# NFL Week 5: Cincinnati Bengals (2-2) vs. Miami Dolphins (0-4) Game Preview, Injury Report and Predictions

Source page: https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/news/bengals-visit-winless-dolphins-looking-to-snap-two-game-skid

> Cincinnati's shaky offense meets Miami's historically bad defense in Week 5 at Hard Rock Stadium.

By Rhett Zone · Published 2026-10-11 15:57 UTC

_Drafted with AI from our own data and checked by an editor._

Miami's winless start runs into a Cincinnati team that can't stop losing close ones.

The [Cincinnati Bengals](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/teams/cincinnati-bengals) are 2-2 and dropping two straight, while the [Miami Dolphins](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/teams/miami-dolphins) are 0-4 and have lost four in a row. Cincinnati needs to find its footing before it slides further back in the AFC North picture, and Miami is just trying to avoid an 0-5 hole with a quarter of the season gone.

## Game details

- When | Sunday, October 11, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET
- Where | Hard Rock Stadium
- TV | Fox
- Line | Cincinnati Bengals -7 | O/U 43.5 (market view)
- Cincinnati Bengals record | 2-2
- Miami Dolphins record | 0-4

## The matchup

Cincinnati has scored 97 points and allowed 85 through four games, but the recent trend is ugly. The Bengals lost at home to the Jacksonville Jaguars 17-22 last week, and before that dropped a 27-30 shootout on the road to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The wins came earlier: a 20-6 road win over the Houston Texans and a 33-27 home win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1. [Joe Burrow](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/joe-burrow) has this offense capable of scoring in bunches, but it hasn't put together back-to-back wins yet.

Miami is a different story entirely. The Dolphins have been outscored 101-46 on the season and haven't come within single digits of a win in a month. They lost 10-15 to the Minnesota Vikings last week, got blown out 10-24 at home by the Kansas City Chiefs, fell 13-35 to the San Francisco 49ers, and opened the year with a 13-27 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. This is a team searching for any sign of life on either side of the ball.

## Key matchups

Burrow against a Dolphins defense that's allowed 101 points in four games is the matchup that matters most. If [Ja'Marr Chase](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/ja-marr-chase) and [Tee Higgins](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/tee-higgins) are both able to go, Cincinnati has two outside threats that can take over a game against a Miami secondary that's been torched all season. [Chase Brown](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/chase-brown) and [Samaje Perine](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/samaje-perine) give the Bengals a ground-game complement, and [Mike Gesicki](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/mike-gesicki) offers Burrow a reliable target underneath.

On the other side, [Malik Willis](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/malik-willis) is tasked with running Miami's offense behind [Ollie Gordon II](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/ollie-gordon-ii) and [Jaylen Wright](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/jaylen-wright) at running back, with [Malik Washington](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/malik-washington) and [Chris Bell](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/chris-bell) leading the receiving corps. [Greg Dulcich](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/greg-dulcich) rounds out the starting group at tight end. None of that group has shown it can move the ball consistently against a quality defense, and Cincinnati's front should have its way if the Bengals get out ahead early.

## Injuries that matter

Cincinnati is banged up at receiver. Chase is questionable with a concussion, Higgins is questionable with a groin issue, and [Colbie Young](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/colbie-young) is also questionable with a knee problem. If any of them sit, that pushes more volume toward Gesicki and the running backs in the passing game. On defense, safety [Kyle Dugger](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/kyle-dugger) is out with a quadricep injury, and [Bryan Cook](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/bryan-cook) and [Swayze Bozeman](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/swayze-bozeman) are both questionable.

Miami is without wide receiver [Caleb Douglas](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/caleb-douglas) (ankle) and tight end [Justin Joly](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/justin-joly) (concussion), both ruled out, which thins an already limited passing attack further. Defensive end [Robert Beal Jr.](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/robert-beal-jr) and cornerback [Reese Taylor](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/reese-taylor) are also out, while Jaylen Wright, [Storm Duck](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/storm-duck), [Kenneth Grant](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/kenneth-grant) and [Jackson Woodard](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/jackson-woodard) are all questionable. With Douglas out, Washington and Bell become the clear top targets for Willis.

## Fantasy angles

Burrow is projected for 19.5 DraftKings points and is the top option in this game regardless of matchup, especially if Cincinnati's receivers get full clearance.

Chase (16.5 projected) and Higgins (16.0 projected) are both must-starts if they clear concussion and groin protocols, going up against a defense that's given up over a hundred points through four weeks.

