👋 GOOD MORNING – Merry Christmas eve (if you celebrate) everyone! This year hasn’t exactly been much of a gift if you’re an Arizona Cardinals fan, but there’s still games left to be played.

It hasn’t been easy, and it often hasn’t been fun. But with the Cincinnati Bengals on deck, it’s time to dive back into some football, for better or worse.

This will be the last newsletter of the week with the holidays upon us, but don’t worry, I’ll be back next week.

Let’s go!

— Alex D’Agostino, PHNX Sports Daily Editor

Cardinals Defense Faces Tough Bengals Offense

How many more of these do we have?

Well, at 3-12, there’s only two more games left to go. This brutal 2025 season is nearing its merciful end.

Of course, there are many questions about this team’s future. Once all is said and done on the NFL season, the Cardinals will have to answer for their abysmal performance this year.

There’s a lot hanging in the air. Who will be Arizona’s head coach next year? Does Jonathan Gannon (and his staff) get another shot? Who’s going to play quarterback? Is the roster good enough to compete with better coaching and fewer injuries?

It’s exhausting, really.

But that’s all for later. Don’t worry, we’ll break down all of the good, bad and ugly from the 2025 season in every possible way soon. With draft season right around the corner, there’s going to be a whole new world of speculation. How exciting.

We do have a bit of positive news from this week, however.

Three Cardinals Named to Pro Bowl

Okay, the Pro Bowl doesn’t really mean quite as much as it used to these days. There was a time it was an exciting bonus after the conclusion of the season. But that’s not the point.

The point is… three members of the Cardinals were awarded Pro Bowl nods this year. TE Trey McBride and S Budda Baker, with OLB Josh Sweat earning a spot as an alternate.

McBride has been the best player in Arizona this year. His 109 receptions, 1,098 yards and 10 touchdowns have broken numerous records this year — those alone could fill up your entire inbox, so I’ll spare you that.

Baker has 111 tackles on the season. Though he doesn’t often show up in the form of interceptions or passes defended, he still flies around the field.

Sweat has 12 TFLs, 16 QB hits, 43 pressures, and has tied his career-high in a season with 11 sacks — with two games to go. He’s been worth the money.

How do Cardinals, Bengals Match Up?

Anyway, Arizona is going to Cincinnati this week. The Bengals aren’t playing for any sort of playoff potential, either, but they’ve also looked like a proficient offense with Joe Burrow back under center.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals haven’t scored 30-plus points in a game yet this season, while the Bengals’ defense is allowing 30.5 points per game — dead last in the NFL. So, maybe there’s a chance for Arizona to fill up the box score.

The Bengals did, however, just beat down the Miami Dolphins to the tune of a 45-point day. Considering the Cardinals had given up 40-plus points in four of the six games prior to their 26-19 loss to Atlanta last week, that could be a problem.

And the Cardinals will be without two of their best defensive players. While they did get some encouraging production out of DL Darius Robinson last week, they’re going to need a very strong holistic defensive effort if they want to stop the Bengals.

Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and even Chase Brown. That’s a tough assignment for any defense, but especially for our x-factor, who is…

• CB Will Johnson

With Garrett Williams going down with a season-ending injury, the Cardinals’ CB room is going to be thin.

Say what you will about any of the Cardinals’ poor defensive efforts, one of the impressive parts of Gannon and Nick Rallis’ unit has been the fact that young DBs — like Johnson and fellow rookie Denzel Burke, among others — seem to have no trouble stepping up and performing.

Johnson struggled pretty hard against the Rams and Texans, but he was excellent against the Falcons. He won multiple one-on-one reps, had two passes defended and helped hold WR Drake London to only three catches for 27 yards.

Cardinals Roster Updates

It wasn’t a great week for Cardinals injuries.

DL Walter Nolen III (knee) and CB Garrett Williams (achilles) both went on Injured Reserve this week, which ends their respective seasons. At least for Williams, it’s likely going to be a brutal rehab.

Arizona did make two additions to the roster, signing K Josh Karty off the Rams’ practice squad and DB Kalen King from the Panthers’ practice squad. Both moves make sense — Chad Ryland has been struggling, and Arizona is down another DB.

Quick Hits

Coaching Changes: With the impending departure of RB coach Alonzo Carter, head coach Brent Brennan said assistant RBs coach Lyle Moevao will be taking on that role. Moevao worked alongside Carter this year.

Wildcat baseball, meanwhile, just announced the hiring of Sean Kenny as their new pitching coach after their former pitching coach John DeRouin departed for a job in the New York Mets’ organization.

Progress!: Yesterday, the panel dedicated to bringing hockey back to Arizona released its full list of members. Notably, Taylor Burke (son of original Coyotes owner Richard Burke) is involved. It’s been a tough journey, but we’re getting closer.

Well-Rounded: The Suns needed a balanced, sturdy win, and they got just that against the Lakers last night in the form of a 132-108 victory. Dillon Brooks led the scoring with 25 points on 10-for-15 shooting, while Devin Booker had 21 points and 11 assists. The Suns improve to 16-13 with a road matchup against the Pelicans on deck Friday at 6:00 p.m.