The Miami Dolphins shook up their offense heading into Week 16, demoting incumbent starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to third string and promoting rookie Quinn Ewers into the top spot. The Dolphins will use today’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals as the start of the three-game audition for Ewers, judging if he could be the team’s starting quarterback heading into the 2026 season. After losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football to close out Week 15, eliminating Miami from the AFC playoff picture, the Dolphins are playing for pride as they start the slow build up to next season.
The Bengals, like Miami, were eliminated from the playoffs last week, but their preparation for 2026 includes getting their starting quarterback, Joe Burrow, back into rhythm after he missed most of the year with a toe injury. While the Dolphins are starting to blow up the team and may be headed into another rebuild, Cincinnati already feels like next year will be better as long as Burrow stays healthy.
Today’s Week 16 matchup, originally slotted for as Sunday Night Football national audience, is one that has been flexed and is now being buried between two teams that are not massive draws this year. How can you watch? We have everything you need to know.
Cincinnati Bengals (4-10) at Miami Dolphins (6-8) Week 16
What time is kickoff?
1 p.m. Eastern, Sunday, December 21
Where is the game?
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
What TV station has the broadcast?
CBS
How can I stream the game?
Paramount+; fuboTV; YouTube.TV (with NFL Sunday Ticket subscription); NFL+ (replay available after game ends)
Who is the broadcast team?
Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta, Aditi Kinkhabwala
This team also covered the Dolphins in Week 7 game against the Cleveland Browns and Week 14 against the New York Jets.
How can I listen to the game on radio?
Local Radio Coverage: iHeart Radio Network – WINZ 940-AM/WBGG 105.9 FM Miami/Ft. Lauderdale; iHeart Radio WTZU 94.9 FM Mami/Ft. Lauderdale (Spanish broadcast); WFSX 92.5 FM/105.9 FM Ft. Myers; WUUB 106.3 FM West Palm Beach; WEFL 760 AM West Palm Beach (Spanish broadcast); WAVK 97.7 FM Key West; WCZR 101.7 FM/WAVW 92.7 FM Port St. Lucie
Dolphins Radio Broadcast Team: Jimmy Cefalo, Joe Rose; Spanish broadcast: Roly Martin, Eduardo Martell
SiriusXM Channels: 381 (Bengals) | 226 (Dolphins)
What are the FanDuel sportsbook betting odds for the game?
Spread: Bengals -4.5
Point total: 47.5
Moneyline: Bengals -220 | Dolphins +184
Who are the referees?
John Hussey (Referee)
Duane Heydt (Umpire)
Max Causey (Down Judge)
Carl Johnson (Line Judge)
Anthony Flemming (Field Judge)
Allen Baynes (Side Judge)
Matt Edwards (Back Judge)
Andrew Lambert (Replay Official)
Sebrina Brunson (Replay Assistant)
Hussey’s crew also handled the Dolphins’ Week 8 game against the Atlanta Falcons.
What is each team’s injury report?
Bengals injury report
Player |
Injury |
Status |
|---|---|---|
| Noah Fant, TE | Ankle | Out |
| Charlie Jones, WR | Ankle | Out |
| Joseph Ossai | Ankle | Out |
| Tee Higgins, WR | Concussion | Questionable |
| B.J. Hill, DT | Ankle | Questionable |
| PJ Jules, S | Ankle | Questionable |
| DJ Turner II, CB | Ankle / Illness | Questionable |
| Joe Burrow, QB | Knee | — |
| Dylan Fairchild, G | Hamstring | — |
| Amarius Mims, T | Knee | — |
| Samaje Perine, RB | Ankle | — |
| Drew Sample, TE | Neck | — |
| Shemar Stewart, DE | Knee | — |
| Kris Jenkins, DT | Ankle | Moved to IR |
Dolphins injury report
Player |
Injury |
Status |
|---|---|---|
| Minkah Fitzpatrick, S | Calf | Out |
| Andrew Meyer, OL | Triceps | Out (IR window open) |
