CINCINNATI (AP) — The Philadelphia Eagles and Cincinnati Bengals have each won two straight at the expense of the same two struggling teams.
Because of a quirk in the schedules, both have played — and beaten — the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns the last two weeks. That pushed Philadelphia to 4-2, behind the 5-2 Washington Commanders atop the NFC East, and got the Bengals (3-4) back to within one game of .500 after they lost their first three.
That may not be the best measuring stick for either side, but they should find out more about their progress when the Eagles go on the road to play at Cincinnati on Sunday.
Saquon Barkley is playing like the franchise running back Philadelphia sorely needed, quarterback Jalen Hurts is protecting the ball and the defense is playing better.
“Jalen has made some excellent decisions in the last couple weeks,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “He’s done a really, really good job with that, and it’s put us in some very favorable positions.”
The Bengals’ defense has been solid since returning to full strength following some early season injuries. Quarterback Joe Burrow and the offense have done just enough to get by the Giants 17-7 and the Browns 21-14 last week. Charlie Jones returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for the Bengals’ first touchdown against the Browns.
Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor isn’t pointing to this game as a chance to get back to .500 or build momentum. He said he doesn’t even think about the team’s record.
“I haven’t phrased it like that. It’s just important to find a win week to week,” he said. “Again, that’s just our sole focus, doing everything we can to make this (game) plan come to life to where our players believe in it, we’re making the right adjustments and finding a way to get a win. And whatever happens after that, happens.”
Stuck in the mud
Cincinnati has struggled to run the ball, especially early in the game. Chase Brown and Zack Moss combined for just 51 yards on 21 carries against the Browns and 68 yards on 16 carries against the Giants.
The Bengals are tied for 28th in the NFL in rushing, averaging 94.3 yards per game. By contrast, they are eighth in the league in passing.
Hurts holds on
Hurts emerged from the Eagles’ Week 5 bye with clean play and better production than in his first four games.
He has not had a turnover in either of the last two games after he opened the season with four interceptions and five fumbles, losing three.
Hurts has completed 26 of 39 passes for 378 yards and three touchdowns since the bye week and figures to build on those numbers against a Bengals’ defense ranked 21st against the pass.
“He knows how important it is to take care of the football, but he also knows how important it is to win the explosive play battle,” Sirianni said. “That’s what we talk about each week: ‘Let’s win the explosive play battle, and let’s win the turnover battle.’”
Starting slow
If not for the opening TD return by Jones, the Bengals would have been shut out in the first half against the Browns. They went 0 for 6 on third downs in the first half and produced just 86 yards. Burrow then threw touchdown passes to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in the third quarter.
In the previous week’s win over the Giants, Cincinnati scored a first-half touchdown on 47-yard scramble by Burrow, but that was it. Second-half TDs to Chase and Higgins also were the difference in that one.
Not so special teams
Special teams has been a sore point for the Eagles under coordinator Michael Clay.
Against the Giants, Oren Burks was flagged for an offside penalty on the opening kickoff and the Eagles were hit later in the game with an illegal block. While not as egregious as previous ones, the penalties continued a troubling trend of ill-timed plays.
Notably, the Eagles had a punt blocked against New Orleans, muffed a punt against Tampa Bay and had a field-goal attempt blocked and returned for a touchdown against Cleveland.
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AP Sports Writer Dan Gelston in Philadelphia contributed to this report.
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