Bengals 30, Eagles 13: Johnson, McPherson, Then the Fourth Quarter

August 28, 2026 - Philadelphia - Joe Burrow stayed on the sideline. Jalen Hurts stayed on the sideline. The Cincinnati Bengals still left Lincoln Financial Field 3-0.

Final: 30-13 over the Philadelphia Eagles. First unbeaten preseason for Cincinnati since 2006. Philadelphia finished 0-3.

Josh Johnson, listed behind Burrow and Joe Flacco, played the first half: 12 of 19, 156 yards. Evan McPherson made all three of his tries before the break, with a long of 58 on ESPN's box. Sean Clifford took the second half.

Three field goals, then the flood

Johnson hit Dohnte Meyers three times on the opening drive (9, 17, 25 yards). McPherson made it 3-0 from 29. Meyers was done for the night. He led the Bengals with 11 catches for 121 yards in the preseason.

McPherson added a long field goal late in the first and a 34-yarder after Tacario Davis intercepted a pass and returned it 15 yards. 9-0. Jake Elliott got Philadelphia on the board with a 56-yarder as the half expired. 9-3.

Clifford's first series after an Eagles field goal (9-6) went four of five for 47 yards and ended with an 11-yard touchdown to Ke'Shawn Williams. 16-6. Andy Dalton answered: 14 plays, 76 yards, a 5-yard throw to Carson Steele. Kentrel Bullock scored from 6 with 5:59 left. Jamal Haynes ripped 39 yards with 4:31 to play.

Bullock finished with 14 carries for 85. Haynes had seven for 78. Clifford's night on ESPN's box: 5 of 9, 53 yards, one score. Dalton went 12 of 19 for 104 yards and a touchdown. Tanner McKee, fighting Dalton to back up Hurts, went 12 of 22 for 55 yards with an interception in five first-half series. Nick Sirianni said he felt good about both quarterbacks. McKee said he wished he had executed better.

Zac Taylor called the two Cincinnati quarterbacks nails and said the things the staff had been preaching showed up. Tight end Jack Endries left early in the third after an awkward fall. Eagles safety Andre' Sam was carted off with an apparent left-leg injury. Isaiah Bolden limped off in the fourth.

AthX Engine, if this were a regular-season card

AthX Engine NFL scoring on Friday's verified lines:

McPherson's three made field goals score on the kicker distance table. Clifford's passing touchdown is 6. Bullock's and Haynes's rushing scores are 6 each. Williams's catch is a receiving 6. Dalton's touchdown pass is another 6. McKee's interception is minus-2. Preseason games are not stored as AthX Engine weekly lines yet.

Fantasy points measure the box. Price is what traders will pay when Burrow and Hurts are in September plans.

Track Burrow, Hurts, McPherson, and both clubs on the marketplace. Cincinnati hosts Tampa Bay on Sept. 13. Philadelphia hosts Washington the same day.

*Sources: ESPN recap, AP recap, Bengals.com recap, NFL.com schedules. Information only; not financial advice.*