On December 28, 2025, Cincinnati defeated Arizona 37-14 at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. This Arizona Cardinals vs Bengals Match Player Stats report covers the latest completed meeting. Arizona entered at 3-12, while Cincinnati began the afternoon at 5-10.
Both teams had already fallen outside the playoff race. Arizona missed several starters, including Budda Baker and Paris Johnson Jr. Cincinnati controlled third downs, possession, and every red-zone opportunity.
Match Overview
The Bengals improved to 6-10 with their second consecutive victory. Arizona dropped to 3-13 and extended its losing streak to eight games. Cincinnati built a 23-7 halftime advantage, then added two third-quarter touchdowns.
| Date | Venue | Competition | Final Score | Records Entering |
| Dec. 28, 2025 | Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati | NFL Week 17 | Bengals 37, Cardinals 14 | ARI 3-12, CIN 5-10 |
Pre-Match Context
Arizona entered Week 17 after seven consecutive losses. The Cardinals had three victories and no remaining postseason path. Cincinnati entered after a 45-21 Week 16 victory at Miami. However, its 5-10 record had also removed playoff qualification from the equation.
Arizona faced significant personnel changes. Safety Budda Baker and left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. were ruled out. Guard Evan Brown and cornerback Kei’Trel Clark were also unavailable. Josh Fryar consequently started at left tackle, while Jon Gaines II started at left guard.
Cincinnati ruled out Joseph Ossai, Cam Grandy, Charlie Jones, and Matt Lee. B.J. Hill and Noah Fant entered questionable but were available. The Bengals therefore retained most of their primary offensive starters.
Quarter by Quarter Score
Cincinnati scored during each of the first three quarters. Arizona scored once during the second quarter and once late in the fourth.
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 7 | 16 | 14 | 0 |
Quarter by Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter
Cincinnati opened with a 12-play, 72-yard touchdown drive. Joe Burrow finished it with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Ja’Marr Chase. Evan McPherson converted the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
Arizona could not answer during the quarter. Cincinnati then began another long possession before the opening period ended.
Second Quarter
Samaje Perine finished Cincinnati’s continuing drive with a one-yard touchdown run. McPherson missed the extra point, leaving Cincinnati ahead 13-0.
Arizona responded with its first scoring drive. Jacoby Brissett found Michael Wilson for a 38-yard touchdown with 11:44 remaining.
Cincinnati later started a possession at its own two-yard line. McPherson completed that drive with a 57-yard field goal.
Ke’Shawn Williams then produced a 43-yard punt return late in the half. Burrow found Chase for an eight-yard touchdown three plays later. Cincinnati entered halftime leading 23-7.
Third Quarter
Arizona opened the second half with a three-and-out. Cincinnati answered with an 84-yard touchdown drive lasting more than six minutes.
Chase Brown finished that possession with a six-yard touchdown run. Cincinnati later traveled 82 yards on another scoring drive.
Brown added a one-yard touchdown with 1:38 remaining. Cincinnati finished the quarter with a 37-7 advantage.
Fourth Quarter
Cincinnati did not score during the final period. Joe Flacco handled reserve quarterback snaps after Burrow completed his work.
Arizona produced its second touchdown during its final scoring possession. Brissett found Trey McBride from 18 yards with 1:50 remaining.
The catch became McBride’s 119th reception of the season. He had already broken the tight-end receptions record earlier during that drive.
Team Stats Comparison
The team totals show Cincinnati’s advantage in sustained drives. The Bengals gained more yards and converted substantially more third downs. Neither offense committed a turnover.
| Statistic | Cardinals | Bengals |
| Total yards | 233 | 429 |
| First downs | 12 | 29 |
| Rushing yards | 42 | 120 |
| Net passing yards | 191 | 309 |
| Third downs | 3/13 | 10/15 |
| Red zone | 1/2 | 5/5 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Penalties | 6-51 | 5-38 |
| Time of possession | 19:04 | 40:56 |
Key Numbers That Decided the Game
The statistical separation appeared primarily through possession, third downs, and scoring opportunities. Cincinnati repeatedly extended drives without relying on Arizona turnovers.
- Cincinnati held possession for 40:56, compared with Arizona’s 19:04.
- Cincinnati converted 10 of 15 third downs, while Arizona converted three of 13.
- The Bengals scored touchdowns on all five red-zone possessions.
- Cincinnati outgained Arizona 429-233 and produced a 120-42 rushing advantage.
- Neither team committed a turnover, leaving drive efficiency as the main statistical separator.
Full Box Score – Arizona Cardinals
Arizona produced 212 gross passing yards and 42 rushing yards. Brissett threw both touchdowns without an interception. McBride and Wilson accounted for most of Arizona’s receiving production.
