Cardinals vs Bengals Match Player Stats: Full Breakdown of the 37-14 Result

Cincinnati beat Arizona 37-14 at Paycor Stadium on December 28, 2025, and Joe Burrow made sure there was no drama about it. Here’s a full look at how the box score played out, who drove the scoring, and what the numbers tell you beyond the final margin.

Score by Quarter

Cincinnati never trailed. Ja’Marr Chase’s first touchdown catch put the Bengals up 7-0 in the first quarter, and a wild second quarter saw both teams trade scores: a Samaje Perine short touchdown run, a Michael Wilson touchdown catch for Arizona, a 57-yard Evan McPherson field goal, and a second Chase touchdown all happened before halftime, leaving Cincinnati up 23-7. The Bengals then put the game away with two Chase Brown rushing touchdowns in the third quarter. Arizona’s only fourth-quarter response, a Trey McBride touchdown catch, came far too late to matter.

Quarterback Stats: Burrow vs. Brissett

Burrow was close to unstoppable, completing better than three-quarters of his passes without giving the ball away once. It was his 28th career game with 300 or more passing yards, tying Andy Dalton for the most in Bengals franchise history. Brissett had a respectable day by the numbers, matching Burrow’s two touchdown passes and also avoiding interceptions, but he needed six more attempts to complete three fewer passes and threw for 93 fewer yards. Backup Joe Flacco also saw the field for Cincinnati late, going 3-of-5 for 24 yards in relief work once the outcome was decided.

Rushing: Chase Brown Wears Down Arizona

Chase Brown was the workhorse for Cincinnati, carrying 22 times for 101 yards and two touchdowns. His 25-yard run was the longest rushing play by either team. Add in short touchdown runs from Perine and Tahj Brooks’s 10-yard contribution off the bench, and the Bengals piled up 120 rushing yards to Arizona’s 42. Arizona’s leading rusher, Michael Carter, managed just 29 yards on 7 carries. That gap let Cincinnati control the clock and kept its defense fresh in a game it led wire to wire.

Receiving Leaders

Ja’Marr Chase did what Ja’Marr Chase does. He caught 7 of his 9 targets for 60 yards and two touchdowns, becoming the first player in NFL history to record at least 80 receptions, 1,000 receiving yards, and seven touchdown catches in each of his first five seasons. Tee Higgins added 4 catches for 59 yards, and Mike Gesicki chipped in a 47-yard game on just 2 catches.

Arizona’s best individual performance actually came from its tight end. Trey McBride caught 10 of 13 targets for 76 yards and a touchdown, and that reception total gave him 119 catches on the season, breaking the NFL’s all-time single-season receptions record for a tight end. Michael Wilson led Arizona in yardage with 5 catches for 89 yards and a score, including a 38-yard touchdown grab in the second quarter.

Team Stats That Explain the Blowout

Cincinnati’s offense simply stayed on the field. The Bengals controlled the ball for nearly 41 minutes, converted 10 of 15 third downs, and finished a perfect 5-for-5 in the red zone. Arizona’s defense had almost no rest, which showed up in a rushing total that ballooned as the game wore on. Cincinnati ran 11 more offensive plays than Arizona and outgained the Cardinals by close to 200 yards.

Defense and Pressure

Cincinnati’s front generated more pressure on the quarterback, sacking Brissett four times compared with three sacks allowed by the Bengals’ offensive line. Arizona’s defense recorded more total tackles over the course of the game simply because it spent so much more time on the field, but that volume didn’t translate into stopping drives. Neither team threw an interception, which is part of why both quarterbacks posted efficient passer ratings despite the lopsided final score.

What the Result Meant for Both Teams

The win pushed Cincinnati to 6-10 on the season, and the Bengals went 3-2 in the games immediately following Burrow’s return from toe surgery, a stretch that included this one. For Arizona, the loss dropped the team to 3-13, a rough finish to a season that included a quarterback situation that never fully settled and a defense that gave up 37 points to a team with no playoff stakes left to play for. McBride’s receptions record was the one piece of history the Cardinals could point to from an otherwise difficult year.

Three Things the Box Score Reveals

1. Efficiency mattered more than pure volume. Burrow attempted six fewer passes than Brissett but produced 93 more yards. When a quarterback needs extra throws just to keep pace, it usually signals the offense around him isn’t doing enough on early downs.
2. The ground game changed the game’s pace. Cincinnati’s 120 rushing yards, three times what Arizona managed, let the Bengals dictate tempo and protect a lead instead of needing to throw to keep up.
3. A dominant score can still include individual milestones for the losing team. McBride’s tight-end receptions record and Wilson’s 38-yard touchdown were real, notable performances even though they happened in a 23-point loss. Box scores from lopsided games are still worth checking player by player.

Full Statistical Summary

FAQ

What was the final score of the Cardinals vs Bengals game? Cincinnati won 37-14 on December 28, 2025, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.

Who had the best individual performance in the game? Joe Burrow’s 305 passing yards and two touchdowns without an interception led all players, though Trey McBride’s 10-catch, record-breaking performance was the most historically significant.

Why was Arizona unable to stay competitive despite two passing touchdowns? Arizona couldn’t establish a rushing attack, managing only 42 yards on the ground, and Cincinnati’s ball control on offense (nearly 41 minutes of possession) limited how many possessions the Cardinals got.

What record did Trey McBride set in this game? His 10 receptions gave him 119 for the season, breaking the NFL’s single-season receptions record for a tight end.

How many sacks did each team record? Cincinnati sacked Brissett 4 times, while Arizona’s defense recorded 3 sacks against Burrow.

Did either quarterback throw an interception? No. Both Burrow and Brissett finished the game without turning the ball over through the air, which is part of why both posted efficient passer ratings in a lopsided game.