Chase Brown (13.0 projected) is a solid flex play behind a passing attack that should keep Miami's defense honest, and Mike Gesicki (10.5 projected) is a safe streaming option at tight end.

On the Miami side, Malik Willis (11.0 projected) and Ollie Gordon II (8.0 projected) carry touchdown-or-bust fantasy value in what projects as a lopsided game, while [De'Von Achane](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/de-von-achane) remains on injured reserve and out of the mix entirely.

## The pick

The market has Cincinnati as a 7.0-point favorite with a total of 43.5, and the implied score sits at Bengals 25, Dolphins 18. That lines up with what the records say: Cincinnati has more firepower and Miami has allowed triple-digit points over its last four games combined. The Bengals' receiver injuries are worth watching, but even a limited version of this passing game should be enough to end the two-game skid against a Dolphins defense that hasn't shown it can slow anybody down.

## Injury report

- Player | Team | Pos | Status
- Ja'Marr Chase | Cincinnati Bengals | WR | Questionable
- Tee Higgins | Cincinnati Bengals | WR | Questionable
- Colbie Young | Cincinnati Bengals | WR | Questionable
- Swayze Bozeman | Cincinnati Bengals | LB | Questionable
- Bryan Cook | Cincinnati Bengals | S | Questionable
- Kyle Dugger | Cincinnati Bengals | S | Out
- Caleb Douglas | Miami Dolphins | WR | Out
- Jaylen Wright | Miami Dolphins | RB | Questionable
- Robert Beal Jr. | Miami Dolphins | DE | Out
- Storm Duck | Miami Dolphins | CB | Questionable
- Kenneth Grant | Miami Dolphins | DT | Questionable
- Jackson Woodard | Miami Dolphins | LB | Questionable
- Justin Joly | Miami Dolphins | TE | Out
- Reese Taylor | Miami Dolphins | CB | Out

## Projected starters

- Pos | Cincinnati Bengals | Miami Dolphins
- QB | Joe Burrow | Malik Willis
- RB | Chase Brown, Samaje Perine | Ollie Gordon II, Jaylen Wright
- WR | Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Colbie Young | Malik Washington, Caleb Douglas, Chris Bell
- TE | Mike Gesicki | Greg Dulcich

## Recent results

- Team | Last games
- Cincinnati Bengals | Wk4 L 17-22 vs Jacksonville Jaguars, Wk3 L 27-30 vs Pittsburgh Steelers, Wk2 W 20-6 vs Houston Texans
- Miami Dolphins | Wk4 L 10-15 vs Minnesota Vikings, Wk3 L 10-24 vs Kansas City Chiefs, Wk2 L 13-35 vs San Francisco 49ers

[**Game page**](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/game/68)

## In this story

- [Cincinnati Bengals at Miami Dolphins](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/game/68)
- [Cincinnati Bengals](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/teams/cincinnati-bengals)
- [Miami Dolphins](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/teams/miami-dolphins)
- [Bryan Cook](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/bryan-cook)
- [Caleb Douglas](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/caleb-douglas)
- [Chase Brown](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/chase-brown)
- [Chris Bell](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/chris-bell)
- [Colbie Young](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/colbie-young)
- [De'Von Achane](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/de-von-achane)
- [Greg Dulcich](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/greg-dulcich)
- [Ja'Marr Chase](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/ja-marr-chase)
- [Jackson Woodard](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/jackson-woodard)
- [Jaylen Wright](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/jaylen-wright)
- [Joe Burrow](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/joe-burrow)
- [Justin Joly](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/justin-joly)
- [Kenneth Grant](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/kenneth-grant)
- [Kyle Dugger](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/kyle-dugger)
- [Malik Washington](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/malik-washington)
- [Malik Willis](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/malik-willis)
- [Mike Gesicki](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/mike-gesicki)
- [Ollie Gordon II](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/ollie-gordon-ii)
- [Reese Taylor](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/reese-taylor)
- [Robert Beal Jr.](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/robert-beal-jr)
- [Samaje Perine](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/samaje-perine)
- [Storm Duck](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/storm-duck)
- [Swayze Bozeman](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/swayze-bozeman)
- [Tee Higgins](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/tee-higgins)

*Written by Rhett Zone, an AI analyst, from News Hub Fantasy data (schedule, scores, box scores, injuries and depth charts), and checked against that data before it published automatically. Read how we use AI in our [editorial standards](https://profootballnewshub.com/editorial-standards).*

From Pro Football News Hub. More at https://profootballnewshub.com/llms.txt