The NFL season enters the fourth week of play with the Cincinnati Bengals (1-2, 0-1 home) battling the Miami Dolphins (3-0, 1-0 away) on Thursday Night Football. Miami is one of two remaining teams in the NFL, while the Bengals look to carry momentum into October after picking up their first victory last week.
The kickoff of the AFC showdown is at 8:15 p.m. EST at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals are a four-point favorite, and the over/under total is 47.0 points.
What to Know – Miami Dolphins
Miami is the only remaining undefeated team in the AFC, and they got here with victories over New England, Baltimore, and Buffalo. The Dolphins are undefeated through the first three weeks for the first time since 2018. Tua Tagovailoa is off to a strong start under center for the Dolphins.
Tagovailoa has already thrown for 925 yards and eight touchdowns with just two interceptions. The former University of Alabama star is completing 71.3% of his passes and averaging 9.2 yards per completion.
While Miami attacks opponents through the air, the ground game has taken a back seat. Running backs Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert have split the carries evenly over the first three games. Edmonds has 79 yards rushing and a touchdown, while Mostert adds 78 yards.
Jaylen Waddle and the offseason acquisition of Tyreke Hill have benefited from the play of Tua early on this season. Waddle, who is listed as questionable for Thursday night’s contest, has caught 19 receptions on 30 targets for 342 yards and three touchdowns. Hill is close behind, hauling in 21 passes of 29 targets for 317 yards and a pair of scores.
What to Know – Cincinnati Bengals
After a pair of narrow losses to begin the year versus Pittsburgh and at Dallas, the Bengals rallied for a 27-12 road victory over the New York Jets in Week 3. The Bengals lost their first two games, both by three points.
Last season’s NFL Comeback Player of the Year looked more like he did in 2021, passing for 275 yards and throwing three touchdowns. Burrows has tallied 812 yards through the air, completing 64.0% of his passes. Since throwing four interceptions in Week 1, the 25-year-old hasn’t turned the ball over since.
Joe Mixon continues to receive the lion’s share of the carries out of the backfield for Cincinnati. Mixon has accounted for two-thirds of the Bengals’ rushes. He has rushed for 163 yards, averaging only 2.3 yards per carry, and is still searching for his first trip to the endzone.
Burrow’s former LSU teammate Ja’Marr Chase serves as his favorite target in the passing game. The 2021 NFL Rookie of the Year has caught 21 of 35 targets for 212 yards and two touchdowns. Wideouts Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd work as complimentary pass-catchers when Chase is heavily covered.
The Pick is In
Both teams have been a surprise this year with their starts to the season. Trends here show Cincinnati has covered the spread in nine of its last 11 contests, including four of its last five at home. Burrow leads the hosts to a touchdown victory over the Dolphins.
The Pick: Cincinnati Bengals -4
