The 2025 season was the Cincinnati Bengals' 56th in the National Football League (NFL), their 58th overall, their 26th playing their home games at Paycor Stadium, and their seventh under head coachZac Taylor. The Bengals failed to improve on their 9–8 record from the last two seasons following a Week 12 loss to the eventual AFC champion New England Patriots. Like the previous year, their defense is ranked last at 32nd in most statistical categories. They also missed the playoffs for the third straight year after a week 15 loss to the Ravens. The Bengals played on Thanksgiving for the first time since 2010.
During a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, quarterbackJoe Burrow suffered a turf toe injury and was put on injured reserve. As such, for the third time in Burrow’s six years with the team, he could not start for much of the regular season; the Bengals went 1–8 without him. Burrow returned as the starting quarterback in Week 13 on Thanksgiving night, in a giant 32–14 upset win over the Baltimore Ravens. The Bengals started 4–8 for the second straight year. After a loss to the Buffalo Bills, the Bengals fell to 4–9, guaranteeing their first losing record since 2020.
Offseason
Free agents
As of August 1, 2025
Below are players whose contracts with the team expired after the 2024 season.
With the win, the Bengals started 2-0 for the first time since 2018.[36] However, the team suffered a major blow as quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a Grade 3 turf toe injury in the second quarter which resulting in him missing the next nine games and required surgery.[37] Backup quarterback Jake Browning stepped in to finish the game, securing the win.[38] Thereafter, Browning was announced as the Bengals' starting quarterback in Burrow's absence, and head coach Zac Taylor said that the team has full confidence in him.[39] Burrow underwent successful turf toe surgery on September 19. He did not return until Thanksgiving against Baltimore in Week 13.[40]
Week 3: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 3: Cincinnati Bengals at Minnesota Vikings– Game summary
The 38-point margin defeat marked the worst loss in Bengals franchise history.[41]
With the horrific loss, Cincinnati fell to 2–1 and 0–1 against the NFC North.
Week 4: at Denver Broncos
Week 4: Cincinnati Bengals at Denver Broncos– Game summary
With the loss, the Bengals fell to 2–3 and were defeated by the Lions for the first time since the 1992 season, ending a seven-game winning streak against them.[42]
Following the loss, the Bengals released practice quarterback Mike White[43] and acquired quarterback Joe Flacco via a trade with the Browns.[44] Flacco was announced as the new starting quarterback for the Bengals the next day, and Jake Browning returned to a backup quarterback position.[45]
Week 6: at Green Bay Packers
Week 6: Cincinnati Bengals at Green Bay Packers– Game summary
Similar to the Packers' Week 3 meeting with the Browns, the Packers were up with a lead at halftime, but Flacco managed to rally to keep closer, except it led to the Packers getting their revenge on a missed 56-yard field goal from McPherson.
With the close loss, the Bengals were handed their fourth straight loss and now sit at 2–4.
Week 7: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 7: Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals– Game summary
Snapping their 4 game losing streak, the Bengals returned home for a Thursday Night Football win against their division rival Pittsburgh Steelers. With the win, the Bengals improved to 3–4, and beat the Steelers at home for the first time since 2021.
Week 8: vs. New York Jets
Week 8: New York Jets at Cincinnati Bengals– Game summary
The Bengals started strong and entered the fourth quarter leading 31–16. After both teams exchanged touchdowns, Cincinnati held a 38–24 lead with 10:21 remaining. However, the Bengals’ defense allowed the Jets to score two unanswered touchdowns, including a touchdown pass from running back Breece Hall to tight end Mason Taylor, giving New York a one-point lead. The Bengals attempted a late comeback but turned the ball over on downs, as the Jets earned their first win of the season and became the last team in the NFL to record a victory. The Bengals’ defense struggled, allowing the Jets to finish with 502 total yards of offense, including 254 rushing yards.[46]
Week 9: vs. Chicago Bears
Week 9: Chicago Bears at Cincinnati Bengals– Game summary
After another close battle, the Bears appeared to seal the game when wide receiver D. J. Moore scored a 16-yard touchdown to make it 41–27 with 4:53 remaining. However, Joe Flacco led the Bengals on a four-play touchdown drive that concluded with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Noah Fant with 1:43 left. Tee Higgins then caught a two-point conversion to trim the Bears’ lead to 41–35. The Bengals successfully executed an onside kick that deflected off the leg of Bears linebacker Daniel Hardy and was recovered by Joseph Ossai. With 49 seconds remaining, the Bengals took a one-point lead after Flacco threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to Andrei Iosivas. On the ensuing drive, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams connected with tight ends Colston Loveland for a 58-yard touchdown with 17 seconds left, giving Chicago a 47–42 victory and thwarting the Bengals’ comeback attempt. Despite Flacco throwing for a career-high 470 yards and leading the Bengals to 42 points, Cincinnati’s defense struggled once again, allowing the Bears to accumulate 576 total yards of offense. With yet another defensive collapse, the Bengals suffered their 4th loss to Chicago since 2013 to fall to 3–6 entering their bye week, while also getting swept by the NFC North.[47]
Week 11: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 11: Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers– Game summary
With a sluggish performance, the Bengals fell to 3–7 and 2–1 against the AFC North.
