The Bengals had a 13-3 lead until Jason Taylor scopped up this Akili Smith fumble and ... (Jeff Swinger photos) | ZOOM |

        Dick LeBeau's first 29 minutes and 52 seconds as an NFL head coach could not have been better.

        It did not last, however, as the Miami Dolphins beat the Bengals 31-16 Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium.

        LeBeau's Bengals awakened from a three-game scoring drought and put up points the first three times they had the ball for a 13-0 lead.

        They had the ball for 20 of 30 minutes and held Miami to three points.

        LeBeau's defensive captain, linebacker Takeo Spikes, intercepted a Jay Fiedler pass in the end zone to snuff a potential scoring drive. Cincinnati defensive end John Copeland recovered a fumble deep in Miami territory to set up a field goal.

... outran Smith to the endzone on the final play of the first half. | ZOOM |

        Then, with the ball at their own 37 and some 20 seconds left in the half, Bengals quarterback Akili Smith went back to pass. Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor blew past tackle Rod Jones, hit Smith to force a fumble and recovered the ball and ran 29 yards for a touchdown. Time had expired by the time he rumbled into the end zone with Smith in pursuit.

        Taylor's grand slam — sack, forced fumble, fumble recovery and touchdown — changed the game. Even though the Bengals still led 13-10 at halftime, theyclearly lost their edge.

        The Dolphins scored 31 consecutive points.

        “In hindsight, I wish I hadn't thrown the ball,” LeBeau said. “We were going to take our shot down field, maybe score, get the ball into field-goal range, and the worst thing that could happen happened. Still, we've got to be able to withstand, but I don't want our players to think we're not going to attack.”

        Miami scored touchdowns the first three times it had the ball in the second half, going 70, 54 and 73 yards and sandwiching Cincinnati punts between the drives.

        “I don't think there's any question that Jason Taylor turned the thing around,” Miami coach Dave Wannstedt said. “Without a doubt, going into the halftime kicking a field goal and then coming up with a touchdown was big. We saw their best shot.”

        Despite the loss, the Bengals improved in several areas.

Miami's Oronde Gadsen caught two TD passes in the second half, beating Tom Carter here. | ZOOM |

        They got their running game going. Featured back Corey Dillon, who had been held to 82 yards in the first three games, had 110 yards on 22 carries.

        With Smith running for 43 yards and backup running back Brandon Bennett adding 35 yards on seven carries, Cincinnati had a season-high 191 yards rushing.

        Rookie kicker Neil Rackers made three field goals. He had missed his first three attempts of the season.

        Offensive coordinator Ken Anderson, calling the plays for the first time since 1997, simplified the passing game. Smith was 20-of-38 for 178 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions.

        “He played a smart football game,” LeBeau said of Smith. “When a play was there, he took it. When it wasn't, he ran intelligently. He didn't take unnecessary risks. He matured.”

        Smith completed passes to seven receivers, and tight end Tony McGee, who had only four catches coming in, led the team with six receptions for 74 yards.

        Offensive players weren't blaming the defense for the second-half performance. They were looking at themselves.

A glum Smith after the game. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        “No matter what happens from a defensive standpoint, we can not have a three-and-out to start the second half, especially after the momentum shift going into the half,” McGee said.

        Backup tight end Marco Battaglia also had two receptions for 19 yards, which means more than half of the Bengals' passing yards went to players who had been de-emphasized when former head coach Bruce Coslet was calling the plays.

        “We knew their defense gives that up,” McGee said.

        In the first half, the Bengals also were successful on 4 of 5 third-down plays, which fell to 2 of 10 in the second half.

        Then again, almost every part of the Bengals' game fell apart in the second half.

        Miami had the ball for 10:10 of the third quarter, scoring first when Lamar Smith ran 18 yards to cap a 13-play, 70-yard drive to open the half.

        That touchdown gave the Dolphins a 17-13 lead.

        The Bengals punted on their next possession.

        Then Miami went 54 yards on three plays to extend its lead. The drive was helped by two penalties, most damaging a 34-yard pass interference penalty on Cincinnati cornerback Artrell Hawkins on a third down-and-2 play from the Bengals 46-yard line. Oronde Gadsden then beat Hawkins on 7-yard pass play for the score.

        “We were very focused in in the first half,” LeBeau said. “These are the things we're trying to get established around here. I think we all could see this team can do some things. We have some talented players here.

        “The fact of winning means sustaining for 60 minutes, and we did not do that. We have to work on that.”

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