Over the course of the last few weeks, we have taken an in-depth look at the Bengals' 2025 opponents. Let's continue with Cincinnati's Week 17 opponent, the Arizona Cardinals.

2024

Arizona finished 8-9 in 2024, missing the playoffs and ranking third in the NFC West. Led by QB Kyler Murray, the Cardinals' offense finished 11th in yards per game (358.2). Murray threw for over 3,800 yards, rushed for nearly 600 more and combined for 26 touchdowns. His favorite target was TE Trey McBride. The third-year tight end finished fourth in the NFL with 111 catches, and his 1,146 receiving yards ranked 11th among all pass catchers. RB James Conner crossed the 1,000-yard threshold for the second consecutive season.

Defensively, the Cardinals forced the seventh-fewest turnovers in the league (17) and ranked 15th in points allowed per game (22.3).

Offseason Changes

The Cardinals focused on the defensive line in the offseason. They signed DE Dalvin Tomlinson to a two-year deal and DT L.J. Collier to a one-year deal to plug up the middle of the defensive line. They also signed DE Josh Sweat to a four-year contract, who will reunite with head coach Jonathan Gannon, his defensive coordinator with the Eagles in 2021 and 2022.

Arizona drafted DE Walter Nolen out of Ole Miss in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft then added CB Will Johnson out of Michigan in the second round.

Coaching Staff

Gannon enters his third season as head coach of the Cardinals, increasing the team's win total from four in 2023 to eight in 2024. Prior to Arizona, he spent two years with the Eagles as their defensive coordinator and coached the Philadelphia defense in Super Bowl LVII. Gannon has 17 years of experience in the NFL with Arizona, Philadelphia, the Indianapolis Colts, the Minnesota Vikings, the Tennessee Titans, the Los Angeles Rams and the Atlanta Falcons.

Drew Petzing came to Arizona at the same time as Gannon in 2023 as offensive coordinator after three years with the Cleveland Browns. He spent the 2022 season as the Browns quarterbacks coach. Petzing helped the Cardinals finish with 6,090 total net yards in 2024, the fifth time in franchise history the team has had at least 6,000. Prior to his time with the Browns, Petzing spent six years with the Minnesota Vikings from 2014-2019.

Defensive coordinator Nick Rallis came with Gannon from Philadelphia, where he spent two years as the linebackers coach for the Eagles after two years with the Minnesota Vikings. He coached S Budda Baker to his seventh Pro Bowl in 2024, and Arizona's defense tied for the NFL lead with 17 different players getting at least one sack.

Series History

The Bengals and Cardinals have played 13 times, with Cincinnati leading the all-time series 7-6.

What To Watch For

Murray and QB Joe Burrow will match up in a battle of first overall picks, as Murray was selected with the top choice in the 2019 NFL Draft, while Burrow went first in 2020.

Arizona's cornerback room is flush with young talent, featuring Johnson, 2024 second-round pick Max Melton, Garrett Williams and Starling Thomas V. The youthful bunch will have their work cut out for them against Cincinnati's top-ranked passing attack.