| Jason Sanders, K | Right hip | Out (IR window open) |
| Jordyn Brooks, LB | Foot / Knee | Questionable |
| Isaiah Johnson, CB | Knee | Questionable |
| De’Von Achane, RB | Ribs | — |
| Larry Borom, OL | Illness | — |
| Joe Cardona, LS | Hamstring | — |
| Rasul Douglas, CB | Foot | — |
| Cameron Goode, LB | Knee | — |
| Ollie Gordon, RB | Ankle | — |
| Kenneth Grant, DT | Shoulder | — |
| Ifeatu Melifonwu, S | Thumb / Groins | — |
| Darren Waller, TE | Rest / Knee | — |
Bengals
- Howard Cross III, defensive tackle
- Braylan Lux, cornerback
Dolphins
- Kion Smith, offensive lineman
- Theo Wease, Jr., wide receiver
Miami elevation tracker 2025:
Quinton Bell, linebacker – 3 elevations (Week 6-7, 10)
Isaiah Johnson, cornerback – 3 elevations (Week 6, 9-10)
Riley Patterson, kicker – 3 elevations (Week 1-3)
Kion Smith, offensive lineman – 3 elevations (Week 14-16)
Hayden Rucci, tight end – 2 elevations (Week 8-9)
Kendall Sheffield, cornerback – 2 elevations (Week 7-8)
Jeff Wilson, Jr., running back – 2 elevations (Week 1-2)
Jordan Colbert, safety – 1 elevation (Week 3)
Theo Wease, Jr., wide receiver – 1 elevation (Week 16)
Up to two players per week may be elevated from the practice squad to be eligible for the team’s game-day active roster. An individual player may be elevated up to three times in the season. Any further desire by the team to have the player available on game day will require the team to sign the player to the 53-man roster.
Note: The Dolphins signed Patterson to the active roster ahead of Week 4. The Dolphins signed Rucci to the active roster ahead of Week 10; Rucci was waived by the team ahead of Week 13. The Dolphins waived Smith, then signed to the practice squad in Week 14.
What is the weather forecast at game time?
79°F, Partly cloudy
What jerseys are the teams wearing?
What is the history between the teams?
Head-to-Head (Regular Season): Dolphins 17-8
Most Recent Game Results: 2022 Week 4 (Sep. 29, 2022) – Bengals 27-15 at Cincinnati
Most Recent Game Results at site: 2020 Week 13 (Dec. 6, 2020) – Dolphins 19-7 at Miami
How can I get more Bengals news?
SB Nation Team Site: Cincy Jungle
X: @CincyJungle
AFC East Standings
New England Patriots (11-3)
Buffalo Bills (10-4)
Miami Dolphins (6-8)
New York Jets (3-11)
What is the Dolphins’ 2025 schedule?
Week |
Opponent |
Date/Time (All times ET) |
Broadcast |
Results |
Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | @ Indianapolis Colts | 9/7, 1 p.m. | CBS | L, 8-33 | 0-1 |
| 2 | New England Patriots | 9/14, 1 p.m. | CBS | L, 27-33 | 0-2 |
| 3 | @ Buffalo Bills | 9/18, 8:15 p.m. | Prime Video | L, 21-31 | 0-3 |
| 4 | New York Jets | 9/29, 7:15 p.m. | ESPN | W, 27-21 | 1-3 |
| 5 | @ Carolina Panthers | 10/5, 1 p.m. | FOX | L, 24-27 | 1-4 |
| 6 | Los Angeles Chargers | 10/12, 1 p.m. | CBS | L, 27-29 | 1-5 |
| 7 | @ Cleveland Browns | 10/19, 1 p.m. | CBS | L, 6-31 | 1-6 |
| 8 | @ Atlanta Falcons | 10/26, 1 p.m. | CBS | W, 34-10 | 2-6 |
| 9 | Baltimore Ravens | 10/30, 8:15 p.m. | Prime Video | L, 6-28 | 2-7 |
| 10 | Buffalo Bills | 11/9, 1 p.m. | CBS | W, 30-13 | 3-7 |
| 11 | Washington Commanders (Spain) | 11/16. 9:30 a.m. | NFL Network | W, 16-13 | 4-7 |
| 12 | BYE | — | — | — | — |
| 13 | New Orleans Saints | 11/30, 1 p.m. | FOX | W, 21-17 | 5-7 |
| 14 | @ New York Jets | 12/7, 1 p.m. | CBS | W,34-10 | 6-7 |
| 15 | @ Pittsburgh Steelers | 12/15, 8:15 p.m. | ESPN | L, 15-28 | 6-8 |
| 16 | Cincinnati Bengals | 12/21, 1 p.m. | CBS | — | — |
| 17 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 12/28, 1 p.m. | FOX | — | — |
| 18 | @ New England Patriots | TBD | TBD | — | — |
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