Here’s a have a look at how the Miami Dolphins (3-0) and Cincinnati Bengals (1-2) match up in six key areas forward of Thursday’s Week 4 recreation at Paycor Stadium (8:15 p.m., WSFL, Prime Video):
When the Dolphins run: With 192 yards dashing and a 3.3 yards-per-carry common, the Mike McDaniel run recreation has but to take off in Miami. Both numbers put the Dolphins second-to-last within the NFL by three weeks. Raheem Mostert (24 makes an attempt, 78 yards) and Chase Edmonds (23 makes an attempt, 79 yards) are splitting touches and have nearly similar stat strains. Edmonds was in a position to punch in two brief touchdowns in Sunday’s win over the Buffalo Bills, although.
The Dolphins have had left sort out Terron Armstead taking part in by a toe damage, and proper sort out Greg Little has performed instead of Austin Jackson, who’s on injured reserve. Tight finish Durham Smythe, the higher blocker between he and Mike Gesicki, practically doubled Gesicki’s snap counts on Sunday in restricted alternatives as Buffalo dominated time of possession.
The Bengals are sound in run protection, rating eighth in yards in opposition to and seventh in yards per try. An enormous key in that’s defensive sort out DJ Reader within the center, however he’s coping with a knee damage sustained in opposition to the New York Jets on Sunday. His availability could possibly be key. Edge: Bengals
When the Bengals run: Cincinnati operating again Joe Mixon has been off to a gradual begin after his Pro Bowl 2021 marketing campaign the place he ran for 1,205 yards. He’s getting his justifiable share of carries, at practically 20 per recreation, however he’s solely producing 2.8 yards per try.
As a workforce, the Bengals had their greatest dashing output within the opener in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers for 133 yards. Since, they’ve had 89 yards in a loss to the Dallas Cowboys and 69 in Sunday’s win on the Jets. Cincinnati could look to run behind its new proper facet of the road, the place it has sort out La’el Collins and guard Alex Cappa.
The Dolphins are coming off back-to-back video games in opposition to the Ravens and Bills the place they surrendered better than 100 yards dashing, however this isn’t a real indicator of their effectiveness stopping the run. They allowed cellular quarterbacks in Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen to run in opposition to them for a lot of these numbers and had Bills tailback Zack Moss break off an extended one to the skin that cornerback Nik Needham didn’t include. Miami simply must keep away from giving up the massive performs in an in any other case constant run protection. Edge: Dolphins
When the Dolphins cross: The massive query mark right here is quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s availability as he offers together with his again damage. Should he be unable to go, backup Teddy Bridgewater is available in. He’s a longtime veteran, however he didn’t look to have it in his restricted snaps subbing for Tagovailoa earlier than the Miami starter was in a position to return Sunday vs. the Bills.
We’ll give out the sting right here assuming Tagovailoa, who mentioned he plans on taking part in, can go and be near his regular self. He nonetheless has speedsters Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, who can flip a recreation within the snap of a finger, like was seen within the fourth quarter Sept. 18 in Baltimore. Hill is especially motivated to face cornerback Eli Apple after final yr’s AFC Championship Game, the place Apple’s Bengals eradicated Hills’ former workforce, the Kansas City Chiefs.
With security Jessie Bates III on the again finish and defensive finish Trey Hendrickson dashing the passer, Cincinnati presents a formidable cross protection that ranks across the center of the league. Tagovailoa will hope to hit the massive play to his speedy broad receivers, however Miami can even need to decide up first downs and maintain drives to provide their protection a breather after the Dolphins had been greater than doubled in time of possession in opposition to Buffalo. Edge: Dolphins
When the Bengals cross: Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow hasn’t put up gaudy numbers early in 2022 coming off his Super Bowl look final yr, however the 2020 draft’s No. 1 decide must be revered, nonetheless. In three video games, Burrow is finishing 64 p.c of passes for 812 yards, six touchdowns and 4 interceptions.
The four-interception determine is one that stands out as Dolphins’ ballhawks in cornerback Xavien Howard and security Jevon Holland are positive to be searching for a giant game-changing play, particularly after dropping latest alternatives at interceptions. Miami is trying to discover the precise steadiness of blitz vs. protection as groups have confirmed to be higher ready for coordinator Josh Boyer’s blitzes to start out out video games, particularly Baltimore and Buffalo the previous wo weeks, earlier than Boyer adjusts within the second half. And it’s time to see Jaelan Phillips get his first sack of 2022.
The Bengals have playmakers for Burrow to throw to, between broad receivers in second-year star Ja’Marr Chase (21 receptions, 212 yards, two touchdowns), Tee Higgins (13 receptions, 191 yards, landing) and Tyler Boyd (10 receptions, 155 yards, two touchdowns), succesful pass-catching again Mixon (13 receptions, 103 yards) and tight finish Hayden Hurst (11 receptions, 77 yards). The Bengals’ offensive line, revamped after a much-maligned 2021 postseason, has allowed Burrow to be sacked 15 occasions in three video games. That’s the place the sport might flip, but when Burrow will get the ball to these wideouts with Howard taking part in harm and fellow cornerbacks Nik Needham and Kader Kohou not on their recreation, look out. Edge: Bengals
Special groups: The Dolphins are coming off an embarrassing particular groups blunder that may go down because the “butt punt.” Punter Thomas Morstead kicked the ball into broad receiver Trent Sherfield’s bottom to have it ricochet backward by the again of the tip zone for a security. Proud particular groups coordinator Danny Crossman was not fond of getting that breakdown per week after giving up a kick return landing.
Morstead has in any other case been strong, and so have gunners Jason Bethel and Keion Crossen. Kicker Jason Sanders hasn’t tried a area aim in Miami’s previous two video games. Bengals kicker Evan McPherson, after a giant postseason final yr, has missed area objectives in two of Cincinnati’s first three video games. Trent Taylor averages 9.3 yards per punt return, and Kevin Huber is getting 48.7 yards per punt. Edge: Even
Intangibles: Thursday night time video games are simply so troublesome to play because the street workforce. Remember when the Dolphins, on Nov. 11 final yr, as a close to double-digit underdog at 2-7 in opposition to the rolling Ravens, handed it to Baltimore at residence in that stunning upset? That’s the type of impact the brief week and ensuing journey can have on a workforce.
That is just additional amplified by the grueling circumstances the Dolphins simply made it by in Sunday’s win at residence over Buffalo. With the warmth and humidity dropping our bodies left and proper for each groups, Miami’s protection performed 92 complete snaps. It will likely be troublesome to beat all of that, however they get the mini bye that follows. Edge: Bengals
PREDICTION: Bengals 24, Dolphins 23
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Source: www.bostonherald.com