MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- One win in the standings, yet so much more than that for the Miami Dolphins.
A four-game losing streak ended and a couple of off-field issues took a backseat Thursday night, when the Dolphins earned a thrilling 22-20 overtime victory against the Cincinnati Bengals at Sun Life Stadium.
Cameron Wake had the game-winning play, a safety with 6:38 left in the overtime when he sacked Cincinnati's Andy Dalton at the goal line.
Miami (4-4) will head to Tampa Bay, currently winless, next Monday night with a chance to get above .500.
A week that began with talk of center Mike Pouncey being hit with a grand jury subpoena following Sunday's loss at New England and then tackle Jonathan Martin going AWOL was capped by a much-needed victory.
After Cincinnati took the lead on Mike Nugent's 54-yard field goal late in regulation, Ryan Tannehill led a drive that ended with Caleb Sturgis' 44-yard field goal to tie the score with 11 seconds on the clock.
Miami overcame another second-half collapse. The Dolphins, who led 17-3 at halftime in last week's loss at New England, led the Bengals 10-3 at the break.
After outgaining Cincinnati 227-141 in the first half, the Dolphins managed just 101 yards in the second half. The Bengals compiled 296 yards combined in the third and fourth quarters.
In the third quarter alone, the Bengals ran 27 plays -- the Dolphins had three!
A Brian Hartline pass interference penalty nullified a third-and-3 pass completion. The Dolphins were forced to punt. Cincinnati needed four plays to tie the score on Gio Bernard's thrilling 35-yard touchdown run that included several changes of direction. It was Barry Sanders-like.
Here are a few more observations from the game:
1. Miami's defense had trouble getting off the field after third down.
The Bengals were 10 of 20 in third-down conversions. In Miami's previous home loss, Buffalo was nine of 19.
Dalton had a few nice throws, but Miami linebackers and defensive backs missed tackles that extended a plays.
There was a third-and-5 Dalton 14-yard pass completion to A.J. Green in overtime that put the ball on Miami's 41 and kept alive a drive that helped pin back the Dolphins. Fortunately for Miami, it didn't cost the game.
2. The Dolphins won the turnover battle 4-1.
Brent Grimes' 94-yard pick six appeared to a back breaker for Cincinnati, which fell behind 17-3 with 7:37 left in the third quarter.
There also was Dmitri Patterson's interception with time winding down in the first half to set up a Sturgis' 36-yard field goal 11 seconds before halftime.
With Bengals driving midway in the fourth, a ball intended for Mohammed Sanu was deflected and grabbed by Dannell Ellerbe in the red zone.
During the four-game losing streak, they lost the turnover battle three times (3 to 1 vs. Buffalo and New England; 4 to 1 vs. New Orleans).
3. As in New England, the Dolphins established a first-half running game they failed to sustain.
Miami entered the game ranked 23rd in the league in rushing, averaging 89.1 yards per game. The Dolphins proceed to run for 142 yards in the first half but only 15 in the second half.
Lamar Miller had 105 rushing yards (on 16 carries) but fumbled at the end of a 41-yard second-quarter run.
Daniel Thomas ran for 38 yards on 12 carries (3.2) and H-back/tight end Charles Clay ran for 13 yards on a third-and-1 play.
4. More issues for the offensive line.
When the game began, 32 sacks allowed and Martin's AWOL -- apparently due to him being bullied -- were the big storylines.
Yes, the line played a huge roll in the first-half running game. But left guard Richie Incognito left the game in the second quarter with a neck injury -- he was replaced by Nate Garner -- and the Bengals had two sacks.
5. Sturgis continues to struggle.
The rookie kicker rallied with two field goals, but he missed a 34-yard attempt with 2:58 left in a scoreless first quarter. That made it five misses in six field goal tries.
If you're interested, former Dolphins kicker Dan Carpenter is 16 of 18 with Buffalo this season. Miami released him in training camp and went with Sturgis. Did they keep the right guy?
Charlie McCarthy can be reached at mac1763@bellsouth.net or on Twitter @mccarthy_chas.
