Eagles 34, Bengals 27 on Aug. 7, 2025: Joe Burrow (9/10, 122 yds, 2 TD, 157.1) and Ja'Marr Chase shine as Tanner Hudson emerges, but the defense sputters.
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
The scoreboard might have read 34-27 in favor of the Philadelphia Eagles, but for Bengals fans, the real story of Thursday night's preseason opener was one of stark contrasts. On one hand, Joe Burrow looked every bit the elite quarterback, surgically dissecting the Philadelphia defense in his limited snaps. On the other, Cincinnati's own defense struggled to find answers, leaving Who Dey Nation with a familiar mix of early-season excitement and nagging concern.
Joe Burrow finished his night with a perfect 157.1 passer rating, completing 9 of 10 passes for 122 yards and 2 touchdowns.
In his first taste of action for 2025, Joe Burrow was simply magnificent. He was efficient, decisive, and looked to be in mid-season form, completing 9 of his 10 pass attempts for 122 yards and two scores. The connection with Ja'Marr Chase picked up right where it left off, highlighted by a beautiful 36-yard touchdown pass. Even a chop block penalty that nullified another Chase TD couldn't derail the unit, as they promptly regrouped and found the end zone anyway. 'We moved the ball well,' Burrow noted post-game, 'but there are things to clean up.' For a first outing, it was a stellar performance that should have the rest of the AFC North on notice.
The biggest surprise of the night, and perhaps the most exciting development, was the emergence of tight end Tanner Hudson. Hudson became Burrow's go-to target, hauling in 6 passes for 62 yards and two touchdowns. His performance, the first two-score preseason game by a Bengal since 2015, has immediately ignited the competition in the tight end room. Head Coach Zac Taylor singled out Hudson's play, and you can bet he'll be getting more reps with the first team in the coming weeks. A reliable pass-catching tight end is exactly what this offense needs to reach another level.
For all the offensive fireworks, the defensive side of the ball was a different story. The unit struggled to contain Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee, who lit them up for 252 yards and two touchdowns. The Bengals' defense looked a step slow, particularly on third down, and gave up too many big plays. This performance has put a spotlight on roster depth, especially at linebacker and in the secondary. As Taylor said, 'It's preseason, but we want to see better execution.' These struggles will undoubtedly heat up roster battles as coaches search for players who can make an impact.
After a shaky 2024 campaign that had fans holding their breath on every kick, Evan McPherson provided a massive sigh of relief. 'Money Mac' was perfect on the night, drilling both of his field goal attempts, including a 51-yard bomb, and converting all three of his extra points. In a game decided by one score, his reliability was a significant bright spot. A confident and consistent McPherson is a critical component for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
While a preseason loss never feels good, the Bengals walk away with clear takeaways. The offense, led by a flawless Burrow, looks ready for Week 1. The challenge for Zac Taylor and his staff over the next few weeks is clear: shore up the defense and identify the players who can prevent big plays. With roster spots on the line, expect practice intensity to ramp up as Cincinnati prepares for its next preseason test.
