The Bengals host their first of back-to-back home games to finish the 2025 campaign Sunday as the Arizona Cardinals come to town. Arizona sits at 3-12 on the year and has lost seven games in a row. The Cardinals are coming off a close 26-19 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16.
Cardinals Offense
Arizona has had QB Jacoby Brissett under center since Week 6 after starter Kyler Murray suffered a foot injury in Week 5 and landed on the Reserve/Injured List. The Cardinals officially shut Murray down for the season December 5. The veteran Brissett has not been afraid to air the ball out, averaging the ninth-most passing yards per game in the NFL (242.6). He's tossed 19 touchdowns to seven interceptions. Brissett has posted a 67.6 PFF pass grade, ranking 26th among quarterbacks with at least 100 dropbacks.
The Cardinals have had a revolving door at running back due to injuries: James Conner, Trey Benson and Bam Knight all started games this season and all are now on the Reserve/Injured List. Michael Carter got the start in Week 16, his third of the year, carrying the ball 11 times for 65 yards after adding 94 total yards on 18 touches in Week 15. After beginning the year on the practice squad, Carter is now Arizona's leading rusher for 2025.
The pass game for Arizona runs through TE Trey McBride. The fourth-year pro from Colorado State ranks third in the NFL with 109 receptions, sixth with 1,098 yards and tied for third with 10 touchdowns. He leads all tight ends in each category. Backup tight end Elijah Higgins stole the show in Week 16, putting up a career-high 91 yards as Atlanta keyed in on McBride.
At receiver, Michael Wilson has come on strong this season. The third-year pro already set a career high in yards (818), receptions (68) and touchdowns (five). He has four touchdowns in the last three games, including a highlight-reel circus catch for the first touchdown of the day last week. 2024 first-round pick WR Marvin Harrison Jr. made his return in Week 16 after a two-game absence, playing 29 of 57 possible snaps as he works back from a heel injury.
Cardinals Defense
Arizona has allowed the seventh-most yards (350.5) and fourth-most points (30.5) per game this season. The Cardinals have allowed at least 40 points in four of their last seven contests.
EDGE Josh Sweat leads the team with 43 total pressures and 11 sacks this season, but he left Week 16 with an ankle injury. 2025 first-round pick Walter Nolen was carted off the field Sunday as well and will miss the last two weeks with an achilles injury. Veteran defensive end Calais Campbell, in his 18th season, ranks second on the team with 29 pressures, per PFF.
S Buddha Baker continues to be the leader of Arizona's defense after being named to his eighth Pro Bowl Tuesday. Baker has played 98% of the team's defensive snaps and has tallied 111 tackles, third in the league among safeties. Former Bengal Akeem Davis-Gaither ranks second on the team with 107 total tackles this season.
Cornerback Garrett Williams was also shut down for the season after sustaining a knee injury in Week 16. Fifth-round rookie Denzel Burke played his most snaps of the year as a result (70 of 77). Burke leads Arizona with three interceptions, while second-round pick Will Johnson leads the team with 10 passes defensed.
Kicker Chad Ryland made 4-of-6 attempts in the Week 16 loss and has hit 74.2% of his field goals this season.
View the best photos from Bengals-Cardinals matchups of years past
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jerome Simpson (89) flips over Arizona Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington (58) for a touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati. Making like an Olympic gymnast, Simpson vaulted over Washington, landed on his feet for a touchdown, then raised both arms for sticking the landing. "A lot of the guys gave me a 10 on it," Simpson said. "I think it was like a 9 maybe, because I touched the ground (with the hand) a little bit." (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Cincinnati Bengals' Jerome Simpson goes in for a 19-yard touchdown reception against Arizona Cardinals' Daryl Washington during the first half of an NFL football game Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
WR Ja'Marr Chase catches the ball during the Bengals-Cardinals game in Week 5 of the 2023 season.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) pose for a picture after an NFL game. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) in action during an NFL regular season game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015 in Glendale, Ariz. (Ric Tapia via AP)
WR Ja'Marr Chase runs the ball during the Bengals-Cardinals game in Week 5 of the 2023 season.
WR Ja'Marr Chase celebrates a touchdown during the Bengals-Cardinals game in Week 5 of the 2023 season.
WR Ja'Marr Chase celebrates during the Bengals-Cardinals game in Week 5 of the 2023 season.
S Dax Hill, De Trey Hendrickson and DT B.J. Hill tackle QB Josh Dobbs during the Bengals-Cardinals game in Week 5 of the 2023 season.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Mohamed Sanu (12) runs after the catch as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jerraud Powers (25) defends during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Cedric Benson (32) falls forward for a short gain in the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga (58) intercepts a pass intended for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Andre Roberts (12) in the first half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tony Tribble)
CINCINNATI, OH - NOVEMBER 18: Wide receiver Chris Henry #15 of the Cincinnati Bengals catches the football for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals at Paul Brown Stadium on November 18, 2007 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Cardinals defeated Bengals 35-27. (AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
CINCINNATI, OH - NOVEMBER 18: Wide receiver Chad Johnson #85 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs with the football after a pass reception against the Arizona Cardinals at Paul Brown Stadium on November 18, 2007 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Cardinals defeated Bengals 35-27. (AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer (9) passes against the Arizona Cardinals in an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007, in Cincinnati. Andrew Whitworth (77) blocks Al Johnson (50) at left, Levi Jones (76) blocks Darryl Blackstock (51) at right. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
Cincinnati Bengals' DeDe Dorsey (27) blocks a punt by Arizona Cardinals punter Mike Barr (5) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007, in Cincinnati. Dorsey returned the ball for a touchdown. Arizona won 35-27. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
CINCINNATI, OH - NOVEMBER 18: Wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh #84 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs with the football against the Arizona Cardinals at Paul Brown Stadium on November 18, 2007 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Cardinals defeated Bengals 35-27. (AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
CINCINNATI, OH - NOVEMBER 18: Arizona Cardinals and Cincinnati Bengals players line up at the line of scrimmage prior to the snap during the game between the Arizona Cardinals against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on November 18, 2007 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Cardinals defeated Bengals 35-27. (AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
Cincinnati Bengals guard Ken Moyer (73) holds the line against the Arizona Cardinals in Tempe, AZ, Dec. 18, 1994. The Cardinals defeated the Bengals 28-7. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) stands under center during an NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz. The Bengals defeated the Cardinals 34-20. (Cooper Neill via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Myles Murphy (99) rushes the passer during an NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz. The Bengals defeated the Cardinals 34-20. (Cooper Neill via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Auden Tate (19) catches a touchdown pass in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end C.J. Uzomah (87) makes a catch against Arizona Cardinals defensive back Jalen Thompson (34) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 06, 2019, in Cincinnati. The Cardinals won 26-23. (Aaron Doster via AP)
Arizona Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds (29) carries the ball against Cincinnati Bengals strong safety Shawn Williams (36) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 06, 2019, in Cincinnati. The Cardinals won 26-23. (Aaron Doster via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) in action during an NFL regular season game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015 in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won, 34-31. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Check out the Bengals 2025 Schedule.
