The Bengals play their final road game of 2025 Sunday when they travel to South Beach to take on the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins were eliminated from playoff contention with a 28-15 loss to the Steelers in Pittsburgh on Monday Night Football in Week 15 and sit at 6-8 on the year.
Dolphins Offense
QB Tua Tagovailoa leads the NFL with 15 interceptions this season, the most of his career. Tagovailoa has historically been very accurate with the football, sitting second all time in completion percentage with a 68.0% career completion rate (Bengals QB Joe Burrow is first at 68.2%). His 2025 mark is not far off his career average, sitting at 67.7%. However, Tagovailoa's yards per attempt is the lowest it has been since 2021, averaging 6.9 yards per throw. The first-round pick from Alabama completed 22-of-28 passes for 253 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in the loss to Pittsburgh. Both touchdown passes came in the fourth quarter when Miami trailed 28-3.
RB De'Von Achane is the engine that makes the offense run. He ranks third in the NFL in rushing yards (1,186) and first in the league in yards per carry among those with at least 50 carries (5.8). He's a receiving threat out of the backfield as well, ranking fourth among running backs with 450 receiving yards and tied for third with four receiving touchdowns. His 88.8 PFF-offensive grade ranks third among all running backs, and his 91.0 PFF-rush grade ranks first.
Jaylen Waddle leads the Miami receiving options after Tyreek Hill went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 4. Waddle ranks in the top 20 in the NFL with 838 receiving yards and is tied for 14th with six receiving touchdowns. He shares the team lead for receiving touchdowns with TE Darren Waller, who came out of retirement to join the Dolphins and has played in seven games in 2025. Waller has posted an 88.0 PFF-receiving grade, the third best among tight ends. His 84.0 offensive grade is tied for second at the position.
Tagovailoa has taken the 10th-most sacks among starting quarterbacks this season. He's been taken down 30 times despite a concerted effort to get the ball out quickly: Tagovailoa has an average time to throw of 2.65 seconds, the third-quickest in the NFL, per NextGenStats. Miami has posted the fourth-worst PFF pass-block grade in 2025 (52.5).
Dolphins Defense
Miami has posted average ranks in both yards per game (334.6) and points per game (23.1) allowed in 2025. They've been susceptible to the run, allowing 132.1 rushing yards per game, the sixth most in the NFL, and 4.7 yards per carry, the fifth most.
The Dolphins had a reunion with S Minkah Fitzpatrick before the season, trading CB Jalen Ramsey to the Steelers to bring their 2018 first-round pick back. Fitzpatrick has posted the second-highest PFF grade of his career so far in 2025 (81.8), which also ranks eighth among safeties in 2025. Fitzpatrick has four pass breakups in coverage from his safety spot.
In front of Fitzpatrick, LB Jordyn Brooks leads the NFL with 155 total tackles and ranks ninth with 12 tackles for loss. EDGE Bradley Chubb leads the team with 6.5 sacks and has 41 total pressures on the year
Prior to allowing 28 to the Steelers, Miami's defense had turned a corner: The Dolphins allowed 13.25 points per game over the four games prior to Week 15 and went 4-0 in that stretch.
The Dolphins have forced the 11th-most turnovers in the league, turning teams over 17 times through 15 games. While they rank 24th in the league with seven interceptions, they've recovered 10 fumbles, the second most. Miami has a -2 turnover differential, ranking 18th.
View the best photos from Bengals-Dolphins matchups of years past
CINCINNATI, OH - OCTOBER 31: Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals players line up at the line of scrimmage prior to the snap of the football during the game between the Miami Dolphins against the Cincinnati Bengals at the Paul Brown Stadium on October 31, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Dolphins defeated the Bengals 22-14. (AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
Bengals defensive lineman Ron Carpenter tackles Miami Dolphins running back Larry Csonka. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Johnson (85) avoids a tackle by Miami Dolphins defender Will Poole (27) in the first quarter Sunday, Sept. 19, 2004, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end C.J. Uzomah (87) carries as Miami Dolphins free safety Reshad Jones (20) closes in during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) gets past Miami Dolphins linebacker Kiko Alonso (47) for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Cincinnati Bengals running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis (42) avoids a tackle by Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Randy Starks (94) during an NFL football game at Sun Life Stadium on Thursday, October 31, 2013, in Miami Gardens, Florida. The Dolphins defeated the Bengals 22-20 in overtime. (AP Photo/Perry Knotts)
Cincinnati Bengals Andy Dalton (14) during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013, in Miami at Sun Life Stadium.
(AP Photo/Tom DiPace)
CINCINNATI, OH - OCTOBER 31: Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals players line up at the line of scrimmage prior to the snap of the football during the game between the Miami Dolphins against the Cincinnati Bengals at the Paul Brown Stadium on October 31, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Dolphins defeated the Bengals 22-14. (AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
Miami Dolphins Ricky Williams(34) in action against the Cincinnati Bengals on October 31, 2010 at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati , Ohio. The Dolphins beat the Bengals 22-14.(AP Photo/David Durochik)
Peter Warrick #80 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs with the ball after making a catch during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 19, 2004 in Cincinnati. The Bengals defeated the Dolphins 16-13. (Joe Robbins via AP)
Miami Dolphins fullback Keith Byars (41) runs the ball during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 2, 1994 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Dave Cross/Miami Dolphins via AP)
Miami Dolphins runningback Bernie Parmalee (30) runs the ball during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 2, 1994 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Dave Cross/Miami Dolphins via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) runs with the ball during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Cincinnati. The Bengals won 27-15. (Aaron Doster via AP)
The Cincinnati Bengals offensive line gets set to snap the ball at the line of scrimmage opposite the Miami Dolphins defensive line during the NFL week 9 football game against the Miami Dolphins on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Fla.. The Dolphins won the game 22-20 in overtime. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Nat Moore has trouble holding on to the ball as he is pressured by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Reggie Williams in driving rainstorm in the first half of a game in Cincinnati, Nov. 20, 1977. (AP Photo/Brian Horton)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) calls signals before a play during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012 in Cincinnati. The Dolphins won the game, 17-13. (AP Photo/Joe Robbins)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Marvin Jones (82) catches a pass and runs past Miami Dolphins cornerback Dimitri Patterson (24) on a 50 yard touchdown nullified by an offensive holding penalty during the NFL week 9 football game against the Miami Dolphins on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Fla.. The Dolphins won the game 22-20 in overtime. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver John Ross III (11) in action, during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, in Miami Gardens, Fla. ( Tom DiPace via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals safety Jessie Bates III (30) breaks up a pass intended for Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) during an NFL football game, Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Terrell Owens (81) catches a touchdown pass that was tipped by Miami Dolphins safety Chris Clemons (30) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2010, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) hugs Miami Dolphins running back Reggie Bush (22) after the Dolphins defeated the Bengals 17-13 in an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) catches a pass and gets tackled by Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Morgan Trent (25) and Bengals safety Reggie Nelson (20) during the NFL week 8 football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, October 31, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Dolphins won the game 22-14. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Carl Powell #72 and Brian Simmons #56 of the Cincinnati Bengals sack A.J. Feeley #7 of the Miami Dolphins during an NFL football game on Sept. 19, 2004 in Cincinnati. The Bengals defeated the Dolphins 16-13. (Joe Robbins via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (85) runs a route during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Cincinnati. The Bengals defeated the Dolphins, 27-15. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Armon Binns (85) runs after a reception during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012 in Cincinnati. The Dolphins won the game, 17-13. (AP Photo/Joe Robbins)
Check out the Bengals 2025 Schedule.