Cincinnati also recorded four sacks against Brissett. Arizona’s defense produced three sacks but could not create a takeaway.
Cardinals Passing
| Player | Comp/Att | Yards | TD | INT |
| Jacoby Brissett | 21/37 | 212 | 2 | 0 |
Cardinals Rushing
| Player | Carries | Yards | Average | TD |
| Michael Carter | 7 | 29 | 4.1 | 0 |
| Emari Demercado | 5 | 11 | 2.2 | 0 |
| Corey Kiner | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 0 |
Cardinals Receiving
| Player | Receptions | Yards | Average | TD |
| Trey McBride | 10 | 76 | 7.6 | 1 |
| Michael Wilson | 5 | 89 | 17.8 | 1 |
| Xavier Weaver | 2 | 24 | 12.0 | 0 |
| Michael Carter | 2 | 14 | 7.0 | 0 |
| Emari Demercado | 2 | 9 | 4.5 | 0 |
| Marvin Harrison Jr. | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Elijah Higgins | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
Cardinals Kicking
| Player | FG | XP | Total Points |
| Chad Ryland | 0/0 | 2/2 | 2 |
Cardinals Returns
| Player | Returns | Yards | Average |
| Steven Sims, punts | 1 | 5 | 5.0 |
| Steven Sims, kickoffs | 5 | 132 | 26.4 |
| Xavier Weaver, kickoffs | 1 | 27 | 27.0 |
Cardinals Defensive Leaders
Cody Simon led Arizona’s defense in tackles and shared a sack. Denzel Burke recorded two passes defended. The table includes the eight leading defenders by recorded defensive tackles.
| Player | Tackles | Sacks | Key Play |
| Cody Simon | 15 | 0.5 | 0 INT/PD/FR |
| Dadrion Taylor-Demerson | 9 | 0.0 | 0 INT/PD/FR |
| Denzel Burke | 6 | 0.0 | 2 PD |
| Darren Hall | 5 | 0.0 | 0 INT/PD/FR |
| Zach Carter | 5 | 0.0 | 0 INT/PD/FR |
| Darius Robinson | 5 | 0.0 | 0 INT/PD/FR |
| Will Johnson | 4 | 0.0 | 0 INT/PD/FR |
| Jalen Thompson | 4 | 0.0 | 0 INT/PD/FR |
Full Box Score – Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati balanced 329 gross passing yards with 120 rushing yards. Burrow handled most passing work before Flacco entered later.
Chase Brown supplied Cincinnati’s only 100-yard rushing performance. Eleven Bengals recorded at least one reception during the game.
Bengals Passing
| Player | Comp/Att | Yards | TD | INT |
| Joe Burrow | 24/31 | 305 | 2 | 0 |
| Joe Flacco | 3/5 | 24 | 0 | 0 |
Bengals Rushing
| Player | Carries | Yards | Average | TD |
| Chase Brown | 22 | 101 | 4.6 | 2 |
| Tahj Brooks | 3 | 10 | 3.3 | 0 |
| Samaje Perine | 3 | 5 | 1.7 | 1 |
| Joe Flacco | 4 | 2 | 0.5 | 0 |
| Joe Burrow | 3 | 2 | 0.7 | 0 |
Bengals Receiving
| Player | Receptions | Yards | Average | TD |
| Ja’Marr Chase | 7 | 60 | 8.6 | 2 |
| Tee Higgins | 4 | 59 | 14.8 | 0 |
| Andrei Iosivas | 4 | 41 | 10.3 | 0 |
| Chase Brown | 3 | 40 | 13.3 | 0 |
| Mike Gesicki | 2 | 47 | 23.5 | 0 |
| Tanner Hudson | 2 | 31 | 15.5 | 0 |
| Cody Ford | 1 | 21 | 21.0 | 0 |
| Tahj Brooks | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 0 |
| Drew Sample | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 0 |
| Samaje Perine | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 0 |
| Ke’Shawn Williams | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 0 |
| Noah Fant | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
Bengals Kicking
| Player | FG | XP | Total Points |
| Evan McPherson | 1/1 | 4/5 | 7 |
Bengals Returns
| Player | Returns | Yards | Average |
| Ke’Shawn Williams, punts | 5 | 56 | 11.2 |
| Ke’Shawn Williams, kickoffs | 1 | 28 | 28.0 |
Bengals Defensive Leaders
Cincinnati recorded four sacks and did not force a turnover. Myles Murphy led the defense with six tackles and one sack.
