Cardinals (3-12) at Bengals (5-10) Sunday, Dec. 28 at Paycor Stadium (FieldTurf CORE), 1 p.m. ET, TV: FOX Locally WXIX-TV Ch. 19 (Cincinnati) Kevin Kugler (PBP), Daryl Johnston (analyst), Allison Williams (sideline). Radio: Dan Hoard, Dave Lapham. 700 WLW AM, WEBN-FM (102.7 FM), ESPN1530.
CINCINNATI — Two teams fighting off injuries and disappointing seasons meet when the Bengals host the Arizona Cardinals Sunday in Cincinnati.
The Bengals (5-10) enjoyed arguably their best all-around performance of the season last Sunday, scoring 35 straight points to wipe out an early 14-10 deficit in a 45-21 rout of the Miami Dolphins in South Florida. The Bengals will be looking for back-to-back wins for the first time since winning their first two games of the season.
The Cardinals (3-12), who also won their first two games of 2025, lost their seventh straight last week, a 26-19 setback at home to the Atlanta Falcons last Sunday. Since starting 4-0 over the first two weeks of the season, the Bengals and Cardinals are a combined 4-22 since.
Cincinnati’s defense forced three turnovers in the third quarter that allowed their high-powered offense to explode. Running back Chase Brown became the first player in franchise history to score three touchdowns in a single quarter, rushing for one and receiving two touchdown passes from Joe Burrow as the Bengals outscored Miami 21-0 in the third quarter, as the Bengals raced out to a 38-14 lead.
One week after a 24-0 loss to Baltimore that eliminated them from playoff contention, Cincinnati answered its first shutout loss since 2017 – and its first-ever with Burrow as quarterback – by posting its largest scoring output of the season.
“Proud, not surprised, by the response our guys had,” said Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor.
The Bengals lead the NFL with 11 takeaways since Week 12. Defensive end Myles Murphy and safety Jordan Battle, both third-year starters, teamed up for Cincinnati’s first takeaway against Miami, as Battle forced a fumble which was recovered by Murphy in Dolphins territory to help flip the momentum of the game.
“We’ve played a lot of young guys, and these guys have just gotten better and better,” said Taylor. “Our future is really bright that way. Every first, second, and third-year player, I really feel like has made huge strides this season as they’ve gotten more reps and more opportunity. We have a lot of confidence in those guys.”
Cincinnati’s win over the Dolphins also was highlighted by some individual career milestones on the offensive side. Most notably, Burrow played in his 75th regular-season game, and during the contest he became both the fifth-fastest quarterback in NFL history to reach 20,000 passing yards and the third-fastest to reach 150 touchdown passes. His top target, WR Ja’Marr Chase, finished with nine catches for 109 yards and surpassed 500 career receptions in the second-fewest amount of games in league history (76).
The Cardinals come into the game nursing several significant injuries sustained in the loss to the Falcons. Last year’s first-round pick Walter Nolen III (knee) and starting corner Garrett Williams (Achilles) were lost for the season.
Additionally, linebacker Josh Sweat injured his ankle and tried to return in the second half but couldn’t finish the game. Starting center Hjalte Froholdt injured his elbow. Safeties Budda Bader and Dadrion Taylor-Demerson were both evaluated for concussions.
“I thought we battled,” Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon said. “I love the resilience (and) thought we battled in there. Ultimately, fell up a little short. I thought kind of a key component of the game (was) we had some scoring drives. We moved it, but we had to settle for some field goals.”
Starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who defeated the Bengals in the 2024 season opener as the starter for New England, was held to 16-of-31 passing against Atlanta, throwing for just 203 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
“It’s tough. Because we already are down (so many) guys, so it’s tough to see the guys that you know put in the work with go down,” Brissett said. “It’s very unfortunate and you can’t prevent it.”
Arizona Pro Bowl tight end Trey McBride enters Sunday’s game with 109 receptions for 1,098 yards and 10 touchdowns. He needs just three catches to break his own franchise single-season record set in 2024.
McBride needs seven catches to break the franchise single-season record for receptions (115 by WR DeAndre Hopkins in 2020) and eight catches to break the NFL single-season record for receptions by a tight end (116 by Zach Ertz in 2018.) McBride is just 108 receiving yards from breaking the franchise single-season record for receiving yards by a tight end (1,205 by Hall of Famer Jackie Smith in 1967).
