This team desperately needs more pass rush, a veteran linebacker (or two), a halfway decent safety (like a Jessie Bates), and more interior defensive line push. The Bengals simply need more game-changers on the defensive side of the football.

Preview the Week 17 matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Arizona Cardinals with predictions, odds, over/under, spread, betting lines and more.

But then as the Bengals’ defense stabilized over the last two months, Battle has been able to turn the trajectory of his season around and turn the corner. While he still has room to develop, Battle has solidified his spot in the Bengals’ starting lineup for 2026.

USA Today's NFL experts make their picks for a Week 17 showdown between the Cincinnati Bengals and Arizona Cardinals

Trey McBride was bad in Week 16 against Atlanta, but he should rebound in a big way in Week 17 at Cincinnati. I'm excited to use McBride in a lot of DFS lineups against the Bengals, and he's worth the cost.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has been a hot topic over the last few weeks after a now-infamous press conference in which he pretty clearly sent some messages to the organization. The fallout from that continues as the season winds down, including some wacky conspiracy theories that date back to before he was even drafted.

Atlanta beat Arizona 26-19, which keeps them in the 10th spot at 5-10 on the season. The Falcons traded their first rounder to the Rams during last year's draft, which means Los Angeles would've moved in front of Cincinnati if the Falcons had lost.

Making NFL picks always carries a bit more excitement when there's something on the line, and that's the case with the Week 17 NFL schedule. No less than half a dozen matchups carry postseason implications for both teams,

It's Week 17 in the NFL, which in fantasy football usually means championship weekend. Congratulations are in order if you have made it this far. These are the top players at every position this weekend that you should feel good about having in your lineups.

Joe Burrow was “having fun” again Sunday as he and the rest of the Cincinnati Bengals rolled in a 45-21 victory over the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.