After a long wait, the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles finally get back on the field on Thursday night. While the team’s biggest stars, such as quarterback Jalen Hurts and tailback Saquon Barkley, almost certainly won’t be taking any lumps, Nick Sirianni’s team will welcome the Cincinnati Bengals.
The preseason opener will serve as an audition for players trying to hang on for a roster spot, also allowing some offseason additions to suit up in their new uniform for the first time.
Eagles faithful will be excited to see rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell, who was selected with the No. 31 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Bengals fans will also get a first look at their team’s free agent additions in action. Among those brought in is linebacker Oren Burks, who helped the Eagles win Super Bowl LIX last season. Burks spent just one season in Philadelphia, registering 41 combined tackles, a pair of forced fumbles, and a pass defended.
Another new face is defensive tackle and former first-round draft pick Taven Bryan, who fizzled out with the Jacksonville Jaguars after four seasons and is now with his fourth team in the NFL.
Cincinnati Bengals at Philadelphia Eagles
Start time: Thursday, August 7, 2024, 7:30 p.m.
Channel: NBC10 (Philadelphia), WXIX FOX19 (Cincinnati)
Live stream options: NFL+
Radio stations: SportsRadio 94WIP (Philadelphia); WCKY, WEBN-FM and WLW700 (Cincinnati)
Starting QBs: Tanner McKee (Philadelphia), Joe Burrow (Cincinnati)
Betting lines:
- Spread: Bengals -5.5
- Total: 37.5
- Moneyline: Cincinnati -240, Philadelphia +190
Bengals Key Stats
- Burrow led the NFL with 4,918 yards last season. His 43 passing touchdowns were also tops in the league.
- Ja’Marr Chase finished last season with 1,708 receiving yards and 17 touchdown catches.
- Offense: Only two teams finished with fewer rushing yards and attempts than the Bengals a season ago.
- Defense: Cincinnati allowed eight opponents to total at least 350 yards of offense last season.
Eagles Key Stats
- Barkley paced the league in rushing during his first season with Philadelphia, rushing for 2,005 yards. He joined an elite group in surpassing the 2,000-yard mark. Only eight others have done so, including Derrick Henry in 2020.
- Hurts totaled 14 touchdowns on the ground a campaign ago. Only Buffalo’s James Cook, Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs, Baltimore’s Derrick Henry, and Green Bay’s Josh Jacobs hit pay dirt more.
- Offense: The Eagles rushed the ball more than anyone else last go-round. Barkley paced the league with 345 carries.
- Defense: Philadelphia’s defense was impressive last season, allowing the fewest yards and second-fewest points in the league.
