Jordan Battle took some heat this week for publicly exposing how Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis taps the ball before throwing, but the Cincinnati Bengals safety took advantage of that read Sunday to spark his team to victory.
Willis continued tapping the ball before throwing, and Battle ended up with two interceptions, as the Bengals got back on track after two straight losses to beat winless Miami, 31-24, on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium. They won the turnover battle, 3-1, for the first time since Week 1.
The win sends Cincinnati into its bye on a positive note, sitting at 3-2 with an extra week to recover and prepare for an important AFC North game at Baltimore on Oct. 25.
Cincinnati went into the weekend with its top two receivers questionable, but both Ja’Marr Chase (concussion) and Tee Higgins (groin/neck) were active.
Chase led the receivers with 77 yards, but most notably made an incredible contested catch on a 45-yard touchdown pass from Joe Burrow at the end of the third quarter to extend the Bengals’ lead to 28-10 and effectively sealed the victory there.
The Dolphins responded with a touchdown drive, with a two-point conversion, to try to get back in the game, but the Bengals were able to run down the clock and close out the game with one more turnover. Miami scored a late touchdown to earn a glimmer of hope with 45 seconds left but the onside kick went out of bounds.
Cincinnati had opened the game with a quick scoring drive, helped by Dohnte Meyers’ 81-yard kickoff return. Mike Gesicki capped it off with a 4-yard touchdown reception, and the Bengals never trailed. Miami tied the game with a touchdown on the ensuing drive, but Samaje Perine’s 6-yard touchdown catch early in the second quarter gave the visitors the lead for good.
Battle had interceptions on back-to-back drives after that. The first came after Boye Mafe hit Willis as he was throwing a pass intended for Kevin Coleman near midfield.
The Bengals didn’t get anything out of that one, as Chase Brown fumbled at the end of a 3-yard catch and Dolphins edge rusher Chop Robinson recovered. Chase forced a fumble on the return, but Miami again recovered.
Three plays later, Burrow had the ball back in his hands after Battle’s second interception at the Cincinnati 47-yard line, and the Bengals capitalized on Tanner Hudson’s 2-yard touchdown reception with less than a minute left before halftime to make it 21-7.
Miami outscored Cincinnati in the second half but Chase’s incredible touchdown catch and another forced turnover by the defense made the difference. Jonathan Allen sacked Willis to force a fumble shortly after a Bengals punt late in the fourth quarter, and Allen recovered at the Dolphins’ 9-yard line.
After a pair of runs, Burrow missed Erick All Jr. on a short pass on third down, and the Bengals had to settle for a 26-yard field goal from Evan McPherson, but the game was already out of reach for Miami even with one last touchdown drive.
Burrow finished with just 190 yards passing but had four touchdowns. Willis completed 15 of 27 passes for 136 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions.
The Bengals had better success with their running game, recording 117 yards on the ground, but Miami managed 217 yards rushing, including 88 yards and a touchdown for Ollie Gordon.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis (2) and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) meet on the field after an NFL football game in Miami Gardens, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026.
Lynne Sladky - AP