The Cincinnati Bengals witnessed recognisable strengths and persistent weaknesses in their 34-27 preseason loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. While quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase looked sharp, costly mistakes and defensive lapses kept the team from turning in a more well-executed performance.
Burrow, playing in the preseason for only the second time in his career, was nearly flawless in his opening stint. He led the offense to two scoring drives in the first quarter, completing 9 of 10 passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns. The only incompletion came on his very first throw, a misfire to Tee Higgins that Burrow later described as “a bad throw” he simply missed.
Chase, showcasing the All-Pro ability that earned him a lucrative contract extension, was a constant threat. Even a chop block penalty on right guard Lucas Patrick, which nullified a Burrow-to-Chase touchdown, didn’t stop the Bengals from finishing the drive in the end zone. Tight end Tanner Hudson capped it with a determined 12-yard score, muscling his way across the goal line.
Still, Cincinnati left too many points on the field due to avoidable errors. The Bengals were flagged eight times for 68 yards, disrupting rhythm and gifting the Eagles scoring opportunities. “We got to be better,” Burrow said afterward. “Too many procedural penalties, too many errors. Things like that are going to happen, but I think it just wasn’t clean enough across the board.”
One of the more costly moments came when cornerback DJ Ivey jumped offside, erasing a missed Philadelphia field goal. The Eagles went on to score three points on that drive. Later, an unnecessary roughness penalty on defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson extended another Eagles possession, which ended in a touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
Cincinnati’s starting defense also allowed explosive plays to quarterback Tanner McKee and the Philadelphia offense, though the Bengals ran a basic defensive scheme typical for the preseason.
Head coach Zac Taylor stressed that the team can’t afford such lapses. “Those are all things that as a team, we can’t tolerate,” Taylor said. “We’ve got to play better team football than that.”
The Bengals are determined to end a two-year postseason absence and build on Burrow’s form following his recovery from a season-ending wrist injury in 2023. Last year, Burrow led the NFL in passing yards and was an MVP finalist. Playing starters in the preseason is part of the plan to avoid the slow starts that have plagued the team — Cincinnati has just one combined win in Weeks 1 and 2 since 2019, the worst record in the league over that span. Before Thursday’s game, Burrow said he felt he was throwing the ball as well as he ever had in training camp. Afterward, he admitted there was still room for improvement. “Today was average,” he said of his preseason debut. “But overall, I’m happy with where I’m at. Next week I’d like to be a little better.”
