Cincinnati Bengals

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The provided source text focuses exclusively on the 2025 Cincinnati Bengals season, detailing their record of 6–11 and specific weekly results. It mentions that Joe Burrow suffered a Grade 3 turf toe injury in Week 2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, leading to his placement on injured reserve for nine games. During this absence, backup Jake Browning started before Joe Flacco was acquired via trade from the Browns in Week 5 following a loss to the Detroit Lions. The text notes that Flacco led the team through several weeks until Burrow returned on Thanksgiving night (Week 13) against the Baltimore Ravens for a 32–14 upset win. The source also highlights that the defense ranked last (32nd) in most statistical categories and that the team missed the playoffs for the third straight year after a Week 15 shutout loss to the Ravens.

In Their Own Story

The 2025 season began with promise as the Bengals started 2–0, their first such start since 2018. However, in Week 2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a Grade 3 turf toe injury in the second quarter, requiring surgery and ending his regular season for nine games. Backup Jake Browning stepped in, but the team struggled significantly without Burrow, going 1–8 during his absence. The situation worsened with a historic 38-point defeat to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3, marking the worst loss in franchise history. Following a loss to the Lions in Week 5, the Bengals acquired Joe Flacco from Cleveland, who started while Browning returned to backup duties. Despite Flacco throwing for a career-high 470 yards in a narrow 47–42 loss to the Chicago Bears, the defense continued to falter. Burrow finally returned on Thanksgiving night in Week 13, leading a 32–14 victory over the Ravens with 261 passing yards and two touchdowns. However, the season ended on a low note; after falling to 4–9 following a loss to the Buffalo Bills, the Bengals suffered their first shutout since 2017 in a Week 15 loss to Baltimore, eliminating them from playoff contention.

Reader's Guide

Key moments of the 2025 season include Joe Burrow's injury in Week 2 and his subsequent return on Thanksgiving. The team acquired quarterback Joe Flacco via trade with the Cleveland Browns after the Week 5 loss to Detroit. Notable individual achievements included Ja'Marr Chase reaching 1,000 receiving yards for five consecutive seasons in Week 14 and becoming the first wide receiver in NFL history to record at least 80 catches, 7 touchdowns, and 1,000 yards in each of his first five seasons by Week 17. Evan McPherson set a franchise record with a 63-yard field goal against the New England Patriots in Week 12 and later kicked six field goals in the Thanksgiving win over Baltimore. The defense struggled throughout, allowing 502 total yards to the Jets in Week 8 and 576 yards to the Bears in Week 9. The season concluded with a 6–11 record, their worst since 2020.

Did You Know?

• The Bengals' defense was ranked last (32nd) in most statistical categories for the second consecutive year.
• Joe Burrow missed nine games due to a Grade 3 turf toe injury sustained in Week 2, resulting in the team going 1–8 without him.
• In Week 13 against the Ravens on Thanksgiving, Evan McPherson kicked six field goals, tying for the second-most in Bengals history.
• The 38-point margin defeat to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3 marked the worst loss in Bengals franchise history.
• Ja'Marr Chase became the first wide receiver in NFL history to record at least 80 catches, 7 touchdowns, and 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first five seasons.