The playoffs may be out of the picture for the Bengals, but that doesn't mean they can't continue to build momentum moving into next season. Here's how they can do it.
It’s Week 17 of the NFL season, and every team has either clinched a playoff spot or been eliminated, except for just four of the 32 teams. The AFC North has not yet crowned a division winner, but unfortunately for the Bengals, they are not in the running. Their opponent this week, the Arizona Cardinals, is in a division that has three clinched playoff teams. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, they happen to be the lone team to be watching from home this year.
With no playoffs on the line, both teams are looking for a confidence boost and to build momentum for next season. The Bengals have the leverage going into this game after a dominant 45-21 win over the Miami Dolphins last week. Arizona, on the other hand, enters Week 17 on a seven-game losing streak and has lost 12 of its last 13.
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Jalen Davis
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If there’s anyone looking to have a big week, it’s Ja’Marr Chase. After winning the Triple Crown last year, he’s looking to follow up with another big year statistically.
For the final two games of the year, Chase discussed his desire to score a touchdown, since he has not done so since Week 7. Although he’s top four in the league in both receptions and receiving yards this year, he has just five touchdowns on the year. Not only would this be a career low for the former No. 5 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, but it’s also just half of the amount of touchdowns his co-star wide receiver, Tee Higgins, has on the year.
There may not be a better opportunity for Chase to dominate this year than Cincinnati’s final game of 2025. Playing at home against a team that ranks 29th in the league in opposing points per game and 26th in opposing yards per game, the former LSU Tiger has the ability to dominate a deflated Cardinals defense.
The two starting corners for Arizona, Will Johnson and Max Melton, each allow over a 60% completion percentage and have allowed a quarterback rating of 105.8 and 94.1, respectively. Together, they have zero interceptions and 15 deflections on the season, so having to guard Chase and Higgins simultaneously may prove to be a disaster.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receivers Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase
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Regardless, two of the worst defenses in the NFL mean this game will be a shootout. In that situation, there may not be a better offense to take than Cincinnati’s, especially riding a high from a big bounce-back win and with stars chasing goals.