Final
Dolphins-Bengals Preview
Oct 28, 2010 - 3:14 PM By NOEY KUPCHAN STATS WriterAfter winning the AFC North last year, the Cincinnati Bengals came into this season with high expectations. After losing three in a row, it may be time to temper those expectations.
Cincinnati tries to avoid a winless October when it hosts the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
The Bengals (2-4) have looked like a far cry from the team that finished 10-6 in 2009. They already trail division-leading Pittsburgh by three games and have dropped three straight, though each of those losses came by a one-score margin.
"At the end of the day, it's not as bad as it looks and it's not as good as it looks," defensive tackle Tank Johnson said. "We've got to figure out how to get to .500. We're trying to climb out of this hole."
The Bengals are surrendering 23.5 points per game, nearly a touchdown more than the 18.2 they allowed in 2009. They've given up an average of 31.0 in their four losses.
"I think there are some differences," coach Marvin Lewis said. "I talked to the coaches about it this morning, and I talked to the defensive players about it. I pointed out to them where things are different, and things that they did very well last year."
The defense endured its worst performance of the season in last Sunday's 39-32 loss to Atlanta, yielding season highs in both points and total yards (452). Even with Miami averaging 18.5 points - second-fewest in the AFC - the Bengals know they'll need to come out focused Sunday.
"This is a critical time for this football team," safety Chris Crocker said.
As the defense continues to struggle, the offense showed signs of life last week with a season-best 469 yards. Carson Palmer completed 36 of 50 passes for a season-high 412 yards and three touchdowns, one each to Chad Ochocinco, Jordan Shipley and Terrell Owens.
Owens, who caught nine passes for 88 yards to give him 412 over the last three weeks, was pleased with the team's persistence in making the game competitive after trailing 24-3 at halftime.
"At some point, we have to have a lot of pride like we did in the second half," he said. "Surely we can be the team that everyone expected us to be as we continue in the season."
The Dolphins (3-3) are 3-0 on the road but fell to 0-3 at home after last Sunday's 23-22 loss to Pittsburgh, which ended in bizarre fashion as the referees awarded the Steelers the ball after Ben Roethlisberger fumbled it into the end zone. The ruling set up the deciding field goal with 2:26 remaining.
Given Miami's results in 2010, quarterback Chad Henne is looking forward to another game away from home.
"Yeah I mean we have some confidence going on the road," he said. "For us it's just keep on improving and play as well as we can. This is a very big game for us. We don't want another game to slip by."
Henne completed 23 of 36 passes for 257 yards with a touchdown and an interception against Pittsburgh as Miami struggled to get things going with its rushing attack, compiling a season-low 64 yards on the ground.
The running back tandem of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams could have an easier time finding holes Sunday against a Bengals defense allowing 118.0 rushing yards per game.
"With the addition of (wide receiver) Brandon (Marshall), we've been trying to find a way to mix the run and the pass," Williams said. "I think the past couple of weeks we're starting to figure it out."
The Dolphins have lost their last two meetings with the Bengals after taking nine straight from 1978-2000. Miami is seeking its first 4-0 road start since 2003.
- NFL
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MIAMI 3 9 3 7 22
CINCINNATI 7 7 0 0 14 FINAL
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: CIN - TD, TERRELL OWENS 7 YD PASS FROM
CARSON PALMER (MIKE NUGENT
KICK), 7:40. CINCINNATI 7-0
MIA - FG, DAN CARPENTER 38 YD, 12:44.
