Record Paycor Stadium Crowd Watches Bengals Knock Dolphins From Ranks Of Unbeaten

On Ring of Honor night installing two offensive legends before a Paycor Stadium record crowd of 67,260, the defense flexed its muscles Thursday night with strong safety Vonn Bell’s second interception of the game at the Bengals 9 with three minutes left on the way to a rollicking 27-15 victory over the undefeated Dolphins.

Bell’s 46-yard return inspired quarterback Joe Burrow’s finishing flourish, a two-yard flip to tight end Hayden Hurst with 1:52 left for his first Bengals touchdown as the Bengals fended off a backup quarterback for the second straight game in solving Teddy Bridgewater.

Burrow racked up the third fourth quarter comeback of his career (and second on Thursday night) on 20 of 31 passing for 287 yards and 115.9 passer rating. With Miami eschewing its signature zonbe blitz while playing coverage, Burrow patiently converted eight of 15 third downs as the Bengals carved out 371 yards, their second most of the season. He saved his best for last to white out the Dolphins on white helmet night.

After Bell’s pick (the first two-pick game of his career), wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, held to 45 yards until he grabbed a 36-yard go route, set up the last score and finished with 81 yards. After going plus-four in turnovers last week against the Jets, Bell let them get to plus-two Thursday as they won eight out of 10 third downs.

Wide receiver Tee Higgins, wearing the No. 85 of Ring inductee Isaac Curtis, became the third Bengal receiver to have a 100-yard day this season with 124 yards on seven catches.

Wide receiver Tyler Boyd didn’t have a catch with 51 seconds left in the third quarter, but that’s when he got a 23-yard completion to Chase after a pass from Burrow, bailing out them out of a third-and-11 and right tackle La’el Collins’ holding penalty.

Then on the next snap, the last play of the third quarter, Boyd got the first catch on a fou-yarder. Then on the first play of the fourth quarter he ran across the field for a 43-yard completion to give them a first…