Eagles vs. Bengals Preview
The Eagles travel to Cincinnati in a week eight matchup against the Bengals. For Philadelphia, this is a vital opportunity to gain momentum heading into the middle slate of the season. Standing at 4-2, a victory would mark a three-game winning streak, the first of the season. For the Eagles, the blueprint should be clear and concise. Continue to feed Saquon Barkley, spread the ball around in the passing game, and contain Joe Burrow as much as possible. The Bengals' franchise quarterback has played well above what the Bengals’ record stands to be. Although the team is 3-4, Burrow has a 110 QB rating along with only two interceptions. For Philadelphia, there are a few keys to victory for Sunday’s showdown.
For starters, it is crystal clear that Saquon Barkley is going to be Philadelphia’s swiss-army knife through the duration of this season. The star running back has already run for 658 yards and has scored five touchdowns. For perspective, Barkley stands as the third leading rusher in the NFL to this point. His transition to Philadelphia thus far has been exceptional. For Jalen Hurts, if he can continue to be a game manager and take care of the ball, Philadelphia will find rhythm within the offense. With no turnovers against Cincinnati, it would mark his third game in a row without one. Wide receiver Devonta Smith had an unusually quiet game against the Giants, having only one reception and less than three targets. It is safe to expect a more productive game against a weaker Cincinnati secondary. Seemingly routine at this point, A.J. Brown should continue to be a factor in the passing attack, as he’s eclipsed at least 85 yards and scored a touchdown in each of the three games he’s played in. He is Jalen Hurts’ security blanket and a massive factor in the success of the Eagles offense. Looking at the defense, they had a spectacular outing last week in New York. The defensive line recorded a season-high eight sacks and a season-best in points allowed.
As key players like Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith continue to develop, the veteran leadership carried by Brandon Graham will continue to be relied on. Although it was against an underwhelming Giants offense, it was refreshing to see the defense perform how they were expected. Although criticized previously, linebacker Nakobe Dean had a formidable bounce-back game last week as well. The third-year linebacker looked much smoother in the open field and closed gaps better than he had previously. Ideally, he can continue to develop consistency and be further relied on. A matchup that should be intriguing to watch is rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell against Bengals star receiver Ja’Marr Chase. Mitchell has been among the best corners in the league statistically, and this matchup will be among his biggest tests this season. If Mitchell can win this matchup, the defense should be in good shape as the game progresses. All in all, it will take a full team effort through four quarters for the Eagles to come away with a second consecutive road victory in Cincinnati.
