Michael Hull

Over the course of the next few weeks, we will be taking an in-depth look at the Bengals' 2026 opponents. The Bengals head to South Beach to take on the Miami Dolphins in Week 5.

2025

The Dolphins finished third in the AFC East with a 7-10 record last season. They began 2025 losing six of their first seven games before winning five of their next six to scratch back within .500 at 6-7, but they lost three of their last four. Miami fired head coach Mike McDaniel at the end of 2025, his fourth season with the club. McDaniel went 35-33 with two playoff appearances during his time with Miami.

The Dolphins ranked 25th in points per game (20.4). QB Tua Tagovailoa started 14 games for Miami in 22025, throwing 20 touchdowns to 15 interceptions. Rookie QB Quinn Ewers started the remaining three games, including in Week 16 against the Bengals.

Miami's offense was led by RB De'Von Achane. Achane ran for 1,350 yards, finishing fifth in the league in rushing. He also was the team's second-leading receiver behind WR Jaylen Waddle, adding 488 yards through the air on a team-high 67 catches. Waddle had 910 receiving yards on the year.

Defensively, LB Jordyn Brooks led the NFL with 183 total tackles, but the unit struggled as a whole. Miami allowed 348.8 yards per game, the 11th-most in the NFL, were 24th in points allowed per game with 24.9 and ranked in the middle of the pack with 20 takeaways.

Offseason Changes

The Dolphins underwent wholesale changes this offseason, beginning with the firing of McDaniel and replacing him with former Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. They also replaced general manager Chris Grier, who was fired in October, with Jon-Eric Sullivan, the former vice president of player personnel for the Packers.

On the field, Miami decided to move on from Tagovailoa after six seasons. The franchise signed QB Malik Willis to a three-year deal during free agency. Willis was drafted in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans, starting three games over two seasons there before going to the Packers. He started three games for the injured Jordan Love and played in 11 total over the past two seasons in Green Bay, throwing six touchdowns and zero interceptions.

The Dolphins also shipped Waddle off to Denver. Miami received picks in the first, third and fourth rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft in exchange for Waddle and a fourth-round pick. With the extra first, the team moved up a few slots to select San Diego State CB Chris Johnson at No. 27 overall after drafting Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor with the No. 12 overall selection.

Miami also moved on from Tyreek Hill this offseason. A five-time All Pro, including two with the Dolphins, Hill suffered a season-ending injury during the 2025 season.

The Dolphins brought in multiple receivers to fill the voids left by Waddle and Hill, including signing former Ram Tutu Atwell and former Cowboy Jalen Tolbert in free agency and drafting Texas Tech's Caleb Douglas, Louisville's Chris Bell and Mizzou's Kevin Coleman Jr. in the third and fifth rounds of the draft. They also drafted Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez.

Coaching Staff

Hafley comes down to Miami after spending the past two seasons leading the Packers defense. Prior to Green Bay, he served as the head coach of Boston College for four years, helping the Eagles to bowl eligibility in three of those four seasons.

The Dolphins promoted Bobby Slowik from senior passing game coordinator in 2025 to offensive coordinator this offseason. Slowik came to Miami from Houston, serving as the offensive coordinator for the Texans from 2023-24. Before Houston, Slowik spent six years with the 49ers with stops as passing game coordinator, passing game specialist and offensive assistant.

Defensive coordinator Sean Duggan followed Hafley from Green Bay. Duggan spent two seasons with the Packers, serving as the linebackers coach in 2025 and a defensive assistant in 2024. Hafley and Duggan were also together at Boston College from 2020-2023, where Duggan was the linebackers coach (2020-2022) and co-defensive coordinator (2023).

Series History

The Bengals and Dolphins have played 27 times in the teams' histories. Cincinnati has won the last two matchups, including a 45-21 victory in Miami in 2025.

What To Watch For

The Bengals' new-look defensive line, featuring veteran DT additions Dexter Lawrence II and Jonathan Allen as well as former Seahawks DE Boye Mafe, will be matched up against one of the league's most explosive running backs in Achane.

In last season's Week 16 game, Achane carried the ball 15 times for 81 yards and a touchdown.