CINCINNATI 7-3
2ND QUARTER: MIA - FG, DAN CA
Oct 31 4:03 PM - NFL
MIAMI 22
CINCINNATI 14 0:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Oct 31 4:03 PM
TD MIA RICKY WILLIAMS 1 YD RUN (DAN CARPENTER KICK)
Dolphins 22, Bengals 14 4th - 11:15Oct 31 3:36 PM
TD MIA RICKY WILLIAMS 1 YD RUN (DAN CARPENTER KICK)
Dolphins 22, Bengals 14 4th - 11:15Oct 31 3:36 PM
TD MIA RICKY WILLIAMS 1 YD RUN (DAN CARPENTER KICK)
Dolphins 22, Bengals 14 4th - 11:15Oct 31 3:33 PM
TD MIA RICKY WILLIAMS 1 YD RUN (DAN CARPENTER KICK)
Dolphins 22, Bengals 14 4th - 11:15Oct 31 3:33 PM- NFL
MIAMI 15
CINCINNATI 14 0:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Oct 31 3:20 PM - NFL
FG MIA
DAN CARPENTER 31 YD
MIAMI 15
CINCINNATI 14 2:47 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Dolphins 15, Bengals 14 3rd - 2:51Oct 31 3:10 PM - NFL
MIAMI 12
CINCINNATI 14 0:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Oct 31 2:28 PM - NFL
FG MIA
DAN CARPENTER 54 YD
MIAMI 12
CINCINNATI 14 0:03 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Dolphins 12, Bengals 14 2nd - 0:03Oct 31 2:27 PM - NFL
FG MIA
DAN CARPENTER 24 YD
MIAMI 9
CINCINNATI 14 0:58 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Dolphins 9, Bengals 14 2nd - 0:58Oct 31 2:19 PM
TD CIN TERRELL OWENS 37 YD PASS FROM CARSON PALMER (MIKE NUGENT KICK)
Dolphins 6, Bengals 14 2nd - 2:45Oct 31 2:10 PM
TD CIN TERRELL OWENS 37 YD PASS FROM CARSON PALMER (MIKE NUGENT KICK)
Dolphins 6, Bengals 14 2nd - 2:45Oct 31 2:10 PM
TD CIN TERRELL OWENS 37 YD PASS FROM CARSON PALMER (MIKE NUGENT KICK)
Dolphins 6, Bengals 14 2nd - 2:45Oct 31 2:10 PM
TD CIN TERRELL OWENS 37 YD PASS FROM CARSON PALMER (MIKE NUGENT KICK)
Dolphins 6, Bengals 14 2nd - 2:45Oct 31 2:09 PM
TD CIN TERRELL OWENS 37 YD PASS FROM CARSON PALMER (MIKE NUGENT KICK)
Dolphins 6, Bengals 14 2nd - 2:45Oct 31 2:09 PM
TD CIN TERRELL OWENS 37 YD PASS FROM CARSON PALMER (MIKE NUGENT KICK)
Dolphins 6, Bengals 14 2nd - 2:45Oct 31 2:09 PM- NFL
FG MIA
DAN CARPENTER 42 YD
MIAMI 6
CINCINNATI 7 8:20 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Dolphins 6, Bengals 7 2nd - 8:24Oct 31 1:49 PM - NFL
MIAMI 3
CINCINNATI 7 0:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Oct 31 1:36 PM - NFL
FG MIA
DAN CARPENTER 38 YD
MIAMI 3
CINCINNATI 7 2:16 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Dolphins 3, Bengals 7 1st - 2:20Oct 31 1:28 PM
TD CIN TERRELL OWENS 7 YD PASS FROM CARSON PALMER (MIKE NUGENT KICK)
Dolphins 0, Bengals 7 1st - 7:20Oct 31 1:18 PM
TD CIN TERRELL OWENS 7 YD PASS FROM CARSON PALMER (MIKE NUGENT KICK)
Dolphins 0, Bengals 7 1st - 7:20Oct 31 1:18 PM
TD CIN TERRELL OWENS 7 YD PASS FROM CARSON PALMER (MIKE NUGENT KICK)
Dolphins 0, Bengals 7 1st - 7:20Oct 31 1:18 PM
TD CIN TERRELL OWENS 7 YD PASS FROM CARSON PALMER (MIKE NUGENT KICK)
Dolphins 0, Bengals 7 1st - 7:20Oct 31 1:15 PM
TD CIN TERRELL OWENS 7 YD PASS FROM CARSON PALMER (MIKE NUGENT KICK)
Dolphins 0, Bengals 7 1st - 7:20Oct 31 1:15 PM
TD CIN TERRELL OWENS 7 YD PASS FROM CARSON PALMER (MIKE NUGENT KICK)
Dolphins 0, Bengals 7 1st - 7:20Oct 31 1:15 PM
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