You probably remember the headlines from last August, but honestly, the raw box score doesn't tell half the story. When the Philadelphia Eagles hosted the Cincinnati Bengals for their 2025 preseason opener on August 7, everyone expected a vanilla "get-in-get-out" kind of night. Instead, we got a 34-27 track meet at Lincoln Financial Field that felt way more intense than a Week 1 exhibition game has any right to be. It was weird. It was loud. And for the Bengals, it was kind of a harbinger of the frustrating 6-11 season that followed.
Look, preseason football is usually a slog of missed tackles and guys you’ll never see again. But Eagles vs Bengals 2025 was different because it gave us a glimpse of Joe Burrow looking like an absolute surgeon before the wheels fell off later in the year. He went 9-of-10 for 123 yards and two scores in basically a blink of an eye. If you only watched the first quarter, you’d have bet your house on Cincy making a deep playoff run.
Why the Tanner McKee Hype Was Real
Most people focus on the starters, but the real MVP of the Eagles vs Bengals 2025 matchup was Tanner McKee. Seriously. The guy was playing like he had a point to prove. He finished 20-of-25 for 252 yards and three total touchdowns. He even pulled off a Tush Push for a score. You don't see that every day from a backup in August.
McKee wasn't just dinking and dunking. He was feeding Darius Cooper—the undrafted kid from Tarleton State—who looked like a Pro Bowler for four quarters. Cooper hauled in six catches for 82 yards and a touchdown. It was one of those performances that makes a coaching staff rethink their entire depth chart.
Then you had Johnny Wilson. The guy is a giant, and he was out there mossing defensive backs for 73 yards on just three catches. Between McKee's precision and Wilson's height, the Bengals' secondary looked totally lost.
The Turning Point Nobody Talks About
While the offense was flashy, the game actually swung on a play by Patrick Johnson. Late in the game, the Bengals were trying to mount a comeback with Jake Browning under center. Johnson tipped a pass to himself, snagged the interception, and basically iced the game. That turnover led directly to a ShunDerrick Powell touchdown.
It's funny how a single defensive play in a "meaningless" game can set the tone for a roster spot. Johnson has a history of this—he had a similar strip-sack against the Ravens the year before. Some guys just have a nose for the ball when the lights are on.
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Bengals 2025: The Warning Signs
In hindsight, this game was a microcosm of the Bengals' entire 2025 campaign. They were explosive on offense but couldn't stop a cold on defense. They racked up 432 total yards—nearly 100 more than the Eagles—yet still lost by seven.
Why? Penalties and efficiency.
The Bengals struggled on third down, going a miserable 3-for-15. You can't win games in the NFL, even in August, if you can't stay on the field. Joe Burrow was perfect, sure, but once the second stringers came in, the discipline evaporated. They ended the season with a D+ grade from analysts like Matt Verderame, and you could see the cracks starting to form right here in Philadelphia.
Breakout Players and Statistical Oddities
- Ainias Smith: The rookie wideout was everywhere. He caught a 6-yard touchdown and then immediately broke off a 46-yard punt return. That’s how you lock up a job.
- Ty Robinson: The rookie defensive tackle got his first NFL sack on a nasty stunt move. He was a bright spot on a night where defense was mostly optional.
- Will Shipley: He only had 48 yards, but his 38-yard burst on the opening drive was electric. He showed exactly why the Eagles were high on him coming out of Clemson.
- Tanner Hudson: For the Bengals, Hudson was the safety valve. Two touchdowns and 62 yards. He actually hit a milestone this game, reaching 600 career preseason receiving yards. Which is... a stat that exists, I guess?
The Reality of the "Tush Push"
We have to talk about it. The Eagles used the Tush Push in a preseason game. Some people hated it, saying you shouldn't show your cards in August. But Nick Sirianni doesn't care. Seeing Tanner McKee dive over the line for that 1-yard score in the first quarter told the league one thing: this play isn't going anywhere.
It’s basically a cheat code at this point. The Bengals knew it was coming, and they still couldn't stop a backup quarterback from moving the chains.
What This Taught Us About Both Teams
By the time the regular season rolled around, the trajectories of these two teams couldn't have been more different. The Eagles finished 11-6, making the playoffs before a tough loss to the 49ers. The Bengals? They struggled with injuries—including Burrow's turf toe surgery—and finished last in the AFC North.
If you go back and watch the tape of Eagles vs Bengals 2025, you see a Cincinnati team that relied way too much on individual brilliance from Ja'Marr Chase (who had 77 yards and a TD in limited action) and not enough on defensive fundamentals. Meanwhile, Philadelphia showed off the kind of depth that usually leads to a deep January run.
The Eagles' offensive line, even with Tyler Steen and the second unit, was just more physical. They won the time of possession battle by over five minutes. In the NFL, that’s usually the difference between a win and a long flight home.
Actionable Insights for Following These Teams
If you're looking to understand where these franchises are headed after that 2025 showdown, keep an eye on these specific areas:
- Monitor the Bengals' Defensive Spending: After their "D+" 2025 season, the front office is under massive pressure to use their cap space. Look for them to target veteran interior defensive linemen to avoid the kind of rushing gaps Will Shipley exploited.
- Watch the Eagles' WR3 Battle: Johnny Wilson and Ainias Smith proved in this game that the Eagles have real talent behind Brown and Smith. If you're a fantasy manager or a die-hard fan, the "big slot" role is Wilson's to lose.
- Tanner McKee's Trade Value: After his 252-yard performance, McKee firmly established himself as one of the best backup QBs in the league. If a starter goes down elsewhere in 2026, don't be surprised if Howie Roseman flips him for a mid-round pick.
- Bengals' Early Season Trends: Zac Taylor is historically a slow starter (1-11 in the first two weeks heading into 2025). This preseason loss was a precursor to their struggles. Always check their offensive line health before betting on them in September.