The Cincinnati Bengals fell to the Miami Dolphins 29-26 in their final preseason game, highlighted by both promising developments and concerning issues.

Key Positives:

• RB Chris Evans impressed with a touchdown catch, solidifying his backup role
• Trent Taylor showed promise with several quality receptions
• Rookie kicker Evan McPherson demonstrated his potential with a 57-yard field goal

Areas of Concern:

• Ja'Marr Chase dropped his only target, a screen pass from Burrow, continuing recent catching struggles
• Multiple costly penalties throughout the game
• Fourth quarter collapse, allowing two Dolphins touchdowns including a critical 4th-and-15 conversion

Looking Ahead:

• Bengals must trim roster to 53 players
• Two weeks to address issues before regular season
• Season opener against Vikings at Paul Brown Stadium on September 12th

The fourth quarter struggles are particularly concerning given similar issues last season. For the Bengals to contend for playoffs, they'll need to improve their ability to maintain late-game leads. While preseason results don't always indicate regular season performance, the team has clear areas to address before Week 1.

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