Dolphins Handle Bengals in Tua's Return

After a week of speculation and mystery, Tua Tagovailoa returned to the Miami Dolphins starting lineup and he overcame a slow start to help the team continue its playoff push.

Tagovailoa threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Mike Gesicki in the third quarter to give the Dolphins the lead for good and they went on to defeat the Cincinnati Bengals 19-7 at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday.

The victory was Miami's seventh in eight games and moved their record to 8-4, their best through 12 games since the 2003 season.

Tagovailoa, who was back after missing a game because of a thumb injury sustained in practice, set new highs with 26 completions and 296 passing yards in his fifth career start.

“The thumb felt good," Tagovailoa said. "On my behalf, I need to help our guys start a lot faster offensively. I think the guys knew what we wanted to do as far as our game plan, but I wasn’t really playing in sync with how the guys were out there as well. I think things started to click starting toward the end of the first half. And then the second half, we kind of knew what we wanted to do going into the second half.”

Tagovailoa matched his career high with a 35-yard completion to running back Myles Gaskin, back in the lineup after missing four games with a knee injury.

Gesicki set a career high with nine catches, good for 88 yards.

“I don’t think it has anything to do with Tua or the game plan, it's just what the defense is going to present," Gesicki said. "For me, my thing, I think I’ve said it in every interview to you guys, is try to make the most of the opportunities when they come to you. Today, I had a little more opportunity, and I’ve got to make the most of it. Ultimately, I’m just happy we came out here and got a win.”

The Dolphins also got four field goals from Jason Sanders, including a 48-yarder on the final play of the first half to cut their deficit to 7-6.

Cincinnati's only score came on a 72-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Allen, making his second start in place of injured first overall pick Joe Burrow, to Tyler Boyd.

"It was the third quarter in a nutshell," Taylor said. "And they came out, had three straight scoring drives and then we had three-and-outs. And I've got to put our guys in a better position, too. We have to make plays that are there, but at the same time I've got to be accountable for that and put us in better spots. We played the game how we expected it to be played in the first half, and then weren't good enough in the third quarter and that's where it got away."

Allen left the game in the fourth quarter when he was injured on a sack and was replaced by 2019 fourth-round pick Ryan Finley.

Boyd and Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard both were ejected late in the first half for throwing punches. Before leaving the game, Howard came up with his NFL-best eighth interception of the season.

“Best cornerback in the league, you know what I’m saying?" Lawson said. "Hands down. He gets one every week. I have never witnessed nothing like that. I mean, I’ve played with good cornerbacks, don’t get me wrong. I played a great cornerback (Tre'Davious White) last year, but to see a guy get a pick almost every week, it’s incredible, man. It’s incredible, man, and I’m glad I’m witnessing being with the best corner in the league.”

The ejections were accompanied by a personal foul on only Boyd, which turned a 38-yard field goal attempt for the Bengals into a 53-yard attempt that Randy Bullock missed wide left.

The miss not only kept Cincinnati from increasing its 7-3 lead, it proved a turning point in the game because it gave the Dolphins the field position to drive for Sanders' 48-yard kick.

The Dolphins also lost starting linebacker Elandon Roberts (chest) and starting guard Ereck Flowers (ankle) to injuries in the first half.

Kyle Van Noy had three sacks and Shaq Lawson had two for the Dolphins defense, which extended its league-best streak of games with at least one takeaway to 18 games dating back to last season. Zach Sieler added a sack early in the fourth quarter.

It wasn't a flawless effort by the Dolphins, who failed on their first nine third-down conversions and set a season high in penalties.

Tagovailoa began the second half with a 5-yard completion to tight end Durham Smythe and threw for 76 yards on the touchdown drive that gave the Dolphins the lead for good.

The defense, meanwhile, completely shut down the Cincinnati offense, forcing a three-and-out on each of the Bengals' first three possessions of the second half.

“I think we did a good job coming out the second half, doing a better job of just bringing more energy and urgency," Van Noy said. "We started playing football, and I think it showed. Offense got the juice going, and defense came on and kept the juice, and we kept it rolling. We’ve just got to do a better job of coming out of the gate like that and keeping it for the whole game.”

The game was marred by an altercation on the field early in the fourth quarter after Bengals special teams player Mike Thomas was flagged for roughness on a punt for a second time. He was called for lowering his helmet on the first occasion and then drilled returner Jakeem Grant before the ball arrived on the second, prompting Dolphins players and coaches to walk over to the Cincinnati sideline.

The fracas resulted in the ejections of Dolphins wide receivers DeVante Parker and Mack Hollins and Bengals safety Shawn Williams.

The only Cincinnati threat of the second half came after Vonn Bell recovered a fumble by Gaskin and returned it 36 yards to midfield. The fumble came after Gaskin had gained 26 yards, the longest run by a Dolphins running back this season.

Cincinnati moved all the way to the Miami 18-yard line, but cornerback Nik Needham ended the threat when he came up with his second interception in two games.

“Really it’s just improving each week, locking in during the week in meetings, practicing, not just practicing, just going out there to practice and getting it done, but locking in and honing your craft," defensive tackle Christian Wilkins said. "I really think it’s going to be important ball the rest of the way out. Every game matters. So we’ve just got to keep taking care of business really.”