The Cincinnati Bengals heavily rely on their quarterback, Joe Burrow, to lead them to success. Despite having a 3-4 record, the Bengals have a point differential of plus-12 thanks to Burrow’s stellar performance. Burrow is currently ranked No. 6 in the NFL, having thrown for 1,759 yards, averaging 251.3 yards per game, with 14 touchdowns and only two interceptions.
On the other hand, Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles is ranked No. 21 in passing, with 1,308 yards, averaging 218 yards per game, along with seven touchdowns and four interceptions.
Interestingly, the Eagles will need to contain Burrow to secure a victory. Their success hinges on keeping Burrow off the field. The Eagles boast the No. 2 rushing offense in the NFL, second only to the Baltimore Ravens, with 1,000 yards over six games and an average of 166.7 yards per game.
While this rushing statistic may be inflated due to facing weaker teams like the Cleveland Browns and the New York Giants, with a combined record of 3-11, the Eagles have been dominant on the ground. They amassed 269 yards rushing against the Giants, averaging 6 yards per carry, and 116 yards against the Browns.
Eagles’ defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is well aware of the challenge that awaits them at Cincinnati’s Paycor Stadium on Sunday.
Fangio acknowledges the talent of Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins, highlighting their offensive prowess. He notes that the Bengals have improved their running game this season, making them a formidable opponent.
The Eagles have significantly increased their pass rush, recording six sacks in their first four games and 13 sacks in their recent games against weaker offensive lines. The Bengals, who have surrendered 18 sacks this season, are ranked No. 19 in the NFL in sacks allowed.
Fangio attributes the Eagles’ improved pass rush to a combination of coverage and rush, forcing opposing quarterbacks to hold the ball longer.
The Eagles primarily utilized zone coverage against Daniel Jones in their last game. Fangio acknowledges the challenge of facing Burrow and the Bengals’ high-powered offense.
Having previously faced Burrow in 2021, Fangio recounts a close game with Denver, where they ultimately fell short against the Bengals.
Burrow, Chase, and Higgins pose a significant threat to the Eagles’ defense, making them a more formidable opponent than Watson and Jones.
Joseph Santoliquito is a hall of fame, award-winning sportswriter based in the Philadelphia area who has written feature stories for SI.com, ESPN.com, NFL.com, MLB.com, Deadspin and The Philadelphia Inquirer/Daily News. In 2006, he was nominated for an Emmy Award for a special project piece for ESPN.com called “Love at First Beep.” He is most noted for his award-winning ESPN.com feature on high school wrestler A.J. Detwiler in February 2006, which appeared on SportsCenter. In 2015, he was elected president of the Boxing Writers Association of America.
