Tyler Boyd, Xavien Howard ejected after punches thrown in Bengals-Dolphins

Tyler Boyd and Xavien Howard were ejected in Bengals-Dolphins.

Even in a Miami Dolphins-Cincinnati Bengals game that lacks elite quarterback play, a truly awesome cornerback-wide receiver matchup was taking place between Miami’s Xavien Howard and Cincinnati’s Tyler Boyd. After both of them reeled off highlight plays, their days came to end after just a shade under 30 minutes.

Both Howard and Boyd were ejected in the second quarter after a scuffle ended with both parties resorting to fisticuffs. With Brandon Allen and Tua Tagovailoa doing little to excite through the air, Boyd and Howard took matters into their own hands.

Tyler Boyd and Xavien Howard both had highlights prior to this skirmish

Boyd turned a quick out from Allen into a 72-yard touchdown that gave the Bengals an early lead in Miami, but Howard also had a highlight of his own in this game. The former Baylor star is now leading the NFL with eight interceptions after hauling in an underthrown Allen ball for yet another turnover. While both players could’ve been in for two of their best individual performances of the season, tempers flared, and both of them will have to watch the finish of this one on TV.

For some reason, only the Bengals were penalized for their part in the melee, and the 15-yard unnecessary roughness call turned a 38-yard kick into a 53-yard attempt. Naturally, kicker Randy Bullock shanked it, meaning that Cincinnati was only holding on to a one-point lead as they went into the locker room.

This fight wasn’t on the level of Andre Johnson and Cortland Finnegan, but punches were thrown and the offending parties needed to be escorted. An offensive-minded team without a No. 1 wide receiver and a defensive team without their top cornerback will have a hard time grinding out a win.