The Miami Dolphins started the 2013-2014 NFL season in tremendous fashion. Winning their first three contests, Miami looked ready to improve upon last season's 7-9 campaign that saw the team drop multiple overtime games en route to a disappointing year. Though the talent certainly existed in Miami - especially at the quarterback position with rising talent Ryan Tannehill - the Dolphins surely needed additional help and thanks to a tremendous offseason, the Fish went into the current season with what appeared to be an extremely competitive roster.
Adding former Pittsburgh wide receiver Mike Wallace, linebacker Dannell Ellerby, safety Chris Clemons and cornerback Brent Grimes in addition to three other significant free agents, the Dolphins proved that they surely were not happy with last season's outcome while indicating to all they were looking to win immediately. Despite the fact that these signings looked great during Miami's 3-0 start this year, the team is in the midst of a four-game losing streak and with the 6-2 Cincinnati Bengals coming to Sun Life Stadium to kick off Week 9, the Dolphins need to find a way to turn their recent woes around before they dig themselves too big of a hole in the AFC East.
"If you don't have a strong locker room, if you don't have good character individuals, I think it could be a concern," Miami head coach Joe Philbin said when asked if his team can turn things around. "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."
Cincinnati enters the match-up riding a four-game win streak and if the Dolphins don't get things together quickly, one of the league's top passing attacks could have a strong evening in Miami. Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton is coming off a five touchdown performancy in Cincy's recent 49-9 thumping of the New York Jets. Throwing for over 2,200 yards while connecting with his receivers for 16 touchdowns this season, the former Texas Christian University standout remains one of the hottest quarterback's in the league. He's also enjoyed a tremendous relationship with wideout A.J. Green, who leads the team with 46 receptions for over 700 yards and 5 scores.
"This is where I want to be," Dalton said of his recent play. "This is how I want to be playing. [A.J.'s] had the potential since he's been here. I think he's just comfortable with everything that we're doing and everything that we're asking him to do."
Bengals vs. Dolphins: DATE, TIME & TV INFO
DATE: Thursday, October 31
TIME: 8:25pm, ET
TV COVERAGE: NFL Network
LIVE STREAM: CLICK HERE
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