MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins star cornerback Xavien Howard and Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tyler Boyd had been each ejected for what referees known as “throwing a punch” late within the second quarter of Sunday’s sport.
Boyd and Howard acquired snarled in a scuffle out of bounds after a third-down incompletion. The ejections gave the impression to be an overreaction as replays confirmed that each gamers had been going backwards and forwards with pushes, and it doesn’t seem {that a} closed fist punch was thrown or landed. Both manner, each gamers had been despatched off after a prolonged dialogue.
To make issues extra puzzling, Boyd was the one participant given a pointless roughness penalty backing up the Bengals 15 yards, which led to a 53-yard missed discipline objective by Randy Bullock.
Each gamers had been having robust first halves. Howard prolonged his NFL-best interception lead by nabbing his eighth interception of the yr off Bengals quarterback Brandon Allen within the first quarter, whereas Boyd scored a 72-yard landing just some performs later within the quarter.
The Bengals led 7-6 at halftime of what was a sloppy first half of soccer crammed with pricey penalties, drops and these two key ejections.
Rookie cornerback Noah Igbinoghene will fill in for Howard whereas veteran receiver Alex Erickson steps in for Boyd.