Ja’Marr Chase Status and Chase Brown’s Struggles: 6 Biggest Things You Need to Know About Bengals vs. Dolphins Week 5

Two weeks ago, the Bengals were 2-0 and flying. Now, after back-to-back fourth-quarter meltdowns against Pittsburgh and Jacksonville, Cincinnati heads to South Florida at 2-2 with an injury report that looks like an orthopedic ward ledger.

On the other side of the field stands a 0-4 Miami team with its back against the wall. With a Week 6 bye waiting on the other side, here are the six biggest things you need to know before kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium.

Burrow enters Week 5 playing at an elite level despite the back-to-back losses. He threw for 428 yards against Jacksonville. The Bengals QB has never taken an NFL snap without either Ja’Marr Chase or Tee Higgins on the field. He’s 35-20 when both play, and 8-8 when he only has one. He has literally never had to suit up without at least one of them on the field.

Both guys got through full practices on Friday, but both are still listed as questionable. Chase is trying to clear the final steps of concussion protocol, while Higgins is dealing with a groin issue.

With the bye week up next, Zac Taylor can either push them to play in the Miami heat or sit them and let Burrow get the Bengals home without his top weapons for the first time ever.

If Chase and Higgins can’t suit up, or are just out there as decoys, Burrow will be throwing to guys most casual fans barely know. Andrei Iosivas is already on injured reserve with a broken thumb, and rookie Colbie Young is dealing with a bad knee. That leaves Dohnte Meyers and Mitch Tinsley as the main targets.

They actually stepped up late against Jacksonville. Meyers hauled in seven catches, and Tinsley grabbed three just days after flying in from Houston’s practice squad. But it is going to be way different beating starting corners all afternoon.

Miami defensive coordinator Sean Duggan put it bluntly this week: “You adapt or die.” The Dolphins are going to test these young guys right away.

Throwing the ball on almost 80% of your plays is asking for trouble. That’s what Cincinnati did last week, and it led to an embarrassing 23 total rushing yards. Chase Brown carried the ball nine times for just 10 yards. That simply cannot happen again.

Miami’s defense was stuck on the field for almost 40 minutes against Minnesota last week. The Dolphins can be worn down. But Zac Taylor actually has to stick with the run, even if the first few carries only get two or three yards.

When your receiver room is banged up, you stop spreading five guys out wide and you start playing bully ball. That’s why tight end Erick All Jr. could be the secret weapon this Sunday.

Taylor hinted this week that All is going to see his snaps go up. Putting All on the field alongside Mike Gesicki and Drew Sample gives Cincinnati the extra muscle it needs to block in the run game. It also gives Burrow a target over the middle.

Jordan Battle gave reporters plenty to chew on Thursday when he said he spotted a tell on tape. According to the safety, Malik Willis taps the ball right before he throws. Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley laughed it off as a normal quarterback pattern.

Mind games aside, Battle’s afternoon is going to be graded on whether he actually finishes plays. Picking up patterns won’t mean much if the Bengals’ safety can’t bring down Willis or Ollie Gordon II.

The Bengals missed 12 tackles against Jacksonville, giving up huge chunks of yardage on outside runs. Battle had a rough day in space, and Taylor called him out this week. The Bengals coach said the safety needs to be a standard-setter.

While the secondary has had communication issues, Cincinnati’s defensive line has been flat-out nasty. The Bengals are tied for third in the league with 14 sacks, racking up at least four sacks in three of their four games.

Dexter Lawrence II has been at the heart of that success, picking up three sacks in the last two weeks. Miami’s offensive line has already given up 11 sacks this year. The passing game was in ruins last week. If Lawrence and the front four blow up the pocket early, Willis won’t have time to look downfield.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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