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MIAMI — Cincinnati strong safety Chinedum Ndukwe turned in a game-changing play in Sunday's 38-25 victory over the Miami Dolphins.

His 54-yard fumble return for a touchdown blew the game open, giving the Bengals a 28-10 lead at 13:12 of the third quarter.

Dolphins rookie quarterback John Beck replaced injured starter Cleo Lemon, and promptly fumbled the shotgun snap. Ndukwe scooped it up and sailed into the end zone.

"Guys were telling me it was the luck of the Irish," said Ndukwe, a rookie from Notre Dame. "I'd like to think it wasn't by accident. I was at the right spot at the right time. I try to be around the ball as much as I can. With a new quarterback coming in, you see that often with the bobbled snaps.

"I just took advantage of it. I'm excited to get my first touchdown."

Chad's homecoming

Chad Johnson was a candidate for "Star of the Game."

A native of Miami, his homecoming was a huge success. He caught four passes for 131 yards (a 32.8 average) and two touchdowns — a 2-yarder in the back of the end zone at 3:53 of the first quarter and a 70-yarder at 6:27 of the second quarter.

Johnson caught the ball on a crossing pattern, cut to the left and out-raced defenders to the goal line.

Sound of silence

Johnson maintained his silence, so others spoke for him.

"He was excited to play," head coach Marvin Lewis said. "Any time you come to your home area to play is a big thing. He's been thinking about this game for a long time. Unfortunately, it didn't have the significance to our season that we hoped it would have."

First Bengal TD

Antonio Chatman's 4-yard TD catch with four seconds remaining in the second quarter was his first in two seasons as a Bengal.

"We were just out there playing and having fun," Chatman said. "There was nobody out there caring about any records. Chad was just being Chad.

"For the first time this year, we just actually had fun. We wanted to go into our last game just having fun and playing fast."

What about Odell?

Lewis was asked if suspended middle linebacker Odell Thurman has a chance to be reinstated for the 2008 season.

"You're talking about a guy that's not on our football team," Lewis said. "You should talk to commissioner (Roger) Goodell about Odell."

Opinion counts

Defensive tackle John Thornton was asked what the Bengals need in order to reach the playoffs.

"The biggest thing is consistency," he said. "We have to get consistent guys in here. You can't just have guys play when it's convenient. You've got to play when things get tough. (Lewis) wants consistent players and a consistent game plan. I am sure he will get that in here."

Quick hitters

• Miami is the eighth team to finish 1-15 since the NFL expanded the season to 16 games in 1978. Carolina was last to do it in 2001.

• The Bengals are 13-2 (.867) when Carson Palmer has three-plus TD passes.

• Middle linebacker Landon Johnson's eight tackles gave him the club title with 140 stops (87 solos).

• Shayne Graham finished with 130 points, nailing 31-of-34 field goals (.912) and all 37 extra points.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253 or cludwig@DaytonDailyNews.com.