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Ben Baby
Joe Burrow expressed that he was «having fun» once more as he steered the Cincinnati Bengals to a commanding 45-21 win against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Burrow achieved four touchdown passes and exceeded 20,000 career passing yards in just 75 games, becoming the fifth quickest in NFL history to reach that milestone.
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After returning from a turf toe injury that kept him out for nine games this season, the Pro Bowl quarterback of Cincinnati has not held back his feelings in a season that has been disappointing for both him and the team.
However, Sunday brought a refreshing change.
«I’m enjoying playing football,» Burrow stated. «Not being on the field isn’t enjoyable. Spending all day in the locker room for rehab isn’t why we do this. This moment right here is the reason we do it.»
Burrow’s performance was so dominant that he did not need to step back onto the field for most of the fourth quarter. He completed 25 of 32 passes for 309 yards, 4 touchdowns, and no interceptions. By the time he left the field, Cincinnati had established a 31-point advantage, allowing Burrow to watch from the sidelines while Joe Flacco completed the game.
Despite the Bengals (5-10) having already been eliminated from playoff contention before the weekend began, head coach Zac Taylor emphasized the importance of ensuring the team finished strong against the Dolphins (6-9) to end a two-game losing streak.
«It’s crucial for our identity moving forward to maintain a killer instinct,» Taylor remarked. «Continuing to throw the ball and ensuring we finish drives without allowing them to believe they have a chance to come back is what we needed. I felt our guys executed that excellently.»
The Bengals’ defense capitalized on opportunities against Miami rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers, who made his first NFL start. During the third quarter, Cincinnati forced three turnovers and orchestrated a fourth-down stop that halted a Miami drive. Each of these defensive successes was converted into touchdowns.
Referring to his previous matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, Burrow highlighted that not capitalizing in these instances is indicative of poor teams.
That wasn’t the case against the Dolphins on this day.
«What we could control this week was our response to the criticism we’ve received,» Taylor noted. «The team showed tremendous response. To have such a well-rounded performance was quite impressive.»
Cincinnati also saw outstanding contributions from wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (nine receptions, 109 yards) and running back Chase Brown (109 scrimmage yards, three total touchdowns). Additionally, wide receiver Tee Higgins returned from concussion protocol, recording three catches for 53 yards and a touchdown, one Burrow credited for setting the stage early in the game.
Higgins addressed reporters in Miami, acknowledging he was aware of the skepticism regarding his return after two concussions within a month.
«I catch everything that’s being said; I see it all, trust me,» Higgins stated. «But after consulting a specialist, I was cleared to return to play, and that’s what I did.»
While the Bengals are aware that their season will conclude after two more games, the focus for the remainder of the 2025 schedule is on generating positive momentum for the future, particularly around Burrow.
A couple of weeks back, Burrow had mentioned that if he continued to play, he wished to enjoy the experience. Earlier this week, when questioned about the prospect of playing for another team in the future, Burrow hinted that he «contemplates many scenarios.»
Although Burrow refrained from stating when such a transition might occur, speculation about his satisfaction with Cincinnati has circulated. The team’s postseason woes have followed a Super Bowl appearance in 2021 and a loss in the AFC Championship Game in 2022.
Yet Sunday brought no concerns about the future following a victory that highlighted the Bengals’ potential at their peak.
«This is what it should look like,» Burrow commented. «This is how it should feel. We must carry this feeling into the next couple of weeks to build some momentum.»
