The Eagles were back in action on Sunday, picking up a big 37-17 victory over the Bengals to move to 5-2 on the season.
The Bengals fell to 3-5 on the season, still searching for their first win at home on the year.
The Eagles put together 397 yards of total offense and the defense forced an interception and a fumble in the win.
“It was exciting. It’s hard to win in this league. Doesn’t matter if you win by what we won by today, you win by one, win by two, you’re going to be excited. We put everything we have into this every single week,” Head Coach Nick Sirianni said. “It really takes truly mentally tough people to be involved in this game where you pour every ounce of what you have into each week, and then you win or you lose, and you do it again.”
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins was a surprise late addition to the final injury report in Week 8 before kickoff against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Missing Higgins would be a major blow for the Bengals offense as they look to get back to .500, considering he was a key catalyst in the offense’s revival over the last few weeks — after he returned from a different injury.
Here’s the latest.
Tee Higgins injury update
Final Update: Tee Higgins will be inactive, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Update: According to Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer, “it doesn’t look good” for Higgins’ chances to play.
Higgins appeared on the injury report with a quad injury on Friday, throwing his status into doubt.
A report from ESPN’s Dan Graziano on Saturday night said there is “pessimism” around Higgins’ chances of playing.
How long will Tee Higgins be out?
Hard to say. Soft-tissue issues, usually the hamstrings, have chased him throughout his career. But the fact this popped on a Friday pretty much guarantees he’s on a snap count Sunday — and the week after could be in jeopardy too. No longer than four games though, otherwise he’d be on injured reserve.
Bengals WR depth chart
Ja’Marr Chase, Andrei Iosivas, Trenton Irwin, Jermaine Burton, Charlie Jones
Iosivas and potentially the rookie Burton will be asked to step up if Higgins can’t go.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Eagles were back in action at MetLife Stadium as they took on the Giants in their first NFC East divisional game of the season.
The Eagles dominated their division rival, taking home a 28-3 victory to improve to 4-2 on the season.
“This is just about staying consistent every week, man. I’m just happy with what we already know about this team. We’re going to fight. It just seems like everything is coming together, everybody just believing in one another, and I’m happy that it’s showing up,” Brandon Graham said in the locker room following the game.
Including playoffs, the Eagles are 27-7 (.794) in their previous 34 games against the Giants, including a 14-3 (.824) mark in the last 17 contests. Philadelphia, which is 10-5 (.667) vs. New York at MetLife Stadium, has captured six of the last seven contests dating back to 2021.
After defeating the Browns 20-16 last week to move to 3-2 on the season, the Eagles were without tight end Dallas Goedert (hamstring) and left tackle Jordan Mailata, who was placed on injured reserve on Friday.
In the biggest storyline of the week, running back Saquon Barkley made his return to MetLife for the first time as an Eagle. Barkley made his return known, rushing for 176 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.
Barkley’s 176 yards were second-most rush yds by a player vs a former team in NFL history (CIN Cedric Benson had 189 rush yds vs. CHI in Week 7, 2009) and the second-most in Barkley’s career (189 in Week 16, 2019 at Washington). Barkley’s 658 rush yds are most through the first 6 games of a season in Eagles’ history.
“Howie (Roseman) took a chance on me, the whole organization took a chance on me and I’m thankful for it, stuff like that means a lot to me,” Barkley said. “There’s no hate in my heart with the Giants organization. They drafted me, brought me in, helped a kid live his dream and same thing with the Eagles. I hit free agency not knowing how things were going to shake up and was able to find a home and a place I love and I’m excited to be here. It’s not about proving anybody right or anybody wrong, it’s about going out there and being myself and when I go out there and be myself, a lot of things fall in line.”
Indiana sits tied atop the Big Ten rankings at 6-0 overall, and 3-0 in the conference. The Cornhuskers are not far behind at 5-1, with their only loss coming to Illinois in Big Ten play. Indiana QB Kurtis Rourke has played himself into a Top 5 Heisman ranking. Nebraska Freshman QB Dylan Raiola got off to a hot start to the season but looked a bit shaky last week.
What TV channel is the Nebraska vs. Indiana football game on today?
When: Kickoff takes place at 9 a.m. PT/12 p.m. ET (11 a.m. CT) on Saturday, October 19.
Where: Memorial Stadium | Bloomington, IN
TV channel: FOX
How to watch live stream online: If you don’t have cable, you can still watch this game live for FREE with Fubo (free trial) or with DirecTV Stream (free trial). If you already have a cable or satellite subscription, you can watch the game on FOX Sports Live by signing in with your provider information.
Tim McManus covers the Philadelphia Eagles for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2016 after covering the Eagles for Philadelphia Magazine’s Birds 24/7, a site he helped create, since 2010. You can follow him on Twitter @Tim_McManus.
