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Philadelphia Eagles (4-2) will face off against the Cincinnati Bengals (3-4) this Sunday at 1 p.m. EDT, broadcast on Fox.
BetMGM has the Bengals as favorites by a margin of 2.5 points. Against the spread, the Eagles stand at 3-3, while the Bengals have a record of 4-3. Historically, the Bengals have an edge in their matchup against the Eagles, leading the series 9-3-2.
The last encounter between the two teams ended in a 23-23 tie on September 27, 2000, in Philadelphia. Last week, the Eagles secured a decisive win over the Giants, finishing 28-3, and the Bengals managed to defeat the Browns with a score of 21-14.
In terms of offensive stats, the Eagles rank 9th overall, 2nd in rushing, 27th in passing, and 17th in scoring. Their defense is strong as well, holding the 9th overall position, 14th in rushing, 10th in passing, and 7th in scoring. Meanwhile, the Bengals are 14th in total offense, tied for 28th in rushing, 8th in passing, and 10th in scoring. On defense, Cincinnati ranks 22nd overall, tied for 21st in rushing, 21st in passing, and 20th in scoring.
Looking at turnover differentials, the Eagles are at minus-6, while the Bengals are faring better at plus-2.
One player to keep an eye on for the Eagles is running back Saquon Barkley, who recently joined the team from the Giants. He currently ranks third in the NFL with 658 rushing yards and five touchdowns, averaging approximately 109.7 yards per game, trailing only Baltimore’s Derrick Henry.
For the Bengals, quarterback Joe Burrow has been steady enough to secure wins in the last two outings, despite slow starts. In their recent game against the Browns, the Bengals could only muster 86 yards with no first downs in the first half. However, Burrow rallied in the second half with touchdown passes to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Both teams have successfully defeated the Browns and Giants in the last couple of weeks, which adds intrigue to their upcoming clash.
A key matchup to watch will be between the Eagles’ offensive line, specifically with Fred Johnson stepping in for injured lineman Jordan Mailata. Johnson has had mixed performances, excelling against Cleveland’s Myles Garrett but struggling against the Giants, where he allowed four pressures on quarterback Jalen Hurts. Bengals Pro Bowl edge rusher Trey Hendrickson could exploit any weaknesses and apply pressure.
In terms of injuries, the Bengals suffered a blow when their top offensive lineman, Orlando Brown Jr., exited last week’s game in the second quarter due to a right knee injury. Safety Geno Stone was carted off with a serious left leg injury, but Coach Zac Taylor noted that Stone’s injury might just be a contusion, which could see him return by this Sunday.
Historically, the Bengals had a dominant spell, winning the first five encounters from 1971 to 1988. The Eagles had a better stretch from 1991 to 2000, winning three out of four but have struggled since then, without a win in their last three meetings, including a tie.
Additional stats highlight the Bengals’ struggles with their ground game, with running backs Zack Moss and Chase Brown only managing 51 rushing yards together against the Browns last week. Burrow’s passing game is a strong point, ranking 4th in the league with a 70.4% completion rate and averaging 251.3 passing yards per game. Ja’Marr Chase is a standout, leading the Bengals with 39 receptions on 48 targets for 620 yards and six touchdowns. On the defensive side, linebacker duo Germaine Pratt and Logan Wilson top the team with 71 tackles each, placing them third overall in the league. Defensive end Trey Hendrickson leads the team with seven sacks and has garnered two sacks in each of the last two games. Notably, Charlie Jones made headlines by returning the opening kickoff for a 100-yard touchdown against Cleveland, marking the first kickoff return for a score since 2020. This game will also feature a unique matchup between twin brothers Chase and Sydney Brown, with Chase playing for the Bengals and Sydney for the Eagles, both in their second NFL season.
For fantasy football enthusiasts, quarterback Jalen Hurts deserves attention. Following a bye week, he has seemed rejuvenated, particularly in ball security. Hurts has not committed any turnovers in the past two games, which is a significant improvement after starting the season with four interceptions and three lost fumbles. Since the bye week, he has completed 26 of 39 passes for 378 yards and three touchdown throws, and he is expected to continue building on these figures against a Bengals defense that currently ranks 21st against the pass.
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