NFL Week 5 Primer: Cincinnati Bengals (3-1) vs. Miami Dolphins (3-1)

The Bengals have to be feeling good about themselves after grounding the Falcons last week to get to 3-1 on the season.

They are rewarded with a chance to come home and face off against another 3-1 team in the Dolphins. However, Miami is coming off a beating by the hands of their division rival Patriots and now have their own “we’re on to Cincinnati” moment in front of them.

After an injury-filled two weeks on the road, the Bengals are hoping to get some key players back on the field. Joe Mixon could return after he missed the past two weeks recovering from minor knee surgery.

Giovani Bernard has played well in his absence, but this team can use all the weapons it can get after they lost Tyler Eifert to a gruesome injury last week. This is also the first game Vontaze Burfict is eligible to play in after serving his four-game suspension to start the season.

Can the Bengals head into their game with Pittsburgh on a high note?

Here is everything you need to know for when the Bengals host the Dolphins

Game: Cincinnati Bengals (3-1) vs Dolphins (3-1)

Date/Time: Oct. 7th, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. EST

Location: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, OH

Streaming: Fubo TV

Series Leader: Dolphins lead the series 15-6

Streak: The Dolphins have won three of the past four

Coaches vs. Opponent: Marvin Lewis: (3-3) vs. Adam Gase (0-1)

TV Broadcast: The game will air on CBS-TV. In the Bengals’ home region, it will be carried by WKRC-TV (Ch. 12) in Cincinnati, WHIO-TV (Ch. 7) in Dayton and on WKYT-TV (Ch. 27) in Lexington. Broadcasters are Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Rich Gannon (analyst) and Steve Tasker (sideline reporter).

Radio Broadcast: The game will air on the Bengals Radio Network, led by Cincinnati flagship stations WLW-AM (700), WCKY-AM (ESPN 1530; all sports) and WEBN-FM (102.7). Broadcasters are Dan Hoard (play-by-play) and Dave Lapham (analyst).

SB Nation Dolphins site: The Phinsider

Weather: Mid 80’s, mostly cloudy [NFL weather]

Odds: Bengals, -6.5 [Odds Shark]

Bengals notes

• Bengals recorded a game-winning touchdown pass with under 10 seconds remaining in fourth quarter last week for second time in franchise history (10/10/99)
• Andy Dalton completed 29 of 41 (70.7 percentage) for 337 yards with three touchdowns and one interception for 109.5 passer rating last week. He aims for his third in row with over 330 passing yards. He has over 100 passer rating in three of his past four. Dalton is tied for second in the NFL with 11 TD passes.
• Giovani Bernard had 96 scrimmage yards (69 rushing and 27 receiving) and two rushing touchdowns last week. He aims for his third in a row with over 85 scrimmage yards and a rushing touchdown. He had 104 scrimmage yards (79 rushing and 25 receiving) and two rushing touchdowns in the 10/31/13 meeting with Miami. In his past four games at home, Bernard has 436 scrimmage yards (109 per game) and a rushing touchdown. Since entering the league in 2013, he is one of two active players (Le’Veon Bell) with over 3,000 rushing yards (3,055) and 2,000 receiving yards (2,138).
• A.J. Green caught the game-winning 13-yard touchdown with seven seconds remaining in the fourth quarter last week. In three career meetings, Green has 30 catches (10 per game) for 366 receiving yards (122 per game) and two touchdowns. He aims for his third game in a row vs Miami with over 10 catches and 125 receiving yards. He ranks second in the NFL with five touchdown catches. Tyler Boyd had a career-high 11 catches for 100 yards last week. He aims for his fourth in a row with over 90 receiving yards.
• Geno Atkins had a sack last week. In past his past three games against the Dolphins, he has 3.5 sacks and four tackles for a loss. He aims for his fourth meeting in a row with a sack. He has 8.5 sacks in his past 10 at home. Carlos Dunlap aims for his third in a row with a sack. He has a sack in five of his past six games.

Dolphins notes

• Ryan Tannehill has a passer rating over 120 in two of his past three games. He has a passer rating over 90 in two of the past three meetings. He is 10-2 in his past 12 starts. He ranks second in the AFC in completion percentage (69.1 percent) and third in passer rating (106.1).
• Frank Gore had a touchdown catch last week. He had 101 scrimmage yards (82 rushing and 19 receiving) in his last game against the Bengals. (10/29/17 with the Colts). He has over 100 scrimmage yards in two of his three career meetings with Cincinnati. Kenyan Drake has a touchdown in four of his past six games on the road.
• Kenny Stills had a 74-yard touchdown catch in his last meeting with the Bengals. He aims for his third in a row vs Cincinnati with a touchdown catch. Since entering league in 2013, Stills has a 16.3 yards per catch average, that is the second-highest among NFL players (minimum 200 catches). Albert Wilson has receiving touchdowns in two of his past three games. He is one of four active players with over five touchdown catches (nine), a rushing touchdown and a passing touchdown in his career.
• Kiko Alonso led the team with 12 tackles last week. He aims for his fourth in a row with at least 12 tackles. He ranks second in the NFL with 46 tackles and is the only NFL player with at least 40 tackles and an interception this season. He had a career-high 22 tackles in 10/13/13 meeting with the Bengals (with Buffalo). Cameron Wake has four sacks, two tackles for a loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in his past three games against Cincinnati. Reshad Jones has 38 tackles (9.5 per game), Two tackles for a loss and a fumble recovery in his past four games on the road.
• Xavien Howard has three interceptions and four passes defended in his past three games. Bobby McCain had an interception last week. He had a sack and pass defended in his last meeting with the Bengals. Andre Branch had a forced fumble in his last meeting with Cincinnati.