The series: The Bengals lead the series 7-6 overall, and the home team historically has had the advantage. The Cardinals are 4-1 in games played in St. Louis and Arizona, while Cincinnati leads 6-2 in games played in Cincinnati. The Bengals won the most recent meeting 34-20 at Arizona in 2023, though the Cardinals had won four of the previous five matchups dating back to 2003 Games between the two clubs have been relatively even recently, with five of the past six meetings being one-score games (defined as being decided by eight points or less), as well as seven of the past 10. The Bengals were 2-1 against the Cardinals when the franchise was based in St. Louis (prior to 1988), and the Cardinals are 5-5 against Cincinnati since their move to Arizona.
Here’s what to look for:
- When the Bengals have the ball:
Joe Burrow (152) is 15 touchdown passes shy of Josh Allen (167) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (167) for the third-most touchdown passes by a player in his first six NFL seasons, trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino (196) and Patrick Mahomes (192). Burrow has 152 career touchdown passes. Burrow can join Patrick Mahomes as the only players in NFL history with at least 4,000 passing yards and 30 touchdown passes in four of his first six career seasons. Burrow can become the fifth player ever with at least 30 games with 300-or-more passing yards in his first six NFL seasons, joining Patrick Mahomes (41) and Justin Herbert (31, in sixth season) as well as Pro Football Hall of Famers Dan Marino (32) and Kurt Warner (30). Burrow has 27 career games with at least 300 passing yards. JA’MARR CHASE joined Amon-Ra St. Brown (528, in fifth season) and Michael Thomas (510) as the only players ever with at least 500 receptions in their first five NFL seasons. Chase has 505 receptions and is in his fifth career season. Ja’Marr Chase can surpass Torry Holt (6,784) for the second-most receiving yards by a player in his first five NFL seasons all-time, trailing only Justin Jefferson (7,432). Chase has 6,681 career receiving yards and is in his fifth career season. Chase needs six touchdown receptions to surpass Dez Bryant (56) for the third-most touchdown receptions ever by a player in his first five NFL seasons, trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famers Jerry Rice (66) and Randy Moss (60). Chase has 51 career touchdown receptions and is in his fifth career season. Chase can become the first player in NFL history with at least 80 receptions, 1,000 receiving yards and seven touchdown receptions in each of his first five seasons. Chase has 110 receptions, 1,256 receiving yards, and five touchdown receptions in 2025. Bengals need to keep an eye on 39-year-old future Hall of Fame edge Calais Campbell, who comes in with 5.5 sacks on the season. Defensive tackle Walter Nolen and corner Garrett Williams have been lost for the season. The Cardinals also feature former Bengal linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither as a starting middle linebacker.
- When the Cardinals have the ball:
The Cincinnati game plan is all about keeping tight end Trey McBride under close watch all afternoon long. And for good reason. McBride ranks third in the league with 109 receptions. With at least one reception, McBride can become the first tight end all-time with at least 110 receptions in multiple career seasons. With eight receptions in Week 17, McBride can surpass Zach Ertz (116 receptions in 2018 with Philadelphia) for the most receptions by a tight end in a season in NFL history. Jacoby Brissett is the quarterback throwing the ball after Kyler Murray suffered a foot injury in Week 5 and eventually landed on IR in early November. Brissett essentially took command of the offense and the Cardinals had no incentive to push Murray back into the lineup in what could be his final season in Arizona. Nice storyline for Cincinnati fans as former Mr. Ohio Corey Kiner returns to Cincinnati after a star-studded career at Roger Bacon and UC (2022-24). Kiner is the third-string running back behind Michael Carter and Emari Demercado. Head coach Jonathan Gannon figures to give Kiner some reps against his hometown team on Sunday.
- Bottom Line:
For a second straight week, the Bengals figure to romp over the opponent. The Cardinals have a banged up secondary, with nickel corner Garrett Williams out for the season with an Achilles injury and safeties Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson coming off injuries last week. No Walter Nolen in the middle of the defensive line means the Bengals should be able to run the ball and give Burrow time to get Ja’Marr Chase his first touchdown since Oct. 16 against Pittsburgh, maybe two and why not three? Ja’Marr Chase should have a massive game in this contest and the Bengals should light up the scoreboard. Chase said on Friday his mission Sunday was to get off the schneid and this game should provide the opportunity. Shemar Stewart gets his first NFL sack. DJ Turner get a pick-6.
Bengals 38, Cardinals 14