During the game, Ja’Marr Chase reportedly spat on Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who retaliated by punching him and was ejected shortly afterward. Chase denied spitting on Ramsey, and the following day, he was suspended for one game.[48] Chase attempted to appeal his suspension, but the NFL denied his appeal.[49] Ramsey was later fined $14,491 for punching Chase.[50] Chase later apologized after the incident.[51]
Week 12: vs. New England Patriots
Week 12: New England Patriots at Cincinnati Bengals– Game summary
On the final play of the opening half, Bengals kicker Evan McPherson converted a 63-yard field goal, setting a new Bengals franchise record for the longest field goal.[52] It wouldn't be enough for the Bengals to avoid their second straight loss to the Patriots, which dropped them to 3–8 and 0–2 against the AFC East.
This was Cincinnati's first game on Thanksgiving since 2010. It was also announced that Joe Burrow would likely return sooner after his turf toe injury in Week 2 and play on Thanksgiving night.[53] Joe Burrow later confirmed that he would start on Thanksgiving night.[54] With Burrow's return now official, Joe Flacco went to a backup quarterback position.[55] Burrow completed 24-of-46 pass attempts for 261 yards and two touchdowns. Ja'Marr Chase, returning from a one-game suspension, recorded seven receptions for 110 yards. Evan McPherson also recorded six field goals, the most in his career, and tied for the second-most in Bengals history. The Ravens committed four fumbles, including two by quarterback Lamar Jackson, all of which contributed to a Bengals victory. With the win, the Bengals improved to 4–8 (3-1 against the AFC North) and won on Thanksgiving for the first time in franchise history.[56]
The game was also the most-watched Thanksgiving night game in NFL history with an average of 28.4 million viewers across NBC, Peacock, and Telemundo.
Week 14: at Buffalo Bills
Week 14: Cincinnati Bengals at Buffalo Bills– Game summary
Although the Bengals held a 28–18 lead in the fourth quarter with 8:44 remaining, two interceptions thrown by Burrow ultimately doomed the team. The first was a pick-six returned by Bills cornerback Christian Benford, and the second set up a Bills touchdown that gave Buffalo a lead they never relinquished, resulting in a Bengals loss.
With the loss, the Bengals were guaranteed to finish with a losing record for the first time since 2020.
Despite the loss, one of the few bright spots for the Bengals was when Ja'Marr Chase reached 1,000 receiving yards in each of the first five seasons of his career, becoming the fifth player in NFL history to do so.
Week 15: vs. Baltimore Ravens
Week 15: Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals– Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
Ravens
0
14
3
7
24
Bengals
0
0
0
0
0
at Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
Date: December 14
Game time: 1:00p.m. EST
Game weather: Sunny, 10 °F (−12 °C)
Game attendance: 64,907
Referee: Brad Allen
TV announcers (CBS): Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta and Aditi Kinkhabwala
With the loss, the Bengals dropped to 4–10. This was Cincinnati's first home game with Joe Burrow back as starting quarterback since his turf toe injury in Week 2. Burrow and the offense struggled throughout the game, as the Bengals recorded their first shutout loss since losing 20–0 in the 2017 season opener, which coincidentally, was also at home against the Ravens. Burrow was shut out for the first time in his six-year career. Also with the loss, the Bengals were eliminated from playoff contention.[57]
Week 16: at Miami Dolphins
Week 16: Cincinnati Bengals at Miami Dolphins– Game summary
With the win, the Bengals improved to 6–10 and finished 1–4 against the NFC. Ja'Marr Chase also became the first wide receiver in NFL history to complete at least 80 catches, 7 touchdowns, and 1,000 yards in each of the first 5 seasons of his career.
Week 18: vs. Cleveland Browns
Week 18: Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals– Game summary
Although the Bengals entered the game as 9.5-point favorites,[58] early mistakes by Joe Burrow put Cincinnati in a hole. Burrow threw a 97-yard pick-six to Browns linebacker Devin Bush Jr., then on the ensuing drive was sacked and fumbled, leading to a 47-yard fumble return touchdown by Browns cornerback Sam Webb, giving Cleveland a 14–6 lead. Additionally, Burrow was sacked by Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, allowing Garrett to set the NFL single-season sack record.[59] Although the Bengals rallied to take an 18–17 lead with 1:29 remaining, Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders led a late drive that set up kicker Andre Szmyt for a 49-yard game-winning field goal. Szmyt, who had missed an extra point and a field goal in Cleveland’s 17–16 loss to Cincinnati in Week 1, converted the kick as the Bengals fell in an upset loss. The Bengals ended their season at 6–11, finishing 3–3 against the AFC North and 3–6 at home.
^ abDenver finished ahead of New England based on common games (Denver 6–0 to New England 5–1 against: Cincinnati, Las Vegas, NY Giants, NY Jets and Tennessee).
^ abHouston finished ahead of Buffalo based on head-to-head victory.
^ abIndianapolis finished ahead of Baltimore based on conference record (Indianapolis 6–6 to Baltimore 5–7).
^ abCincinnati finished ahead of Kansas City based on conference record (Cincinnati 5–7 to Kansas City 3–9).
^ abcLas Vegas finished ahead of NY Jets and Tennessee based on conference record (Las Vegas 3–9 to NY Jets 2–10 and Tennessee 2–10).
^ abNY Jets finished ahead of Tennessee based on strength of victory (NY Jets .373 to Tennessee .275).
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