The Cincinnati Bengals face the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday in a crucial Week 17 showdown where Joe Burrow aims to extend his recent hot streak. After throwing for 309 yards and four touchdowns in last week’s dominant victory over Miami, the Bengals quarterback looks primed to continue his momentum against a depleted Cardinals defense.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Cincinnati Bengals (5-10) host Arizona Cardinals (3-12) at Paycor Stadium on December 28, 2025
- Kickoff scheduled for 1:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM MST on Sunday
- Joe Burrow projected to throw 331 passing yards with 2.5 passing touchdowns in fantasy formats
- Bengals favored by 7 points with point total set at 53.5 over/under
Joe Burrow Bounces Back After Miami Domination
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After a disappointing stretch earlier in the season, Joe Burrow has found his rhythm in spectacular fashion. In Week 16, the quarterback completed 25 of 32 passes for 309 yards and an impressive four touchdowns with zero interceptions in Cincinnati’s 45-21 rout of the Miami Dolphins. This performance earned him FedEx Air & Ground Player of the Week honors.
The Bengals offense has been purring like a well-oiled machine, and Burrow is the driving force behind this late-season surge. His ability to execute in the passing game while maintaining near-perfect ball security makes him a dangerous threat against any secondary, including Arizona’s struggling defense. Experts believe the Bengals will rely heavily on Burrow’s arm to establish early scoring opportunities.
Matchup Analysis: Bengals’ Clear Advantage Over Cardinals
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Cincinnati holds a clear advantage in this Week 17 meeting, and the experts have taken notice. The Bengals already lead the all-time series 1-0 against the Cardinals in recent matchups. National analysts have been nearly unanimous in their predictions, with the vast majority favoring Cincinnati by a comfortable margin. Sportsnaut projects a 35-28 Bengals victory, while simulation models give Cincinnati a 72% win probability compared to Arizona’s 28%.
The point spread reflects Cincinnati’s dominance, with the Bengals sitting as 7-point favorites at most sportsbooks. This kind of consensus from national experts is rare, suggesting that nobody expects the struggling Cardinals to mount a serious threat to the Bengals‘ home field advantage at Paycor Stadium. Arizona’s 3-12 record speaks volumes about their inability to compete with even middling NFL competition.
| Metric | Cincinnati Bengals | Arizona Cardinals |
| Season Record | 5-10 | 3-12 |
| Points Per Game | 23.9 | 21.4 |
| Points Allowed Per Game | 30.5 | 27.6 |
| Yards Per Game | Not Available | 332.5 |
| Point Spread | -7 Favorites | +7 Underdogs |
Bengals’ Second-Half Momentum Could Be Unstoppable
The Cincinnati Bengals are riding genuine momentum into Week 17, having found their identity on offense after weeks of offensive struggles. Joe Burrow has shown he can still perform at an elite level when given the weapons and protection he needs. The Bengals defeated Miami by 24 points just one week ago, establishing themselves as a difficult matchup for anyone on their schedule.
Arizona’s defense offers little resistance to a suddenly potent Cincinnati offense. The Cardinals’ 3-12 record means they’ll be without motivation for anything other than draft positioning at this point in the season. This creates a perfect storm for the Bengals to pour on the points and keep Joe Burrow operating efficiently. Look for Cincinnati to establish an early lead and never look back.
“The Cincinnati offense is purring like a kitten, and our expert Cardinals vs. Bengals predictions expect Joe Burrow & Co. to fire away.”
— Covers.com, Expert Analysis
Can the Arizona Cardinals Pull Off One of the Season’s Biggest Upsets?
Experts unanimously agree that an Arizona Cardinals victory would rank among the most shocking results of the 2025 season. With a 3-12 record and injuries hampering their roster, the Cardinals face an uphill battle against a red-hot Cincinnati team at home. Jacoby Brissett and the Arizona offense simply don’t command the firepower to keep pace with Joe Burrow and the Bengals passing attack.
The national consensus suggests this should be a comfortable Bengals victory, with most predictions centering on a Cincinnati win by at least one possession. While sports always provides unpredictable moments, the data, statistics, and expert analysis all point definitively toward a Bengals win in Week 17. Arizona will need everything to break perfectly to have any real chance of pulling off this upset.
Sources
- USA Today (Bengals Wire) – Final score predictions and analysis
- ESPN – NFL Week 17 picks, odds, and team statistics
- Covers.com – Expert predictions and betting analysis
Michael Brown is a seasoned sports journalist bringing years of experience covering professional athletics and sporting culture. With a keen eye for breaking stories and player dynamics, this veteran journalist delivers in-depth analysis and exclusive insights from the world’s biggest sporting events. His passion for the game shines through in every story, keeping fans connected to the action both on and off the field.