PHILADELPHIA — Eagles coach Nick Sirianni was seen on camera yelling and gesturing toward a group of fans at the end of Sunday’s 20-16 home win over the Cleveland Browns as boos rained down for parts of a game in which the offense sputtered at times and the talent-rich Eagles struggled to separate from the now 1-5 Browns.
Sirianni, wearing a wry smile and offering a wink, said he was “just excited to get the win” in explaining his interaction with the fans and praised the crowd for being loud and inducing a couple of Cleveland false-start penalties.
But when asked about the jeering the Eagles received in their home stadium, Sirianni acknowledged they could do without the negativity.
“We thrive off the crowd when they cheer for us. That’s all I’ll say,” Sirianni said. “We hear them when they boo. We don’t necessarily like it. I don’t think that’s productive for anybody. But when they cheer for us and when we’ve got them rolling, we love it.”
Sirianni has been a subject of criticism following last season’s collapse, when an Eagles team that started 10-1 skidded to a 1-6 finish, leading to the firing of his offensive and defensive coordinators.
The on-field product this season has left something to be desired.
The offense has been a point of frustration given the level of talent — the group boasts one of the best offensive lines in football and features A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Saquon Barkley at the skill positions — versus the results to this point.
Since scoring 34 points in the opener against the Green Bay Packers, the Eagles have averaged 18 points in the four games since. Brown, though, has appeared in only two games because of injury, and other top players such as Smith and tackle Lane Johnson also have missed time.
Although not overwhelming, there were some sections of the crowd that started “Fire Nick” chants during a couple of down moments in the game.
And Sirianni was by far the most demonstrative he has been on the sideline this year. He jawed with multiple Browns defensive backs, including corner Greg Newsome II, and grew animated with referees on multiple occasions.
Before Sunday, he had toned down his behavior, cognizant that going after the refs in particular can send the wrong message to his players. Eagles CEO Jeffrey Lurie noted of Sirianni this offseason that “it can be a little bit counterproductive if he overdoes his own passion,” adding that it is about finding the “sweet spot” between bringing that passion while not overdoing it.
Sirianni revealed Sunday that the return of his fiery demeanor was at the behest of some of his players.
“I was having fun. And I kind of got some feedback from the guys, the sense of like, ‘We need you back, Nick. We need your energy. We need your focus,'” he said. “I’ve gotten that from a couple players. When I’m operating and having fun, I think that breeds to the rest of the football team. If I want the guys to celebrate and be themselves after big plays, then I should probably do that myself, right?
“Now there’s times for that and times not for that. I have to have wisdom and discernment of when to do that and when not to do that.”
Quarterback Jalen Hurts said he was one of the players who encouraged Sirianni to be himself.
“It’s a reassurance of, we trust who you are. We trust where you are as a coach, and we know we can build with you. It’s about doing it together,” Hurts said. “I’m excited for him and his growth and continue to see where he’s going, and I think it will continue to help our football team.”
Already down their starting center in Ethan Pocic, the Browns lost C Nick Harris to an ankle injury on the third play of their first offensive drive. GMichael Dunn, who made his first start of the season on Sunday at right guard, came in and took over at center for the Browns.
On the following drive, RB Jerome Ford exited with a hamstring injury and did not return to Sunday’s game. Both drives resulted in punts.
Meanwhile, after back-to-back punts themselves, the Eagles were the first to get on the scoreboard after a scoreless first quarter, with K Jake Elliott nailing a 49-yard field goal early in the second quarter. As the Browns offense continued to struggle, the Eagles offense heated up, with QB Jalen Hurts finding Brown on a 22-yard touchdown to build on the Eagles’ early lead.
The Browns offense got rolling late in the second quarter, driving 45 yards to the Philadelphia 20-yard line. Watson connected on back-to-back passes with WR Amari Cooper and TE David Njoku but was sacked on third down. The Browns had to settle for a field goal, their only offensive score of the first half.
Entering the second half, the Browns had just 71 net yards of offense compared to the Eagles’ 200. They were 0 of 5 on third down attempts and averaged just under three yards per play.
Special teams unit provides boost before halftime
It looked like the Eagles would add three points to their first half total after they drove to the Cleveland 31-yard line with just over 30 seconds remaining in the first half.
LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah swarmed Hurts for a sack to force a long field goal attempt from Elliott. Garrett leaped over the line of scrimmage and threw a hand up to block Elliott’s kick and McLeod scooped up the loose ball and sprinted 50 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at halftime.
McLeod’s touchdown is the 13-year veterans’ second of the season and provided the Browns with a massive boost, both in momentum and on the scoreboard, going into halftime.
The Browns had a chance to capitalize on their big play before halftime, getting the ball to start the second half. Facing third-and-1 at the Philadelphia 29-yard line, QB Jameis Winston lined up under center. Instead of running up the middle, he handed the ball off to WR Cedric Tillman on an end around play that resulted in a five-yard loss. Hopkins missed the ensuing 52-yard field goal attempt, and the Browns were unable to take the lead.