T.J. Slaton also recorded a sack. Barrett Carter registered a pass defended among Cincinnati’s leading tacklers.
| Player | Tackles | Sacks | Key Play |
| Myles Murphy | 6 | 1.0 | 0 INT/PD/FR |
| Demetrius Knight Jr. | 5 | 0.0 | 0 INT/PD/FR |
| Joe Giles-Harris | 4 | 0.0 | 0 INT/PD/FR |
| Geno Stone | 4 | 0.0 | 0 INT/PD/FR |
| T.J. Slaton | 3 | 1.0 | 0 INT/PD/FR |
| Jalen Davis | 3 | 0.0 | 0 INT/PD/FR |
| Bralyn Lux | 3 | 0.0 | 0 INT/PD/FR |
| Barrett Carter | 3 | 0.0 | 1 PD |
Game Leaders / Top Performers
Joe Burrow completed 24 of 31 passes for 305 yards. He threw both touchdowns to Ja’Marr Chase and avoided interceptions. Cincinnati rested him after building its third-quarter advantage.
Chase Brown rushed for 101 yards and scored twice. He added 40 receiving yards, giving him 141 yards from scrimmage. Both touchdowns came during the third quarter.
Ja’Marr Chase caught seven passes for 60 yards. His touchdown receptions covered 13 and eight yards. Both scores came during Cincinnati’s 23-point first half.
Trey McBride led Arizona with 10 receptions. His 76 receiving yards included an 18-yard fourth-quarter touchdown. His eighth catch broke the NFL single-season receptions record for a tight end.
Michael Wilson led Arizona in receiving yards. He produced five catches for 89 yards, including Arizona’s 38-yard second-quarter touchdown.
| Player | Team | Key Stat | Secondary Stat | TD |
| Joe Burrow | Bengals | 305 passing yards | 24/31 passing | 2 |
| Chase Brown | Bengals | 101 rushing yards | 141 scrimmage yards | 2 |
| Ja’Marr Chase | Bengals | 7 receptions | 60 receiving yards | 2 |
| Trey McBride | Cardinals | 10 receptions | 76 receiving yards | 1 |
| Michael Wilson | Cardinals | 89 receiving yards | 5 receptions | 1 |
Starting Lineups
Arizona opened with three tight ends and one starting wide receiver in its listed offensive personnel. Cincinnati listed three receivers and Mike Gesicki at tight end.
The defensive formations also differed. Arizona listed four linebackers and three cornerbacks. Cincinnati listed four defensive linemen and three linebackers.
Offensive Starters
| Position | Arizona Cardinals | Cincinnati Bengals |
| QB | Jacoby Brissett | Joe Burrow |
| RB | Michael Carter | Chase Brown |
| WR | Michael Wilson | Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas |
| TE | Josiah Deguara, Elijah Higgins, Trey McBride | Mike Gesicki |
| LT | Josh Fryar | Orlando Brown Jr. |
| LG | Jon Gaines II | Dylan Fairchild |
| C | Hjalte Froholdt | Ted Karras |
| RG | Isaiah Adams | Dalton Risner |
| RT | Kelvin Beachum | Amarius Mims |
Defensive Starters
| Position Group | Arizona Cardinals | Cincinnati Bengals |
| DL | Calais Campbell, Dalvin Tomlinson | Myles Murphy, T.J. Slaton, B.J. Hill, Cam Sample |
| LB | Josh Sweat, Akeem Davis-Gaither, Cody Simon, Zaven Collins | Barrett Carter, Demetrius Knight Jr., Oren Burks |
| CB | Will Johnson, Denzel Burke, Darren Hall | Dax Hill, DJ Turner II |
| S | Jalen Thompson, Dadrion Taylor-Demerson | Geno Stone, Jordan Battle |
Injury Report
Arizona entered the game without Baker, Paris Johnson Jr., Evan Brown, and Kei’Trel Clark. Their absences changed the starting safety and offensive-line combinations.
Several questionable Cardinals were cleared to play, including Josh Sweat and Max Melton. Cincinnati had four players officially ruled out through the final injury report.
Josh Newton entered questionable before being listed inactive. B.J. Hill and Noah Fant were questionable but appeared in the game.
| Player | Injury | Status |
| Budda Baker, ARI | Concussion/thumb | Out |
| Evan Brown, ARI | Personal | Out |
| Kei’Trel Clark, ARI | Back | Out |
| Paris Johnson Jr., ARI | Knee | Out |
| Hjalte Froholdt, ARI | Elbow | Questionable, played |
| Marvin Harrison Jr., ARI | Heel | Questionable, played |
| Will Johnson, ARI | Thumb/chest | Questionable, played |
| Max Melton, ARI | Heel | Questionable, played |
| Josh Sweat, ARI | Ankle / knee | Questionable, played |
| Jalen Thompson, ARI | Hamstring | Questionable, played |
| Cam Grandy, CIN | Chest | Out |
| Charlie Jones, CIN | Ankle | Out |
| Matt Lee, CIN | Knee | Out |
| Joseph Ossai, CIN | Ankle | Out |
| Noah Fant, CIN | Ankle | Questionable, played |
| B.J. Hill, CIN | Ankle | Questionable, played |
| Josh Newton, CIN | Hamstring | Questionable, inactive |
Marvin Harrison Jr. later left the game because of his heel. Safety Kitan Crawford also exited with an ankle injury.
