The Miami Dolphins still have a legitimate chance of catching the Buffalo Bills atop the AFC North, and with just the lowly Cincinnati Bengals in front of them in Week 13, Ryan Fitzpatrick and company can at least have a tie for the division leadership with a win and a Bills loss. However, the Bengals will be determined to trip the Dolphins up. Check out our preview of this game below.
The Bengals are definitely missing Joe Burrow, especially after they suffered their third loss in a row last Sunday to the New York Giants at home, 19-17. That said, quarterback Brandon Allen did not look so bad under center in his first start of the season, as he went 17 of 29 for 136 yards and a touchdown with an interception against the Giants. Cincinnati also had some success on defense in Week 12, as they allowed the Giants to score just a single touchdown. Miami has made strides this season, but its defense remains unstable. Ryan Fitzpatrick could likely draw another start, but either it’s going to be him or Tua Tagovailoa, the Bengals’ defense will still get a Dolphins team that’s 22nd in the NFL with a 2.56 offensive interception thrown percentage.
The over is 2-1 in the last three road games of the Bengals, who are averaging 21.3 points per game.
Tua Tagovailoa might not be ready to return to action in Week 12 as he’s still dealing with a thumb injury that forced him to sit out last Sunday’s 20-3 road win over the New York Jets. However, the Dolphins are always going to be dangerous regardless of who between Tagovailoa and Fitzpatrick starts because it’s Miami’s defense that truly dictates where this team is going. The Dolphins held the Jets to only 260 total yards and forced them to commit two turnovers. With the Bengals missing Burrow and Joe Mixon, they are very much susceptible to the wrath of Miami’s defense that’s fourth in the league with just 20.2 points allowed per game and third with 1.7 takeaways per contest. Miami cornerback Xavien Howard will be licking his chops at the prospect of causing havoc downfield after a 1-interception, 3-pass breakup performance in the Jets game.
The Dolphins are 3-0 against the spread in their last three games overall.
