Sunday, December 6, 2020, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, 1 p.m. ET
Cincinnati Bengals at Miami Dolphins Betting Preview: Bengals (+11.5/-110), Dolphins (-11.5/-110)
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals (2-8-1) bid for a better performance on Sunday in the absence of top overall pick Joe Burrow (season-ending knee injury), without whom they mustered just 155 yards of total offense in a 19-17 loss to the New York Giants. Practice squad call-up Brandon Allen got the nod over second-year quarterback Ryan Finley and threw for just 136 yards with a touchdown, and an interception and later lost a fumble on Cincinnati’s final drive.
Rookie wideout Tee Higgins boosted his team-leading receiving touchdown total (five) by scoring for the third time in five games last Sunday. Tyler Boyd, however, leads the Bengals in receptions (72) and receiving yards (725), and he had nine for 128 with two touchdowns in Cincinnati’s 38-35 overtime loss to Miami last season.
A punchless ground attack that is sputtering without Joe Mixon was led by Giovani Bernard, who totaled 32 of the team’s 40 rushing yards last week. Bernard has totaled 80 rushing yards over his last three games.
Miami Dolphins
While Burrow obviously is out for Cincinnati, fellow top-five pick Tua Tagovailoa could be under center on Sunday after missing Miami’s 20-3 victory over the New York Jets. Tagovailoa, the No. 5 overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft, is deemed day-to-day with a left thumb injury on his throwing hand.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, who was with the Bengals from 2007-08, completed 24 of 39 passes for 257 yards and two touchdowns last week as the Dolphins (7-4) posted their sixth win in seven games. DeVante Parker, who leads the team in catches (52), receiving yards (642) and receiving touchdowns (four), had 14 grabs for 180 yards and a score in his last two contests.
Miami’s bread and butter has been its aggressive defense, which ranks second in the NFL in points allowed (18.6) and third in total takeaways (19). Cornerback Xavien Howard has a league-best seven interceptions while defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah’s eight sacks are tied for seventh-best in the NFL.
Bengals at Dolphins Betting Pick for Week 13
Cincinnati has been extremely generous with its rush defense, which has surrendered a league third-worst 136.7 yards per game. For its part, Miami’s offense is averaging an NFL third-worst 95.3 yards per game on the ground.
Second-year pro Myles Gaskin (knee) could potentially return from injured reserve while rookie Salvon Ahmed (shoulder) also should aid the Dolphins. Expect Miami to take another huge step toward securing its first playoff appearance since the 2016 season and third in 19 seasons.
Bengals at Dolphins Betting Pick:
Dolphins 21, Bengals 13
Bengals at Dolphins Best Bet for Week 13
The offenses of the Burrow-less Bengals and the defensive-minded Dolphins likely won’t be confused with that of the high-octane Kansas City Chiefs. Considering Miami’s offense is averaging an NFL third-worst 311.9 yards per game, points will be at a premium in this one.
Bengals at Dolphins Best Bet: UNDER 42 total points (-110)
