Burrow, Chase Start Fast, But Bengals Defense is Still a Concern In Preseason Loss
Philadelphia Eagles defeat Cincinnati Bengals - 2025 Preseason Week 1
Well, Bengals fans, we got to see Joe Burrow taking meaningful snaps in the Preseason. And for about a quarter Thursday night, it was everything we hoped for.
In my Preseason Preview, I spoke about how Burrow getting live reps could help the Bengals finally avoid another slow September start, and from the first snap, you could see the difference. Burrow was sharp, decisive, and locked in as he went 6 out of 7 passing on the opening drive, ending with a touchdown to Tanner Hudson. A drive later, he connected with Ja’Marr Chase on a perfectly placed deep ball for a 38-yard score, beating Eagles corner Kelee Ringo with ease for the score. For Bengals fans, it was a reassuring sight, as we got to see the Burrow to Chase connection already looking regular-season ready.
But as sharp as the offense looked early on, the defense struggled to match it. Philadelphia, playing without notable starters such as Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley, still moved the ball with ease behind backup QB Tanner McKee. The Eagles' opening drive ended with the now-infamous “tush push” on fourth and goal, and it worked exactly the way Bengals fans feared it might.
Tanner McKee went on to have himself quite the night, finishing 20 of 25 for 252 yards and two touchdowns. One of those went to Ainias Smith, who already burned the Bengals with a 46-yard punt return, and the other to Darius Cooper. Philadelphia also found plenty of room on the ground, highlighted by a 38-yard breakaway from Will Shipley that brought on a sense of deja vu from last season's run defense issues.
A lighter moment in the game came when Chase Brown was pushed out of bounds by his twin brother, Eagles safety Sydney Brown. Burrow laughed about it after, saying it was “just football,” but it’s safe to say the family group chat had a fun time with that moment.
After the starters left, the momentum swung heavily in Philadelphia’s favor. Backup QB Jake Browning couldn’t find rhythm, finishing 6 of 14 with an interception, and the defense continued to give up big plays.
Still, there were positives to take away. Burrow looked healthy and confident, Chase was dominant, and the starting offensive line gave solid pass protection. Those are important factors that matter the most in August. The defense has work to do, but there’s time to tighten things up before week 1.
The Bengals’ next test comes Monday night in Washington on August 18th. If the starters get another series or two, it will be another chance to build early-season rhythm, something the team has been missing in recent years.