Bengals’ defensive domination looks even better considering the loss they had to overcome in the middle of the game
Cincinnati put on a defensive clinic in Miami despite missing cornerback DJ Turner II for half the day.
How many quarters of football have you witnessed where a team forced three turnovers and a turnover on downs? I doubt you’ve seen many.
The Cincinnati Bengals did that Sunday against the Miami Dolphins in their 45-21 win. Cincinnati forced a fumble on the first drive of the third quarter, intercepted Dolphins rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers on the ensuing drive, stopped Ewers on a fourth-down QB sneak on the third drive, and picked off Ewers again on Miami’s fourth and final possession of the quarter.
All four turnovers led to touchdowns for the Bengals’ offense. The game was completely turned on its head by the time the fourth quarter began. It was everything defensive coordinator Al Golden could’ve dreamed of all happening at one.
And it all happened without the unit’s best-performing starter of the season.
Bengals CB DJ Turner II missed the second half after fighting through the flu
Cincinnati started the second half without its top cornerback in DJ Turner II. Turner, who entered the game with an NFL-best 17 passes defensed, was questionable to play due to what was listed as an illness he contracted at the beginning of the weekend. He fought through it to start the game, but didn’t take a snap after the second quarter ended.
Head coach Zac Taylor told reporters after the game that Turner had the flu, and once the turnovers and touchdowns ensued, it allowed Turner to be declared out for the remainder of the day.
“DJ was battling the flu,” Taylor said. “So for him to even get out there, get IVs, and go out there and play, it’d be hard to get through an entire game. So I certainly appreciate DJ doing what he did and fighting through it. And then fortunately, we got to a point where we were able to get him out. If anybody just got the flu, you get to the midway point of the game, it’s gonna beat you up pretty good. So again, I appreciate DJ doing everything he could to get to this game and get through it.”
Turner was replaced by Josh Newton, who replaced him for six games as a starter last year following Turner’s shoulder injury that cut his 2024 season short. Newton’s pass breakup caused the Bengals’ second turnover of their explosive third quarter as it popped the ball up for rookie linebacker Barrett Carter to snatch out of the air.
Newton was Cincinnati’s fifth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and played 243 snaps entering the week. He even started over Turner in Week 1. His taking over the role he earned and lost three months ago allowed the Bengals to operate as normal and keep the hurt on Ewers.
Cincinnati amassed a 45-14 lead early in the fourth quarter before Ewers and Co. finally put up more points on the board, but the damage had been done. The Bengals’ league-worst defense had one of its best days in recent memory despite playing a half without one of the handful of starters who will be back next year.
We’re considering that a win on top of the win they just got.
Cincinnati Bengals News
Bengals going the extra mile to help Tee Higgins paid off in a colossal way during blowout win over Dolphins
Cincinnati’s offense exploded after Tee Higgins reminded everyone what he can do.
