn a tight game into a rout.

Joe Burrow’s Return to Form

Burrow had dealt with an injury-affected season and openly admitted afterward that not playing football wasn’t fun for him. This game was his answer to a stretch that included getting shut out the week before against Baltimore.

• Completions/Attempts: 25/32
• Passing Yards: 309
• Touchdowns: 4
• Interceptions: 0
• Passer Rating: 146.5

Burrow was replaced by veteran backup Joe Flacco early in the fourth quarter once the game was well out of reach, but by that point he had already delivered one of his most complete performances of the season, finding four different receivers for touchdowns and rarely facing pressure he couldn’t escape.

Chase Brown’s Historic Third Quarter

If Burrow was the headline, Chase Brown was the story underneath it. Brown scored three touchdowns, all in the third quarter alone, becoming only the second player in Bengals history to accomplish that feat in a single quarter, joining former running back Joe Mixon.

Brown’s ability to contribute as both a runner and a receiver made him nearly impossible for Miami’s defense to account for once Cincinnati started pulling away in the third quarter.

Full Receiving Breakdown

Ja’Marr Chase didn’t find the end zone, but he was Burrow’s most-targeted weapon by far, hauling in nine catches for over 100 yards and keeping Miami’s secondary honest even as Cincinnati leaned more heavily on the run in the second half. Tee Higgins and Mike Gesicki each added a touchdown grab, spreading the scoring around and making Miami’s defense pick its poison on nearly every drive.

Rushing Stats

Cincinnati leaned on a three-headed backfield approach with Brown, Perine, and Brooks all getting touches, a sign that the Bengals were comfortable controlling the clock once they built a lead in the second half.

On Miami’s side, rookie running back Jaylen Wright scored a late touchdown, but the Dolphins’ ground game never got the same rhythm going that Cincinnati’s did, especially once Miami started trailing by multiple scores.

What Went Wrong for Miami

The turning point of this game wasn’t a single play. It was four consecutive turnovers in the second half that Cincinnati converted into 28 unanswered points. That kind of stretch is difficult for any defense to overcome, and Miami’s issues were compounded by a chaotic situation at quarterback.

Tua Tagovailoa, who led the NFL in passing back in 2023, was not the Dolphins’ starting quarterback for this game. He was listed as Miami’s emergency third-string option behind Quinn Ewers and veteran Zach Wilson, a stark contrast to the four-year, $212.4 million contract extension he signed in 2024. That quarterback shuffle, combined with the turnovers, made it an uphill afternoon for Miami from the start of the second half onward.

Injuries and Notable Absences

Cincinnati played the second half without cornerback DJ Turner II, who left due to illness, and tight end Cam Grandy, who left with a left clavicle injury. Miami wide receiver Dee Eskridge exited in the third quarter with a toe injury. None of the injuries changed the outcome, but they’re worth tracking heading into the final stretch of the season for both teams.

Why This Game Still Mattered

Both Cincinnati and Miami had already been eliminated from playoff contention heading into Week 16, which makes this performance more interesting than a typical late-season blowout. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor acknowledged the reality of the situation afterward, but his team didn’t play like it. Burrow’s postgame comments made clear that pride and competitive habit were driving the effort, not playoff stakes.

For Miami, the loss extended a difficult stretch under head coach Mike McDaniel, and the quarterback situation, with Tagovailoa buried on the depth chart, raised real questions about the direction of the offense heading into the offseason.

Key Takeaways for Fantasy Purposes

• Chase Brown’s three-touchdown, dual-threat performance shows why he’s become a workhorse back worth rostering even in matchups that look unremarkable on paper.
• Ja’Marr Chase’s volume without touchdowns is a reminder that target share matters more than end-zone luck on any given week; his overall production stayed elite even without a score.
• Joe Burrow’s bounce-back game is encouraging for anyone banking on him heading into next season after an injury-affected year.
• Miami’s quarterback depth chart chaos, with Tagovailoa third in line, is a major storyline to track going into the offseason for anyone following the Dolphins’ roster situation.

Final Word

On paper, this looked like a matchup between two teams playing out the string. In reality, it turned into one of Cincinnati’s most complete performances of the season, driven by a bounce-back day from Joe Burrow and a historic third quarter from Chase Brown. Miami’s four-turnover second half turned a competitive game into a rout, and the loss added to a growing list of questions about the Dolphins’ direction heading into the offseason. For Bengals fans, it’s a reminder of what this offense can look like when everything clicks, even with nothing on the line.

FAQ

What was the final score of the Bengals vs. Dolphins game? Cincinnati won 45-21 on December 21, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

How many touchdowns did Joe Burrow throw? Burrow threw four touchdown passes, completing 25 of 32 attempts for 309 yards with no interceptions and a 146.5 passer rating.

What made Chase Brown’s performance historic? Brown scored three touchdowns in the third quarter alone, becoming only the second player in Bengals history to do so, joining former running back Joe Mixon.

Why was Tua Tagovailoa not starting at quarterback for Miami? Tagovailoa was listed as Miami’s emergency third-string quarterback behind Quinn Ewers and Zach Wilson for this game, reflecting a difficult and uncertain stretch for the former Pro Bowl passer.

What turned the game in Cincinnati’s favor? Miami committed four consecutive turnovers in the second half, which the Bengals converted into 28 unanswered points after a close 17-14 halftime score.

Were either team still in playoff contention at this point in the season? No. Both Cincinnati and Miami had already been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention heading into this Week 16 matchup.

Who led all receivers in the game? Ja’Marr Chase led all players with 9 catches for 109 yards, though he did not score a touchdown in this particular game.

Did either team have significant injuries during the game? Yes. Cincinnati cornerback DJ Turner II left due to illness and tight end Cam Grandy left with a clavicle injury, while Miami wide receiver Dee Eskridge exited with a toe injury.