Bengals’ victory overshadowed by injuries to Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals beat the Miami Dolphins 27-15 on Thursday night time, however head and neck injuries suffered by Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa within the second quarter have been the story of the sport at Paycor Stadium.

Thursday night time’s sport between the Bengals (2-2) and Dolphins wasn’t fairly, however Cincinnati was capable of intestine out a victory in the long run.

Cincinnati will not be complaining about the way it received the win, nevertheless. The Bengals opened the season with back-to-back losses. As in Week 4 final season, Cincinnati ended up with a tricky sport on its arms, at residence, on “Thursday Night time Soccer.” And like final 12 months, the Bengals did simply sufficient to tug out a much-needed win.

Describe the sport in two phrases: Prime-time malaise. On a showcase night time for the Bengals, Cincinnati was a bit sluggish however was nonetheless within the combine to tug out one other win on “Thursday Night time Soccer.”

Promote a breakout efficiency: Bengals working again Joe Mixon regarded good early on the workforce’s opening drive when he picked up regular chunks of yards and scored his first speeding landing of the season. However over the course of the sport, Mixon’s manufacturing trailed off. It took 17 carries for Mixon to hit 50 yards, which is not the effectivity Cincinnati’s teaching workers desires for its speeding assault. Within the fourth quarter, Mixon was stuffed on third-and-goal at Miami’s 1-yard line.

QB breakdown: Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow did not have one in every of his higher showings towards Miami, and the proof is within the NFL Subsequent Gen Stats. Excluding throws behind the road of scrimmage, Burrow accomplished his first 10 passes of 10 or fewer air yards. On intermediate throws between 10 and 19 air yards, nevertheless, he missed on his first 5 makes an attempt. Burrow was capable of overcome any struggles with some deep passes that moved the offense, together with a 59-yard landing go to broad receiver Tee Higgins.

Troubling pattern: Nicely, let’s speak concerning the offense once more. For the third time in 4 video games, issues did not look nice for Cincinnati. Followers inside Paycor Stadium booed the offense on a few totally different events. There have been a few brilliant spots, however the torpid exhibiting for the primary three quarters might be disconcerting for these hoping the Week 3 win towards the New York Jets meant the offense was turning the nook. — Ben Child

Underrated statistic to know: The Bengals scored an opening-drive landing for the second straight week. That they had two opening-drive TDs all of final season.

Subsequent sport: at Ravens (8:20 p.m. ET, Oct. 9)

The Dolphins (3-1) misplaced to the Bengals of their first prime-time sport of the season, shedding their title because the AFC’s final unbeaten workforce within the course of.

However none of that felt notably necessary.

Not on an evening when Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was immobilized and brought off the sphere on a stretcher after struggling head and neck accidents that despatched him to the hospital. It marked the second straight week Tagovailoa was pressured out of a sport after hitting his head on the bottom, though he was designated with a again harm final week.

The Dolphins mentioned Tagovailoa was aware and had motion in his extremities on the College of Cincinnati Medical Heart. Based on a report from the printed, he was anticipated to be launched and journey again to Miami with the workforce.

QB breakdown: Whereas getting ready for the opportunity of Tagovailoa not being accessible for Thursday’s sport, coach Mike McDaniel mentioned conditions like these are why you signal a veteran like Teddy Bridgewater within the first place. At this stage of his profession, Bridgewater is extra of a sport supervisor than somebody who will exit and drive an offense. His spotlight was a 64-yard go to Tyreek Hill that put Miami deep within the crimson zone. He additionally threw a expensive interception late within the fourth quarter.

Breakout efficiency: Raheem Mostert took a commanding grasp on the Dolphins’ backfield with 69 speeding yards on 15 carries. He has regarded just like the workforce’s greatest again for the previous three weeks and was rewarded with the first share of the workload, out-touching Chase Edmonds, who had 5 carries for six yards and two catches for 14 yards. Edmonds additionally dropped an early landing, strengthening Mostert’s declare to the lead-back position. Anticipate him to prepared the ground transferring ahead till he not has the new hand. — Marcel Louis-Jacques

Underrated statistic to know: With a 64-yard reception within the third quarter, Tyreek Hill already has as many 60-yard receptions this season (2) as he did over the previous two seasons (one in 2020, one in 2021).

Subsequent sport: at Jets (1 p.m. ET, Oct. 9)