PHILADELPHIA _ Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is a hard man to impress.
Burrow had just torched the Eagles' backups with a near-flawless 157.5 passer rating on a 9-for-10-fish-in-a-barrell effort with two touchdowns Thursday night at Lincoln Financial Field in the preseason opener, and he thought he was average.
"Overall, I'm happy where I'm at. Next week I'd like to be a little better," Burrow said after the 34-27 loss. "I would have liked to have spun it a little better. More consistent."
Burrow felt he missed his first throw, a ball down the seam slightly behind wide receiver Tee Higgins. But Higgins got both hands on a ball he usually devours. From there on in, "I put it where I wanted to," which meant ending the night with nine straight completions.
Such as the last one, the 36-yard touchdown pass to All-Pro wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. If you saw Chase's winning catches in the last minutes against New Orleans in 2022 and Dallas last year, this was that. A Burrow quick pass to the sideline. A Chase catch and spin move on a befuddled cornerback. Gone.
Only this time, Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio unleashed a zero blitz, and with everybody coming, Burrow unloaded Burrow fast.
"We've seen that before. He's going to keep doing it," Burrow said. "Get that guy the ball."
After a career-high 15 plays in the preseason, Burrow sounds like he's looking for more in Washington next week: "It's just good to play again … We're 15 reps better."
SHEMAR DEBUT
First-round pick Shemar Stewart keeps on impressing. During his stint with the second defense, he almost had a sack (it earned a sideline lesson from Trey Hendrickson) and made a hellacious hit on the monstrous running back A.J. Dillon for a loss in the run game.
"He just got up and walked away," said a smiling Stewart. "I felt it more than him. He's a big boy."
So is Stewart, who may very well have earned a shot with the first team next week.
"The game is definitely slowing down. Last week the bullets were flying," Stewart said . "Hopefully next week, I can get there a little faster."
MONEY MAC BACK
With rookie long snapper William Wagner drilling it back, Evan McPherson knocked through a 51-yard field goal and 36-yard field goal in the second half. After some struggles last year, he has happily returned to his high school and college mechanics this summer and looks to be hitting it as well as ever as he perfects his fade.
"I always feel like it's mental mentality when it comes to struggling, and I'm in a good spot right now," McPherson said.
ZAC-ISMS
All that said, head coach Zac Taylor was not pleased with the overall result. Two penalties on Eagles field goals that turned into seven points. A penalty that wiped out a 71-yard kick return. An interception.
"We can't tolerate it. We have to play better team football than that," Taylor said. "I like the fight by the guys at the end. I appreciate that, but there's a lot of things we have to correct as a team. It's not one position, not one unit. Not one person."
Check out the best photos from Bengals-Eagles Week 1 Preseason matchup in Philadelphia, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
WR Ja'Marr Chase scores a touchdown against the Eagles in Philadelphia during Week 1 of the preseason, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
TE Tanner Hudson reaches across the goal line for a touchdown against the Eagles in Philadelphia during Week 1 of the preseason, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
RB Chase Brown runs the ball against the Eagles in Philadelphia during Week 1 of the preseason, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
QB Joe Burrow throws the ball against the Eagles in Philadelphia during Week 1 of the preseason, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
K Evan McPherson celebrates a PAT against the Eagles in Philadelphia during Week 1 of the preseason, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
RB Chase Brown against the Eagles in Philadelphia during Week 1 of the preseason, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
RB Chase Brown runs the ball against the Eagles in Philadelphia during Week 1 of the preseason, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
The Bengals against the Eagles in Philadelphia during Week 1 of the preseason, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
LB Oren Burks against the Eagles in Philadelphia during Week 1 of the preseason, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
WR Ja'Marr Chase scores a touchdown against the Eagles in Philadelphia during Week 1 of the preseason, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
DE Shemar Stewart pressures QB Tanner McKee against the Eagles in Philadelphia during Week 1 of the preseason, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
CB DJ Ivey breaks up a pass against the Eagles in Philadelphia during Week 1 of the preseason, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
LB Joe Giles-Harris pressures QB Tanner McKee against the Eagles in Philadelphia during Week 1 of the preseason, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
DT Taven Bryan and DE Cam Sample pressure QB Tanner McKee against the Eagles in Philadelphia during Week 1 of the preseason, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
RB Gary Brightwell returns a kick against the Eagles in Philadelphia during Week 1 of the preseason, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
The Bengals offense huddles against the Eagles in Philadelphia during Week 1 of the preseason, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
RB Tahj Brooks carries the ball against the Eagles in Philadelphia during Week 1 of the preseason, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
DT McKinnley Jackson against the Eagles in Philadelphia during Week 1 of the preseason, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
The Bengals sack the quarterback against the Eagles in Philadelphia during Week 1 of the preseason, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
RB Tahj Brooks carries the ball against the Eagles in Philadelphia during Week 1 of the preseason, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
QB Desmond Ridder throws a pass against the Eagles in Philadelphia during Week 1 of the preseason, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
LB Joe Giles-Harris runs after an interception against the Eagles in Philadelphia during Week 1 of the preseason, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
LB Joe Giles-Harris intercepts a pass against the Eagles in Philadelphia during Week 1 of the preseason, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