Eagles pull away in the fourth quarter
After trading field goals with the Browns, the Eagles took a seven-point lead after Smith took a short pass to the house for a 45-yard touchdown. Smith lost CB Greg Newsome II across the middle of the field and used his speed to run untouched to the end zone.
The Browns offense had a chance at finding the end zone on the next drive, but penalties forced them to settle for a field goal. After Watson started the drive completing six of seven passing attempts, including a 35-yard completion to WR Jerry Jeudy to start the drive, two false start penalties called against rookie RG Zak Zinter and LT Jedrick Wills Jr. pushed the Browns back from the Eagles 3-yard line to the 13, preventing them from trying to score a game-tying touchdown.
With a four-point lead, the Eagles ran the ball effectively to bleed time from the game clock. The Eagles picked up three first downs on the final drive, including a deep pass to Brown for a 40-yard gain that allowed the Eagles to take a knee to end the game.
The Eagles are in Tampa Bay getting ready for a 1 PM kickoff against the Buccaneers in a rematch of the 2023 Wild Card round.
The Eagles announced on Sunday morning that All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson has been downgraded to out with a concussion. He suffered the injury in last Sunday’s win over the Saints. Fred Johnson will start at right tackle today against the Buccaneers.
Along with Lane Johnson, the Eagles will be without both of their star wide receivers in A.J. Brown (hamstring) and DeVonta Smith (concussion). Brown will miss his third straight game despite returning to practice as a limited participant on Friday. Smith was not able to clear concussion protocol after taking a hit to the head in the win over the Saints last Sunday.
With Brown and Smith out, and Britain Covey on Injured Reserve due to a shoulder injury, the Eagles elevated receivers Parris Campbell and John Ross from the practice squad. Campbell had two catches for 13 yards after being brought up for the Saints game. Ross returned to the Eagles on September 24 and will make his debut today.
Guard/tackle Darian Kinnard is active and will make his Eagles debut after signing with the team in February.
Here is the full list of inactives for the Birds:
A.J. Brown | WR Lane Johnson | T Trevor Keegan | G Tanner McKee | 3rd QB DeVonta Smith | WR Devin White | LB Byron Young | DT
As for the Buccaneers, defensive lineman Vita Vea is ACTIVE after missing last week’s game with a knee injury. Calijah Kancey is OUT and will miss his fourth straight game due to a calf injury.
Here is a full list of the Buccaneers inactives:
Jake Camarda | P Devin Culp | TE Luke Goedeke | T Calijah Kancey | DL Jalen McMillan | WR Jose Ramirez | OLB Antoine Winfield Jr. | S
Now, that felt a little better. A win is a win they say. The Philadelphia Eagles bounced back from a Week 2 crushing defeat on Monday Night Football to outlast the New Orleans Saints in the Big Easy.
Just as they did after a loss, Philly must rely on a short memory. The successes of Week 3’s win are behind us.
We’ve seen some cracks in the Eagles’ armor. The boat is leaking in some areas, but it hasn’t sunk. Let’s hope Philly stays afloat and they’re in a sturdier structure than the pirate ship.
The Eagles and Buccaneers both enter this game with 2-1 records, and both would like to earn their third win. A Philly win means they even the all-time series at 12 wins apiece. Most importantly, they’d earn a potential tie-breaker for later.
The Bucs might be the NFC South’s best team. Time will tell. Philly enters an early bye week after this one.
Merrill Reese, Mike Quick, and Howard Eskin handle the radio call for everyone listening.
Other radio affiliates located in Pennsylvania
Several affiliates in the Eagles Radio Network also carry the game day broadcast. The following are the AM stations: 1490 AM WBCB (Levittown), 1360 AM WPPA (Pottsville), 830 AM WEEU (Reading).
The FM dial is loaded. Listen on 96.1 FM – WEJL (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton), 93.3 FM – WBZD (Williamsport), 96.1 FM – WSOX (York/Lancaster/Harrisburg), and 96.1 FM – WCTO (Allentown). 96.1 FM – WSOX (York/Lancaster/Harrisburg) and 107.3 FM – WEGH (Northumberland) are two other options.
Buccaneers Radio Network
Eagles broadcasts in Spanish
Every Eagles Spanish broadcast can be heard on 105.7 FM – LA MEGA (Philadelphia, PA), 101.3 FM – WIBG (Pleasantville, NJ) if listen on FM dials and by way of two AM stations, 1470 – WSAN (Allentown, PA) and 1020 (Atlantic City, NJ).
Play calling duties are handled by way of Rickie Ricardo, Oscar Budejen, and Dave Gerhardt.
Listen to Merrill, Mike, and Howard on SiriusXM 387. The Buccaneers broadcast can be found on channel 232.
