The Miami Dolphins fell 45-21 to the Cincinnati Bengals at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday as Quinn Ewers made his first career NFL start. Miami trailed 17-14 at halftime after Ewers led the Dolphins to a 14-10 lead following his second scoring drive of the first half. The Bengals then scored 35 unanswered points to take control of the Week 16 matchup.
Four second-half turnovers swing the game
Miami received the opening kickoff of the second half but turned the ball over on four consecutive possessions. The Cincinnati Bengals scored a touchdown after each turnover, turning a three-point halftime deficit into a 45-14 advantage. Both teams entered the week disqualified from playoff contention.
“It’s not good enough,” Miami Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel said. “You have to be able to come out from halftime and adjust. We aren’t executing that at all. So back to the drawing board and all things are on the table for that.”
Quinn Ewers completes first NFL start
Ewers completed 20 of 30 passes for 260 yards and threw two interceptions in his first career NFL start. He was not sacked and was hit four times on 31 dropbacks. Ewers became the ninth rookie in Miami Dolphins history to start a game at quarterback.
The other rookie Dolphins quarterbacks listed were Skylar Thompson, Tua Tagovailoa, Ryan Tannehill, John Beck, Dan Marino, David Woodley, Bob Griese and Rick Norton. “I was calm and I was ready for the opportunity at hand,” Ewers said. “Felt like I had a great grasp of the game plan and I felt like I had the confidence of the guys around me. I was just fired up to get back out there on the field.”
“I wish I had a couple of those throws back, but I think it’s a good learning moment and experience for all those guys in the locker room, myself included,” Ewers said. “Not the result that we wanted. It’s unfortunate.”
Miami Dolphins find production on the ground
The Miami Dolphins ran for 129 yards on 28 attempts, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. All three of Miami’s touchdowns came on the ground. De’Von Achane opened the scoring with a 48-yard touchdown run, his third rushing touchdown of at least 40 yards that season and the seventh of his career.
Malik Washington scored on a nine-yard end-around, while Jaylen Wright finished a nine-play, 97-yard drive in the fourth quarter with a rushing touchdown. The touchdown was Wright’s second rushing touchdown of the season. Miami could not overcome its second-half turnovers in the 45-21 loss.
Source: Original report