GLENDALE – In Sunday’s 37-14 loss, the Arizona Cardinals were out played on all three phases. Arizona allows 35+ points for the fifth time in eight games, while failing to score more than 20 points in five straight weeks. The Cardinals fall to 3-13 and are one loss away for the most in franchise history. All the losses can seem to pile together and hard to understand what is holding back the team.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!However, head coach Jonathan Gannon thought it was obvious on Sunday why his team loss. In his postgame presser, Gannon harped on the defense’s inability to stop the Cincinnati Bengals on third down.
Dec 28, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon during the first half against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
Gannon on poor third-down defense:
“It really comes down to third down. They converted a bunch, [and] we didn’t. They stayed on the field, [and] we didn’t. They scored points, [and] we didn’t. It got out of hand.
“[Bengals] were over 70%, and against a good offense, you’re going to get a lot of points scored on you if that happens, which did happen. I mean it’s always going to be rushing coverage. When we pressure, we got to get home. We got to tackle better. You got to coverage better.”
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) sends a receiver in motion before a snap in the first quarter of the NFL Week 17 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Arizona Cardinals at Paycor Stadium in Downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. The Bengals led 23-7 at halftime.
Quarterback Joe Burrow was sensational on Sunday, throwing 24-of-31 for 305 passing yards and two touchdowns. The Pro Bowler was at his best when the pressure was high, leading Cincinnati to 10-of-15 on third down. Burrow threw for 17 first downs and was a machine against a struggling Arizona defense.
The Bengals’ offense set the tone early, converting on three third downs on the opening drive. Gannon acknowledge the team had chances early to stop Burrow, but failed at every chance. While the execution was subpar, Gannon saw the effort from his players on the field despite the score disparity.
Cardinals’ Trey McBride sets NFL record for most catches by a TE in Week 17
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