Season Series and Head to Head
Cincinnati’s victory moved the all-time regular-season series to 8-6 in the Bengals’ favor. The teams have never met during the postseason.
| Date | Site | Winner | Score |
| Nov. 25, 1973 | Cincinnati | Bengals | 42-24 |
| Nov. 25, 1979 | Cincinnati | Bengals | 34-28 |
| Sept. 15, 1985 | St. Louis | Cardinals | 41-27 |
| Sept. 4, 1988 | Cincinnati | Bengals | 21-14 |
| Dec. 18, 1994 | Arizona | Cardinals | 28-7 |
| Aug. 31, 1997 | Cincinnati | Bengals | 24-21 |
| Dec. 3, 2000 | Cincinnati | Bengals | 24-13 |
| Nov. 2, 2003 | Arizona | Cardinals | 17-14 |
| Nov. 18, 2007 | Cincinnati | Cardinals | 35-27 |
| Dec. 24, 2011 | Cincinnati | Bengals | 23-16 |
| Nov. 22, 2015 | Arizona | Cardinals | 34-31 |
| Oct. 6, 2019 | Cincinnati | Cardinals | 26-23 |
| Oct. 8, 2023 | Arizona | Bengals | 34-20 |
| Dec. 28, 2025 | Cincinnati | Bengals | 37-14 |
Conference / League Standings
After Week 17, Cincinnati stood third in the AFC North. Arizona remained fourth in the NFC West. Both teams were eliminated from postseason contention.
| Division | Team | Record | Division Rank |
| NFC West | Seattle Seahawks | 13-3 | 1st |
| NFC West | San Francisco 49ers | 12-4 | 2nd |
| NFC West | Los Angeles Rams | 11-5 | 3rd |
| NFC West | Arizona Cardinals | 3-13 | 4th |
| AFC North | Pittsburgh Steelers | 9-7 | 1st |
| AFC North | Baltimore Ravens | 8-8 | 2nd |
| AFC North | Cincinnati Bengals | 6-10 | 3rd |
| AFC North | Cleveland Browns | 4-12 | 4th |
Broadcast and Stream Information
The game aired nationally within its assigned FOX markets. NFL+ provided an in-market mobile streaming option.
Arizona also carried English and Spanish radio broadcasts. International viewers had Game Pass International through DAZN.
| Medium | Outlet | Coverage Details |
| Television | FOX | Kevin Kugler, Daryl Johnston, Allison Williams |
| Mobile stream | NFL+ | In-market live stream |
| Cardinals radio | Arizona Sports 98.7 FM | Dave Pasch, A.Q. Shipley, Paul Calvisi |
| Spanish radio | Fuego 106.7 FM | Luis Hernandez, Irving Villanueva |
| International | Game Pass International on DAZN | Outside United States |
Conclusion
Cincinnati’s win extended its late-season winning run but could not revive its postseason chances. Arizona’s defeat extended a losing streak that had reached eight games.
Cincinnati controlled the game through long drives, third-down execution, and complete red-zone finishing. Arizona produced two passing touchdowns but struggled to maintain possessions.
Arizona next traveled to Los Angeles for its Week 18 meeting with the Rams. Cincinnati returned home for its season finale against Cleveland.
FAQ
Who won the Arizona Cardinals vs Bengals game?
Cincinnati won 37-14 at Paycor Stadium on December 28, 2025. The Bengals led 23-7 at halftime and finished Week 17 at 6-10.
What were Joe Burrow’s stats against the Cardinals?
Burrow completed 24 of 31 passes for 305 yards. He threw two touchdowns, both to Ja’Marr Chase, and recorded no interceptions.
How many rushing yards did Chase Brown have?
Chase Brown carried 22 times for 101 rushing yards. He scored two third-quarter touchdowns and finished with 141 total yards from scrimmage.
What did Trey McBride do against Cincinnati?
McBride caught 10 passes for 76 yards and one touchdown. During the fourth quarter, he broke the NFL single-season receptions record for tight ends.
Which team had more total yards?
Cincinnati produced 429 total yards, while Arizona finished with 233. The Bengals also led in rushing yardage and net passing yardage.
Did either team commit a turnover?
Neither team lost a fumble or threw an interception. Cincinnati still created separation through sustained possessions, third-down conversions, and red-zone scoring.
Where was the Cardinals vs Bengals game played?
The game took place at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. Kickoff came Sunday, December 28, during Week 17 of the 2025 season.
