Football is meant to be fun, but what happens when the joy fades? That's the question Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals seemed determined to answer in their dominant 45-21 victory over the Miami Dolphins on December 21, 2025. After a season marred by injuries and a recent admission of dissatisfaction, Burrow reignited his spark, throwing for 309 yards and four touchdowns in a performance that felt like a celebration of the game itself.
“Not playing football is not fun,” Burrow reflected post-game, his words echoing a sentiment that resonated deeply after a season of setbacks. “Sitting in the locker room, rehabbing all day—that’s not why you do it. This is why you do it right here.”
But here’s where it gets controversial: With both teams already eliminated from playoff contention, was this game just a meaningless consolation prize, or a testament to the resilience of players who refuse to let adversity define them? The Bengals certainly played like it mattered, delivering one of their most complete performances of the year.
Cincinnati jumped to a 17-14 halftime lead before exploding in the second half, capitalizing on four straight Dolphins turnovers to score 28 unanswered points. Burrow’s precision was on full display, completing 25 of 32 passes with a stellar 146.5 passer rating. One play, in particular, summed up his afternoon: under pressure, he zipped an off-script pass across his body to a wide-open Drew Sample, setting up Samaje Perine’s 4-yard touchdown run.
“That’s how it’s supposed to look like,” Burrow said. “That’s what it’s supposed to feel like. We’ve got to keep that feeling going these next couple of weeks.”
And this is the part most people miss: While Burrow stole the show, it was a team effort that sealed the win. Running back Chase Brown had a historic third quarter, scoring three touchdowns—two receiving and one rushing—to become the first player this season with three scores in a single quarter. Ja’Marr Chase hauled in nine passes for 109 yards, Tee Higgins made an athletic 9-yard touchdown grab, and former Dolphin Mike Gesicki added a 17-yard TD before celebrating with the Griddy in front of his old team.
For the Dolphins, the loss was a bitter pill to swallow. Rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers, making his first career start, showed promise early, leading two scoring drives and completing 20 of 30 passes for 260 yards. But two interceptions in the second half derailed Miami’s momentum, leaving fans and analysts alike questioning the team’s future.
“Everybody needs to hold themselves accountable,” Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb said. “We’ve been in this same position all year. We have to figure out a way and hold ourselves to a higher standard. We’ve got two games to figure it out.”
But here’s the real question: Is Miami’s quarterback controversy truly solved? Ewers, a seventh-round pick with limited first-team reps, was thrust into the starting role after Tua Tagovailoa’s benching. Tagovailoa, who led the league in passing in 2023 but has struggled to live up to his $212.4 million contract extension, watched from the sidelines as the emergency third quarterback. Is Ewers the spark Miami needs, or just a temporary bandage on a deeper issue?
Injuries added to the Dolphins’ woes, with WR Dee Eskridge leaving in the third quarter with a toe injury. For the Bengals, CB DJ Turner II and TE Cam Grandy exited in the second half with an illness and a left clavicle injury, respectively.
As both teams look ahead, the Bengals host Arizona next Sunday, while the Dolphins welcome Tampa Bay. But the bigger question remains: Can the Bengals sustain this momentum, and can the Dolphins find their footing before it’s too late?
What do you think? Is Burrow’s resurgence a sign of things to come, or just a fleeting moment of brilliance? And is Miami’s quarterback dilemma a solvable problem, or a symptom of deeper issues? Let us know in the comments—we’re eager to hear your take!
