By Paul Dehner Jr., Doug Haller and Devon Henderson 

At 65 degrees in Cincinnati, it was the warmest game day temperature for a December game in Paycor Stadium history. Burning equally hot were the Joe Burrow-led Cincinnati Bengals in a 37-14 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 17.

With the two teams already eliminated from playoff contention, Burrow kept his strong finish to the regular season going with 305 yards and two touchdowns passing in just three quarters of work as the Bengals moved to 6-10 while Arizona dropped to 3-13.

Cincinnati picked up right where it left off after a 45-21 Week 16 win over the Miami Dolphins — the franchise’s highest scoring performance since 2013 — with 429 yards to Arizona’s 233 on Sunday. Star receiver Ja’Marr Chase entered the game second in the league in catches this season (110 before the game) and hauled in seven more for 60 yards and two touchdowns. Chase’s first-quarter opening drive score ended a two-month end zone drought for him, as he hadn’t scored since Week 7 against Pittsburgh.

Arizona and the Bengals entered the game throwing on 65 percent of their plays, which was tied for the league lead. While Burrow shone, Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett struggled before finishing with 212 yards and two touchdowns thanks to garbage-time production.

Injuries have doomed the Cardinals

The Cardinals’ injuries are unquestionably a reason they are where they are. They have more players on injured reserve than any other NFL team. It’s the kind of misfortune that would sink most teams. It’s also a tired excuse. Coach Jonathan Gannon has insisted that the locker room and culture remain strong throughout this miserable season, but that’s difficult to accept for a team that has lost 13 of 14. First, the Cardinals struggled long before most of the injuries hit. — Doug Haller, Cardinals Beat Writer

Well … maybe not just injuries

Second, teams with strong cultures find a way to stay competitive. They do not collapse at home against a team like the Tennessee Titans, as the Cardinals did in Week 5. They do not commit 17 penalties, as Arizona did against San Francisco in Week 11. They do not get embarrassed by a five-win Cincinnati team, as the Cardinals did Sunday. The Cardinals are better off losing to improve their draft position. Everyone knows this. Yet, their inability to remain competitive reflects much more than a beat-up depth chart. — Haller

What could have been for Cincinnati

Which of the Bengals’ heartbreaking defeats feels the worst now? The blown leads against the New York Jets and Chicago Bears? The ugly blowouts during the Jake Browning portion of the season. The stinker against the Baltimore Ravens at home? By any stretch, it’s hard not to look back on the games wasted away during the middle of the season and wonder what could have been. Yes, the Miami Dolphins and Cardinals are playing out the string, but these were back-to-back eviscerations of NFL opponents.