CINCINNATI — Desperate teams do desperate things.
The Bengals certainly qualify as desperate. If they don’t get their act together, that’s all they’ll be qualifying for.
Jalen Hurts ran for three touchdowns and threw for another as the visiting Philadelphia Eagles (5-2) ran away from the Bengals (3-5), 37-17, Sunday afternoon. Hurts also completed 16-of-20 passes for 236 yards as the Eagles won their third straight.
Saquon Barkley finished with 108 yards on 22 carries as he went over 100 yards rushing for the fourth time this season.
The game was defined by the Bengals inability – again – to gain one simple yard on third and fourth down on a drive late in the third quarter as they were trailing, 24-17. Chase Brown was stuffed on third down and Burrow threw a swing pass 10 yards horizontally behind the line of scrimmage, only to see Ja’Marr Chase pinned for a two-yard loss on fourth down.
If one series defines the Bengals 2024 season, that’s it.
It was the first win in six all-time visits to Cincinnati for the Eagles while the Bengals fell to 0-4 this season at home. Many of the 67,239 on hand for “White Bengal” Sunday at Paycor left with just under 11 minutes to go in the game when Joe Burrow’s pass for Ja’Marr Chase was picked off and the Bengals trailing 27-17.
Burrow was held to 234 yards on 26-of-37 passing with one touchdown pass and an interception. The run game was – in a word – atrocious.
Chase Brown (12 carries 32 yards) and Zack Moss (5-for-11) combined for 43 yards on 17 carries and one four-yard touchdown burst. Burrow accounted for the biggest explosive in the run game with a tote of eight yards.
The Bengals did not have their second-leading receiver on the field for the game as Tee Higgins was scratched with a quadriceps injury. It was the third game Higgins has missed this season after not playing in the first two weeks due to a hamstring issue.
The Bengals converted their first seven third-down chances, including all five on their opening 70-yard drive that was finished off by a two-yard scramble for a touchdown from Burrow to Ja’Marr Chase.
The Eagles tied the game, 10-10, just before the half when replay ruled Hurts scored on a “Tush Push” from the Cincinnati 1 with 22 seconds remaining in the half.
The Eagles then took the opening drive of the second half and marched 70 yards in eight plays, with Hurts running eight yards around the right end for his second rushing touchdown and a 17-10 Philadelphia lead.
After the Bengals tied the game on a four-yard Chase Brown touchdown run, the Eagles answered with a quick strike when Hurts lofted a pass 45 yards for DeVonta Smith, who beat safety Jordan Battle in the end zone for the touchdown and a 24-17 lead.
The Eagles then stopped the Bengals with 45 seconds left in the third quarter on fourth-and-1 from Cincinnati’s own 39 when Ja’Marr Chase was caught for a two-yard pass on a swing pass. The Eagles outscored the Bengals 13-0 from that point to put the game away.
The Bengals suffered another key injury to their offense early in the second quarter when starting left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. left with a right knee injury and did not return. It was the second straight week Brown left the game with a right knee injury and didn’t return.