Team Website and Apps
The 94 WIP-FM and SiriusXM broadcasts can both be heard online on the official Eagles team website, audacy.com/94wip, and siriusxm.com/sports/nfl.
Radio Streaming Services
Listeners can also tune in to NFL Game Pass and Westwood One. This game and each Eagles game can be heard there.
The SiriusXM mobile app, the Audacy app, and the Eagles team app all provide additional listening options. Android and Apple devices carry the ESPN app. Audacy’s app can be found on Android devices, Fire TVs, and Roku TVs.
After leading the league in scoring for the first two games the Saints offense couldn’t find its way Sunday and had to settle for two Blake Grupe field goals for most of the game. New Orleans was playing without do-everything Taysom Hill (chest injury) lost center Erik McCoy on the first series and right guard Cesar Ruiz in the fourth quarter. The rushing lanes and pass protection wasn’t there as Carr was 14 of 25 for 142 yards, ending his streak of seven consecutive games with at least two touchdown passes. Kamara had 26 carries for 87 yards and a nifty 27-yard reception. Olave had six catches for 86 yards.
Kamara moved past legend Deuce McAllister for second place on the team’s all-time rushing list, trailing Mark Ingram (who was in attendance along with fellow legends Drew Brees and Steve Gleason). Kamara has 6,114 yards while Ingram has 6,500.
The Saints defense was stout throughout as it got big plays from defensive end Carl Granderson (strip-sack), safety Tyrann Mathieu (interception), defensive tackle Bryan Bresee (two sacks) but the big run by Barkley and long catch by Goedert was too much to overcome. Special-teamer J.T. Gray blocked an Eagles punt in the third quarter but the offense couldn’t do anything with the excellent field position.
The Eagles lost star right tackle Lane Johnson and receiver Devonta Smith to head injuries during the game.
The Saints will play at the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Sept. 29. Atlanta plays Kansas City on “Sunday Night Football.”
5. The Eagles moved the ball well the entire game, even though it took them until the fourth quarter to put their first points on the board. Hurts threw an interception in the end zone. He fumbled the ball away at the New Orleans 46-yard line later in the first half. The Eagles went for it on fourth down twice when they were in field goal position and failed to convert, and early in the fourth quarter, they needed a big play. They got it from Barkley, who burst through a hole between the tackles and outran the New Orleans defense for a 65-yard touchdown to give the Eagles the lead, finally. Chunk plays – the Eagles are looking for them any way they can get them and Barkley delivered. He finished with 147 yards and the two touchdowns on 17 carries.
“The game wasn’t going our way, but we just never, never gave up,” Barkley said. We just kept trusting each other, kept grinding. We see our teammate (Smith) go down with a late hit, which I believe, and we rallied. We rallied behind him to go out there and grind out for Smitty. All phases, especially defense, played lights out and we found a way to win.”
6. This was a game of attrition and some young players stepped up on the offensive line. Right tackle Lane Johnson (concussion) and right guard Mekhi Becton (finger) left the game in the first half, and Fred Johnson stepped in at right tackle and Tyler Steen replaced Becton at right guard and both more than held their own. Credit goes to both players and to the coaching staff for getting both players ready to go, and now the Eagles know a lot more about their depth along the offensive line. Really, the Eagles never skipped a beat there. The depth along the offensive line showed and that is great to know moving forward.
“Next-up mentality,” Goedert said. “We lost a couple of O-linemen before halftime and Fred and Steen played incredible. Fred had a great block on Saquon’s long touchdown run, being able to cut the guy off, we were able to hit a gap. That just shows how good our coaching staff is and how much we believe in everybody. It doesn’t matter who’s in there, it’s next-man-up mentality, and it’s all we got, it’s all we need, so just shoutout to everybody that was able to step up. Parris (Campbell) made some big plays when we needed him. It really takes a team. It doesn’t always go the way people want it to, but when their number’s called, it seems they’re able to do what they need to do.”
7. A big shoutout to Hurts, who made some mistakes (two turnovers) but then was great in the fourth quarter with a lot of pressure on him and backups throughout the offense. Hurts completed 29 of 38 passes for 311 yards and he gained another 25 yards on the ground. The Eagles rolled up 460 total yards of offense against a very strong New Orleans defense.
“This guy is a freakin’ winner,” Sirianni said of Hurts. “He won at Alabama. He won at Oklahoma. He’s been winning here over and over and over and over. You know what, we’re the Philadelphia Eagles, so we understand that we’re going to get criticism, but this dude’s a freaking winner. Jalen Hurts is a winner and he won today.”
“It’s a team effort that’s full trust on everybody’s part,” Hurts said. “I’m just proud that we learned from the situation last week. … Everybody stepped up today. Everybody stepped up today and we responded to adversity. We communicated well and there was never a doubt.”
