Tonight at 8:25 p.m. Thursday Night Football will kick off from Sun Life Stadium, where the Miami Dolphins (3-4) will try to shake off last week's collapse vs. the New England Patriots, when they host the Cincinnati Bengals (6-2) in NFL action on NFL Network. Live stream the game here; Bengals fans can hear the game on ESPN 1530, while Dolphins fans may do the same on 560 WQAM.
The Bengals have a shot at winning their fifth straight game tonight, and are proving to the NFL that the AFC North division may finally belong to them. "We're very good," said safety Chris Crocker. "We're very, very, very good. But we have to play like it."
Quarterback Andy Dalton is playing like it, having tossed 11 touchdown passes in the past three games, including four to Marvin Jones alone last week against the New York Jets. "This is where I want to be," said Dalton. "This is how I want to be playing."
Although the Bengals are soaring and Miami's floundering, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis fears a letdown, and said he's been preaching diligence all week.
"We've got to be the best team Thursday night, plain and simple," he said. "It's us and the Dolphins and, we've got to be the best team. There's no other challenge. We knew the schedule. That's the way it is. There's no ifs, ands or buts about it. You come, be ready to go."
The Dolphins can make a case they're better than their record suggests; their biggest problem is an inability to maintain quality play for four quarters. "We have to do a better job to close out games," wide receiver Mike Wallace said. "We just have to step on their throat. We can't let up, that's all -- the whole team, in all three phases."
Miami head coach Joe Philbin said it's still possible for Miami to regain its footing after blowing a 3-0 start.
"If you don't have a strong locker room, if you don't have good character individuals, I think it could be a concern," he said. "I have a lot of faith in our guys. I believe in them. I think we'll get this thing right and fixed. We have to do it quickly; this is a good team coming in here on Thursday night."
Bengals Injury Report:
LB |
Hamstring |
Did Not Participate In Practice |
Questionable |
|
CB |
Achilles |
Out (Definitely Will Not Play) |
Out |
|
LB |
Concussion |
Did Not Participate In Practice |
Out |
|
RB |
Hamstring |
Limited Participation in Practice |
Questionable |
|
S |
Shoulder |
Out (Definitely Will Not Play) |
Out |
|
DE |
Groin |
Limited Participation in Practice |
Questionable |
|
DT |
Elbow |
Did Not Participate In Practice |
Out |
|
WR |
Shoulder |
Limited Participation in Practice |
Questionable |
|
T |
Knee |
Did Not Participate In Practice |
Questionable |
Dolphins Injury Report:
CB |
Quadricep |
Full Participation in Practice |
Probable |
|
T |
Illness |
Did Not Participate In Practice |
Doubtful |
|
TE |
Toe |
Did Not Participate In Practice |
Doubtful |
|
DE |
Knee |
Full Participation in Practice |
Probable |
|
T |
Knee |
Full Participation in Practice |
Probable |
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