In an exhilarating matchup on December 28, 2025, the Cincinnati Bengals triumphed over the Arizona Cardinals with a commanding score of 37-14. This victory showcased standout performances, particularly from Ja'Marr Chase, who caught two touchdown passes thrown by Joe Burrow. Burrow himself had a remarkable game, throwing for a total of 305 yards, marking his 28th instance of surpassing the 300-yard mark in a single game, which ties him with Andy Dalton for the most in Bengals franchise history.
Chase's performance was historic; he concluded the game with seven receptions totaling 60 yards. With this achievement, he made NFL history by becoming the first player ever to record at least 80 receptions, 1,000 receiving yards, and seven touchdown catches in each of his first five seasons. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor praised Burrow's play, saying, "He’s playing like I know Joe to play. It’s fun to watch. We all just want to finish the season the right way."
Adding to the Bengals' success, Chase Brown had an impressive outing, rushing for 101 yards and scoring two touchdowns. This win improved the Bengals' record to 6-10, and they have now won three out of their last five games since Burrow returned from toe surgery.
On the other side, the Cardinals struggled throughout the game. However, there was a silver lining as tight end Trey McBride had a standout performance with 10 receptions, bringing his season total to 119 catches. This not only set a new NFL record for receptions by a tight end in a single season, breaking Zach Ertz’s previous record of 116 from 2018, but also surpassed DeAndre Hopkins’ franchise record of 115 receptions established in 2020. Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon expressed his pride in McBride, stating, "I’m proud of him. He’s one of the best players out there. I’m down about the team, and I know he’s down about the team, but I don’t want to overlook that. He has had a fantastic year."
Despite having the seventh-ranked passing offense in the league, Arizona was limited to just 233 total yards due to the Bengals’ improved defense. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett managed to throw for 212 yards and two touchdowns but faced constant pressure, resulting in four sacks.
Taylor highlighted the recent defensive improvements, noting, "Our defense really set the tone the past two weeks, and our offense countered off that." The Bengals established dominance early, scoring on their first two possessions. Chase’s first touchdown came from a short pass from Burrow, where he broke through two tackles to dive into the end zone for a 13-yard TD, marking his first touchdown since October 16 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Bengals then executed a lengthy 12-play, 79-yard drive capped off by Samaje Perine's 1-yard touchdown run, although an extra point attempt by Evan McPherson was missed, leaving the score at 13-0. In response, Arizona mounted a drive that covered 70 yards in just five plays, culminating in a 38-yard touchdown reception by Michael Wilson, marking his fifth touchdown catch in four games, narrowing the score to 13-7.
Chase soon added another touchdown with an 8-yard reception, extending the Bengals' lead to 23-7 right before halftime. The Bengals controlled the game, having possession for over 22 minutes in the first half.
Cincinnati continued their offensive surge into the third quarter, executing an 84-yard drive in 11 plays, finished by Brown's 6-yard touchdown run. Coach Gannon acknowledged the Bengals' scoring prowess, stating, "We know they can score a bunch of points. I think it really comes down to, for me, third down. They converted a bunch. We didn’t."
In a creative play during the third quarter, Burrow completed a 21-yard pass to right tackle Cody Ford, which set up Brown's second rushing touchdown. Burrow noted the excitement of getting the ball into the hands of his teammates, saying, "When you get the ball in those guys' hands, their eyes light up like a kid at Christmas."
In terms of injuries, the Cardinals placed left tackle Paris Johnson on season-ending injured reserve after he had missed the previous two games due to a knee issue. The Bengals dealt with their own injury challenges, as cornerback Josh Newton was inactive due to a hamstring problem, and cornerback Bralyn Lux was promoted from the practice squad. Right tackle Amarius Mims exited the game in the second quarter with a shin injury, leading to Ford stepping in.
Looking ahead, the Cardinals will face off against the Los Angeles Rams next weekend, while the Bengals are set to host the Cleveland Browns.
