- CARDINALS at BENGALS
- 11 a.m. Sunday
- Paycor Stadium
- Line: Cardinals +7 (For more NFL odds, visit the BetMGM online sportsbook)
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NAME: RABBIT TAYLOR-DEMERSON
In his first game back after dealing with an ankle injury that sidelined him for five weeks, Rabbit Taylor-Demerson was flying around against the Falcons. He was the team's leading tackler with 11. On Sunday against the Bengals, the challenge becomes more daunting. Budda Baker is likely to miss his first game of the season as he remains in concussion protocol while Jalen Thompson has been nursing a hamstring injury. Insert Taylor-Demerson, who would need to anchor the Cardinals secondary against the Bengals' pass-first offense. Dating back to the middle of October, the Bengals have the second-most passing yards in the league. With Joe Burrow back in the mix and Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins on the outside, it'll be a busy afternoon for Taylor-Demerson, making him a key in the Cardinals' game plan.
-- Zach Gershman
NUMBER: 100
On Sunday, Jacoby Brissett will play in his 100th career regular season game. It'll also be his 11th start this season, the most he's had in a single season since 2022. It's what Brissett has done in those starts that's been most impressive. Since Week 6, no quarterback has thrown for more yards (2,911) or completed more passes (272) than the 10-year veteran. And his 19 touchdowns, a career-high by the way, trail only three other signal callers. Now, ask Brissett about these numbers and his overall play this season and he immediately answers back "win." That's his one and only focus the final two weeks of the season.
-- Craig Grialou
NUANCE: The McBride Plan
They say the NFL is a copycat league. In Week 17, the Cards will become the latest case study. Specifically, Trey McBride. For the first time in 17 games, the now two-time Pro Bowl tight end was held to fewer than five catches last week. What the Falcons did defensively (Jonathan Gannon cited a variety of cloud coverages), the Bengals now figure to adopt, re-enact, plagiarize, steal. Call it "Grand Theft Game Plan." Then again, the Bengals defense ranks dead last. And don't ask McBride whether another defense can replicate holding him to season-lows in catches (4) and receiving yards (27): "It's been eating at me all week and I'm excited to have an opportunity to change the narrative."
-- Paul Calvisi
