[ Photography & Story by Rick Pettine ]
August 28, 2026 – Philadelphia, PA — The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 30-13 at Lincoln Financial Field, allowing Cincinnati to finish their preseason undefeated at 3-0 while the Eagles dropped to 0-3. And….so what?!
With both teams resting their primary starters to protect them for the upcoming regular season, the game served as a final audition for bubble players ahead of mandatory 53-man roster cuts. As the fan debate over having an NFL preseason continues, it does serve a purpose for the coaches and players to finalize rosters ahead of the official opener. It’s also a fan-friendly atmosphere for autographs and photos with their favorite players.
During this action-packed match, the Eagles experienced a few clear positives and negatives. While the scoreboard was disappointing, individual positional battles provided clarity for final roster cuts, which will begin immediately.
The Good
- Carson Steele’s Versatility: The running back was a major bright spot, hauling in 8 catches for 52 yards and a touchdown. He proved to be a reliable safety valve out of the backfield for the second consecutive week, however he’s in a very crowded queue with all-stars running backs ahead of him.
- Andy Dalton’s Efficiency: Stepping into the backup rotation, veteran quarterback Andy Dalton provided a veteran spark, completing 104 passing yards and a touchdown while finishing with a solid 95.1 passer rating.
- Special Teams Consistency: Kicker Jake Elliott remained perfectly accurate, drilling both of his field goal attempts, including an impressive 56-yarder.
- Dameon Pierce’s Spark: Running back Dameon Pierce made the most of his opportunities, showcasing efficiency by averaging 11 yards per carry over 4 rushes. Unfortunately he is in the same position as Steele.
The Not-So-Good
- Tanner McKee’s Struggles: Backup quarterback Tanner McKee failed to find a consistent rhythm, throwing one interception and getting sacked twice, finishing with a low 41.1 passer rating.
- Defensive Front Disparity: The reserve defensive front broke down heavily in the fourth quarter, allowing Cincinnati to execute explosive scoring plays and wear down the line to finish with 211 rushing yards against them.
- Lack of Offensive Fluidity: The overall depth offense struggled heavily to move the chains, finishing the game with just 14 first downs and a mere 210 total yards of offense.
The Eagles kick-off the season with the home opener on September 13 against the Washington Commanders.
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