Other than The Philadelphia Eagles had one small stretch of success against the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1990s, otherwise, the Birds have been on the menu for the gigantic cats from The Queen City. Overall, the Eagles are 3-9-2 against Cincinnati bordering almost 25 years since a celebrating football win over Cincy. It’s not all bad, there are a pair of ties in there but we’ll get to that in a minute. It’s time for the latest trip around the history of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Eagles become Bengals chew toy for decades
Despite entering the NFL as part of the merger with the AFL in 1968, the Cincinnati Bengals and the Philadelphia Eagles did not play for three seasons of the franchises’ existence. That all changed early when the teams met for the first time to open the 1971 season. It probably would’ve been better if the Eagles had just stayed home. Instead, the Jerry Williams-coached Birds turned the ball over four times in a 37-14 beatdown from the Cincinnati Bengals at Riverfront Stadium. The teams were comparable via the air route with Cincy outgaining Philly, 310-301. The Bengals ground game, namely Essex Johnson, totaled 236 yards. Philly’s rushing game was nonexistent with 39 yards on 18 carries.
A full American presidential term later, the teams met again in December 1975. It didn’t get much better for the now-Mike McCormack-led Eagles at the Vet. The teams combined for 11 turnovers with five giveaways from the Eagles who gathered only 225 yards in a 31-0 shutout loss to end the 1975 home schedule.
To save some time, Philadelphia lost their next three meetings with Cincinnati. In October 1979, the Eagles were blown out on the road 37-13. With the start of the Eighties, Philly became competitive in their matchups against the Bengals but still fell short in a one-score game in 1982 and a two-score contest in 1988.
Praying for a win in 1991
The Nineties brought games where Philly was not just a visiting kitty toy for Cincinnati. Instead, a 1-win Cincy football team that was a plaything for the rest of the NFL during the 1991 season. Philadelphia took advantage scoring a 17-10 win to boost their record to 6-5.
Reggie White and the Eagles’ defense hassled Boomer Esiason all day leading to four sacks and a 52% completion percentage on 10-of-18 passing. Did you know that Reggie White had three interceptions and almost 80 return yards in his career? The “Minister of Defense” got one of the three interceptions on November 17, 1991, against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Cincinnati ruined Philadelphia’s Holiday in 1994
Philadelphia received coal for Christmas following a 33-30 loss against a bad 2-13 Cincy squad on Christmas Eve 1994 in Cincinnati, Ohio at Riverfront Stadium. The Eagles were far from playoff contenders at 7-9. Philly held a 10-point fourth-quarter lead following an Eddie Murray 35-yard field goal to lead 30-20. Cincy scored a late fourth-quarter touchdown and a field goal to tie the score, 30-30, with three seconds left on the clock. Philadelphia fumbled the ensuing kick-off leading to a 54-yard game-winning field goal from Doug Pelfrey for a 33-30 Cincinatti win.
Rare consecutive Eagles wins in the 1990s
Cincinnati scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns in an explosive fourth-quarter comeback attempt in Philly in November 1997. Fans at Veterans Stadium likely thought the game was wrapped up when Ricky Watters scored from 16 yards out to extend the Philly lead to 13 points at 41-27. The Bengals shocked those still watching in the 700 level with a Boomer Esiason touchdown pass with 3:20 remaining followed by a Brian Milne TD run with one minute to play to give Cincy a 42-41 lead. Bobby Hoying engineered a game-winning leading to a 31-yard field goal as the clock touched zero for a 44-42 Philadelphia win.
The Philadelphia Eagles served up holiday revenge to the Cincinnati Bengals on 12/24/2000 in a 16-7 victory. Donovan McNabb passed for 198 yards and a touchdown, while the indestructible leg of David Akers posted the rest of the points for Philly with field foals from 32, 33, and 45 yards. Those 64, 902 fans at Veterans Stadium are the last people to witness a Philadelphia Eagles victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Philly-Cincy interesting history since 2005
The Philadelphia Eagles and Cincinnati Bengals have had an interesting series history since January 2005. Since that game, Cincy has either blown Philly out or the game has ended in a tie. Not just once, either. TWICE!
After a blowout win in 01/2005, Philly was more competitive in a 13-13 tie in November 2008. Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, a top 5 football name ever, found the endzone for the Bengals in the second quarter. Donovan McNabb linked up with tight end L.J. Smith in the third frame before David Akers tied it early in the fourth quarter. Neither team scored in the final five minutes or the extra session.
Cincinnati clawed Philadelphia, 34-13, in their first appearance at Lincoln Financial Field in December 2012. Philly had some hope leading 13-10 at halftime behind a Nick Foles touchdown and a pair of Alex Henery field goals. Andy Dalton and Cincy would not be denied with four unanswered second-half scores for the blowout win.
Another four years and another blowout in 2016 with Cincinnati winning 32-14. It was 29-0 in the second half… you know what… let’s just skip the rest of that one. Cool? Cool.
Tee Higgins and Joe Burrow Tie Philly in 2020
Finally, we come to our last game in the all-time series between Philadelphia and Cincinnati. A pair of familiar names from this week’s upcoming matchup had a staring role in Cincinnati as wideout Tee Higgins caught two touchdowns from Bengals rookie Joe Burrow in his third NFL game. Eagles Carson Wentz provided some late fireworks in Philly scoring a touchdown run with 21 seconds remaining on the oversized scoreboard to tie the score at 23-23. Once again, neither team could post points in overtime resulting in the second tie in the series history.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia make the trip to Ohio for a battle against Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium this Sunday at 1 PM.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
