WATCH: First Half Highlights Dolphins Vs Bengals

Ryan Mayer

The Thursday Night Football match-up between the 1-2 Dolphins and 1-2 Bengals looked like it was going to be a barn burner early, but it then turned into a defensive struggle. The Bengals opened the scoring with an 11 play 54-yard drive that resulted in a field goal. Then, on the Dolphins first drive, Ryan Tannehill picked up the first touchdown of the game with a long ball to Kenny Stills.

After that drive however, the Dolphins final five drives of the half went as follows: punt, punt, punt, fumble, punt. The fumble was caused late in the second quarter when Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap beat Jawuan James around the left end to strip Tannehill and set the Bengals up in good field position.

The Dolphins defense held however, and forced Cincinnati into a field goal, Mike Nugent's third of the half. Meanwhile, the Dolphins seemed to have no answer for AJ Green who made multiple ridiculous catches in the first half and scored the Bengals only touchdown.

The first catch came over the top of corner Xavien Howard.

Then, it was Tony Lippett who got victimized on the touchdown.

And just for good measure, Green added this catch on another Bengals long field goal drive.

Those three catches were part of an eight catch 123-yard performance in the first half for Green to go along with the touchdown. The Bengals led 16-7 at the half.

• Miami Dolphins
• National Football League