For most of the season, people have been wondering what was wrong with the Bengals. The offense looked out of sync. Joe Burrow was missing throws. The weapons weren't producing. Analysts were writing obituaries for Cincinnati's playoff hopes.

Then last week happened. 45 points against Miami. A complete and total offensive explosion. The Bengals looked like the Bengals again.

And today they face an Arizona defense that has been absolutely hemorrhaging points since October. The timing couldn't be better.

The Quick Hit

• Last week: Bengals dropped 45 points on Miami, their highest scoring output of the season
• The matchup: Arizona has allowed 31.8 points per game since Week 6, worst in the NFL
• The star: Ja'Marr Chase has 90+ receiving yards in all six home games this season
• Today's line: Bengals -7.5 with an over/under of 53.5

The Offense is Finally Healthy

That's the real story here. The Bengals have been playing catch-up all season due to injuries and slow starts. But now the roster is healthy, the timing is there, and everything is clicking.

Joe Burrow threw for over 300 yards last week and looked like the MVP-caliber quarterback we saw during their Super Bowl run. His connection with Ja'Marr Chase is back to being automatic. The offensive line is giving him time. The pieces are in place.

The 45 points against Miami wasn't an aberration — it was a preview of what this offense can do when everything is working.

Ja'Marr Chase is Unstoppable at Home

If you're betting on the Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium, you should know this: Ja'Marr Chase has been absolutely ridiculous in home games this season.

He's reached 90 receiving yards in all six home games. He's hit 100 yards in five of those. The man simply cannot be stopped when he's playing in Cincinnati.

And who does he face today? A Cardinals secondary that has been getting torched for two months. Arizona is allowing receivers to do whatever they want. Chase is going to eat.

The Cardinals Defense is Cooked

Since Week 6, Arizona has allowed 31.8 points per game. That's not a typo. That's the highest mark in the NFL over that stretch.

Their seven-game losing streak isn't just about bad luck or close losses. The defense has completely fallen apart. They can't stop the run. They can't cover receivers. They can't get pressure on the quarterback.

This is the perfect get-right spot for a Bengals offense that just remembered how good it can be.

The Trey McBride Factor

Here's a sneaky angle: Cardinals tight end Trey McBride has been phenomenal this season. He's third in the NFL in catches (109) and sixth in receiving yards (1,098). The kid can play.

But here's what matters for Cincinnati: the Bengals have allowed the most receiving yards (1,362) and touchdowns (15) to opposing tight ends in 2025. If McBride gets going, Arizona might be able to keep this game closer than the spread suggests.

Something to watch if you're thinking about taking the over.

The Betting Angle

The total opened at 51.5 and has climbed to 53.5. Sharp money is on the over, and it's not hard to see why. The Bengals offense is clicking, the Cardinals defense is bleeding, and neither team has shown any interest in playing physical, grind-it-out football.

The spread is -7.5, which feels about right. Arizona has lost seven straight, but they've kept a few of those games close. The Cardinals aren't going to lay down — they're just not good enough to win.

The play: Bengals -7.5 and the over 53.5. Cincinnati covers and the points pile up.

The Bottom Line

The Bengals offense finally looks like the unit everyone expected when the season started. Burrow is healthy. Chase is unstoppable at home. The timing is right, and the matchup is perfect.

Arizona's defense has been a mess since October, and today's game has the potential to be a classic Bengals blowout. This is the version of Cincinnati that can make a playoff run. And if you're betting against them today, you're betting against one of the hottest offenses in football.

45 points last week. A defense that can't stop anyone. Ja'Marr Chase in his living room. The math adds up.