The Cincinnati Bengals visit the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, October 11, 2026, for a Week 5 matchup between teams trying to reverse early-season slides. Cincinnati has dropped two straight after a 2–0 start, while Miami remains winless despite showing improvement in its narrow Week 4 loss.
Game details
- Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. EDT / 17:00 UTC
- Venue: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
- Broadcast: FOX
The date, time and location are confirmed by the NFL game center and the league’s Week 5 schedule.
Latest verified odds
The latest accessible DraftKings Sportsbook snapshot, retrieved at approximately 5:58 p.m. ET on October 10, listed the following odds:
- Moneyline: Bengals -345; Dolphins +275
- Point spread: Bengals -7 (-108); Dolphins +7 (-112)
- Total: Over 43.5 (-112); Under 43.5 (-108)
The page did not provide a precise line-update timestamp, so these should be treated as the latest verifiable web prices rather than guaranteed live odds. Sportsbook lines can change before kickoff, particularly when prominent questionable players are awaiting final clearance.
Injuries and player availability
Cincinnati has ruled out safety Kyle Dugger because of a quadriceps injury. Wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are questionable, as are wide receiver Colbie Young, safety Bryan Cook and linebacker Swayze Bozeman. Chase, Higgins, Cook and Bozeman practiced fully Friday, but Chase remained in the concussion protocol at the time of the Bengals’ update. Young was limited. Cincinnati also elevated safety Russ Yeast to provide depth with Dugger unavailable and Cook uncertain.
Miami’s list of confirmed absences includes wide receiver Caleb Douglas, tight end Justin Joly, edge rusher Rob Beal Jr. and cornerbacks Reese Taylor and Storm Duck. Duck had initially been listed as questionable by the team, but the later NFL injury tracker, updated October 10 at 4:47 p.m. ET, ruled him out.
Running back Jaylen Wright, defensive lineman Kenneth Grant and linebacker Jackson Woodard are questionable. Grant was activated from injured reserve, making him eligible to play, but that move does not confirm he will be active. Starting running back De’Von Achane is on injured reserve following a torn ACL and will not play. Final decisions involving Chase, Higgins, Cook, Wright, Grant and Woodard are expected with the game-day inactive lists approximately 90 minutes before kickoff.
Matchup factors
Cincinnati’s pass rush can dictate the game
The Bengals’ clearest advantage is their ability to pressure Malik Willis. Cincinnati has recorded 14 sacks, tied for third-most in the NFL, while generating pressure on 38% of opposing dropbacks. According to the Bengals’ scouting report, Willis has faced 52 pressures, with 21.2% of them becoming sacks. If Miami falls behind and has to abandon a balanced offense, that matchup becomes even more difficult for the Dolphins.
Burrow has alternatives if his receivers are limited
Joe Burrow enters with seven touchdown passes and a 99.5 passer rating through four games. Miami has conceded 333 receiving yards to tight ends, while former Dolphin Mike Gesicki has caught three touchdowns this season. Gesicki, Cincinnati’s other tight ends and running back Chase Brown could therefore become central to the passing plan, especially if Chase or Higgins is unavailable. Miami’s reduced cornerback depth adds another concern.
Miami must keep its rushing attack productive
Without Achane, the Dolphins are leaning on Ollie Gordon II, with Wright’s availability still uncertain. Gordon rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown on nine carries against Minnesota, helping Miami produce its closest result of the season. Repeating that performance will be challenging: Cincinnati ranks second with a 32.3% run-stuff rate and has allowed 2.7 yards after contact per carry, sixth-fewest in the league. An effective ground game is Miami’s best route to keeping Willis out of obvious passing situations.
Prediction
Bengals 24, Dolphins 16.
Cincinnati’s pass rush is the strongest reason to favor the visitors. The Bengals are equipped to disrupt Willis, and their offense should still have favorable middle-of-the-field options even if Chase or Higgins is limited. Miami’s 0–4 record does not tell the entire story after its defense held Minnesota without an offensive touchdown, but the Dolphins may struggle to sustain drives if Cincinnati contains Gordon and creates predictable passing downs.
The strongest reason this prediction could be wrong is Cincinnati’s unresolved injury situation. If Chase and Higgins are both inactive or restricted, the Bengals may lack the explosiveness needed to separate. Miami could then control the pace through Gordon, capitalize on Cincinnati’s depleted safety group and turn the game into another low-scoring contest decided late.