Here’s a look at how the Miami Dolphins (6-8) and Cincinnati Bengals (4-10) match up in six key areas ahead of Sunday’s Week 16 game at Hard Rock Stadium (1 p.m., CBS):

When the Dolphins run: Miami running back De’Von Achane remains the NFL leader in yards per carry, at 5.8. The Dolphins maintained a decent run-pass ratio in the first half while the loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers was still tight and low-scoring, but Achane only ended up with 12 carries, amassing 60 yards on those. Jaylen Wright was back to being a non-factor, with just one carry despite rookie Ollie Gordon II hurting his ankle.

The Dolphins face the Bengals’ dead-last run defense that allows 158 yards per game and allowed more than 180 each of the past two weeks to the Bills and Ravens. Especially with Miami starting rookie Quinn Ewers at quarterback, the ground game should be even more of an emphasis. Cincinnati has big nose tackle T.J. Slaton, a former American Heritage High standout, up front, while fellow defensive tackles B.J. Hill and Kris Jenkins missed practice early in the week with ankle ailments. Expect coach Mike McDaniel to get back to his creativity in the ground game. Edge: Dolphins

When the Bengals run: The Cincinnati rushing offense ranks second-to-last, but it’s been on the up and up of late. The Bengals, after not reaching 100 yards rushing in any of their first six games this season, have surpassed that mark in six of the past eight games. Chase Brown has 780 rushing yards as their No. 1 option in the backfield, averaging 4.2 yards per rush, while veteran Samaje Perine is behind him at a 4.7 yard-per-carry clip.

The Dolphins run defense was once where the Bengals’ is, ranking last in the NFL and has moved up from that standing. But it took a step back against the Steelers, allowing 135 yards on the ground. It’ll be easier to get back to form tackling in the warmer weather of South Florida after returning from frigid Pittsburgh. The rookie defensive tackle trio of Kenneth Grant, Jordan Phillips and Zeek Biggers has improved as the season has progressed, playing alongside veterans Zach Sieler and Benito Jones. They go against veteran center Ted Karras and rookie right guard Jalen Rivers, a former Miami Hurricane. Edge: Dolphins

When the Dolphins pass: The change at quarterback comes as Miami has been eliminated from playoff contention, and it’s time to see what the Dolphins have in the rookie Ewers with three games remaining. He is helped by being familiar with the offense, having run a similar one in college at Texas under Steve Sarkisian. Tua Tagovailoa had set a low bar with his performance this season, so Ewers should look to lean on the ground game, manage his outing free of turnovers and make plays when they present themselves.

He goes against the Bengals No. 31 pass defense and defensive coordinator Al Golden, the former Miami Hurricanes head coach. The Bengals have a young secondary they’re trying to groom, with former St. Thomas Aquinas standout Jordan Battle at safety, plus 2022 first-round pick Dax Hill and 2023 second-round pick DJ Turner at cornerback. That group will prioritize locking down wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, but Miami tight end Darren Waller could be catching fire again after two late touchdowns on Monday night in Pittsburgh. Achane will also get some of his touches catching the ball out of the backfield, and Ewers would be smart to dump the ball off to him when the pass rush gets after him.

Dolphins left tackle Patrick Paul is now protecting the blind side of his quarterback, as Ewers is right-handed, as opposed to the left-handed-throwing Tagovailoa. With Trey Hendrickson out on injured reserve for Cincinnati, Paul and right tackle Austin Jackson will face Bengals defensive ends Joseph Ossai (five sacks) and Myles Murphy ( 4 1/2 sacks), with the possibility Miami product Shemar Stewart is activated before Sunday’s game, too. Edge: Bengals

When the Bengals pass: It’s been a bizarre season for Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow between missing time with his turf toe injury and some of his comments in the media. He’s still Joe Burrow, though. He has thrown eight touchdowns and four interceptions in five starts this season, and he and the Cincinnati offense are coming off a shutout against the Baltimore Ravens, but no team wants to be the opponent he finds the spark against.

And when you face Burrow and the Bengals, the stellar wide receiver tandem of Ja’Marr Chase (101 receptions, 1,147 yards, five touchdowns) and Tee Higgins (46-667-9) must be accounted for. That’ll fall on the cornerback combination of Rasul Douglas and Jack Jones. The way Douglas has been covering opposing wideouts, Burrow may look to target whichever wide receiver is away from him, as Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver will surely mix up zone looks. Miami also faces the challenge of being without safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who plays the nickel when the defense goes to five defensive backs.

With Matthew Judon waived this week, that should only mean more snaps for second-year outside linebacker Chop Robinson opposite Bradley Chubb. They face Bengals left tackle Orlando Brown and right tackle Amarius Mims, and Quinton Bell and Cameron Goode. Weaver can send a variety of blitzes at the savvy Burrow, too. Edge: Even

Special teams: Monday night in Pittsburgh provided another game with a special teams miscue, as a kickoff fell short of the landing zone, allowing the Steelers to start at the 40-yard line. Dolphins special teams has not been consistent in recent weeks, and kicker Jason Sanders could return from his hip injury after he was designated for return Wednesday.

The Bengals have had kicker Evan McPherson miss three field goals of 50-plus yards this season but make all others, including four he did hit from beyond 50. Charlie Jones has a kick return touchdown for Cincinnati this season. Bengals punter Ryan Rehkow has a similar net punting average (42.3) to the Dolphins’ Jake Bailey (43.1). Edge: Bengals

Intangibles: The flex out of “Sunday Night Football” to a 1 p.m. kickoff could be a positive for the Dolphins. The temperature Sunday afternoon in Miami Gardens is projected to be 79 degrees. That’s a 40-degree difference from what the high in Cincinnati will be that day. It’s not the early-season heat and humidity of Hard Rock Stadium, but when it’s warm late in the season, it creates a more drastic change for the road team.

The Dolphins are fresh off getting eliminated but vow they will continue to play hard. It’s believable as players never gave in when they didn’t have much to play for and won four consecutive and five of six. Edge: Dolphins

PREDICTION: Dolphins 27, Bengals 24