MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Cameron Wake sacked Andy Dalton for a safety with 6:38 left in overtime, and the Bengals fell to the Dolphins 22-20 on Thursday night.
The Dolphins’ win ended their five-game losing streak and the Bengals string of five straight wins.
On third-and-10 from the 8, Dalton retreated to the goal line and was tackled by Wake coming up the middle for the third overtime safety in NFL history. The officials signaled safety, and the call was upheld following a replay review.
Wake had three sacks, and Cincinnati committed four turnovers that might have meant a difference of 17 points.
Mike Nugent kicked a 54-yard field goal with 1:24 remaining in regulation to put the Bengals ahead, but Miami answered with a 50-yard drive, and Caleb Sturgis made a 44-yard field goal with 11 seconds left to force overtime.
All-Pro defensive tackle Geno Atkins has been sidelined by a knee injury suffered in the second quarter and the Bengals fear it’s season-ending. Coach Marvin Lewis said the initial diagnosis was a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Atkins, who made the Pro Bowl each of the past two seasons, walked off the field with assistance from two teammates. He came into the game with a team-high five sacks and added another in the first quarter.
The Bengals were already without Pro Bowl left tackle Andrew Whitworth, middle linebacker Rey Maualuga, safety Taylor Mays and backup linebacker Michael Boley, who were hurt last week.