The Cincinnati Bengals beat the Miami Dolphins 31-24 on October 12, 2026, behind a defense that intercepted Malik Willis twice in the second quarter. Cincinnati enters its bye with a winning record for the first time since 2022, and Miami's missed extra point kept the final margin at seven. The discussion has since shifted to how the Bengals played: their highest shotgun rate of the season, around 80 percent, and Dax Hill moving to slot corner full-time with Jared Ivey playing outside. Jordan Battle said Willis taps the ball or pulls his hand off it before every throw, and Burrow notched his 10th career four-touchdown game while noting two red-zone fumbles and costly personal fouls.