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Bengals’ Star QB Was Right to Fear the Eagles — “A Unit So Cohesive It’s Frustrating to Face”

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Philadelphia, PA – August 8, 2025

In the NFL, preseason is often a time for experi

The Cincinnati Bengals walked into Philly expecting a measured test. What they got was a warning. Joe Burrow, fresh off a surgical 9-of-10 passing performance for 123 yards and two touchdowns, left the field with more respect for his opponent than satisfaction with his own team’s work.

After the 34-27 loss, the Bengals’ captain didn’t mince word

“PHILLY’S GOT DEPTH THAT CAN HURT YOU IN WAYS A LOT OF TEAMS CAN’T. YOU THINK YOU’RE LINING UP AGAINST THEIR SECOND UNIT, BUT THE WAY THEY EXECUTE — THE TIMING, THE PHYSICALITY, THE CONFIDENCE — IT FEELS LIKE YOU’RE FACING

Those mistakes Burrow referenced weren’t minor. A chop block penalty erased a touchdown pass to Ja’Marr Chase. Multiple procedural flags stalled momentum. And while Cincinnati’s first-team offense still found the end zone twice, their defense couldn’t contain Philadelphia’s second-team attack, led by QB Tanner McKee.

This wasn’t the Eagles at full throttle — Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and other headline names stayed on the sideline. Yet McKee methodically

Head coach Zac Taylor downplayed the performance, citing a “vanilla” defensive scheme to avoid revealing regular-season strategy. But the film will show something harder to brush off: in the trenches and on the perimeter, Eagles backups were winning their battles.
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A Deeper Look at the Eagles’ Strength
Philadelphia’s front office has spent the past three years building a roster that can survive attrition. Thursday night’s performance was the payoff. On defense, their second-string line collapsed the pocket with rotational rushers who’d start for other teams. In the secondary, young corners blanketed receivers, forcing Burrow to check down.

Offensively, the depth was equally striking. McKee’s composure mirrored that of a seasoned starter, aided by a deep running back room and versatile tight ends who punished soft coverage. The fact that this was achieved without drawing on their primary weapons only magnifies the threat.

For the Bengals, the takeaway was clear — if this is what Philadelphia’s reserves can do, the starters are a nightmare waiting to happen. For the Eagles, it was another quiet statement that in a league defined by injuries and attrition, they’re built to outlast anyone.

As Burrow jogged off the field, the scoreboard read 34-27. It was a preseason loss, technically meaningless in the standings. But the message was written in bold: the Eagles’ strength isn’t just at the top of the depth chart — it runs all the way down.

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Raiders Reunite with a Former Starter to Fortify the Offensive Line
Las Vegas, NV   The Las Vegas Raiders have brought back a familiar face in a move that screams both urgency and savvy: versatile offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor is returning to the Silver & Black on a one-year deal (terms not disclosed), reuniting with the franchise where he logged some of the best football of his career and immediately fortifying a position group that has been stretched thin. Eluemunor, 31, started for the Raiders from 2021–2023, showing rare position flexibility across right tackle and guard while anchoring pass protection against premier edge rushers. His technique, anchor, and ability to handle long-arm power made him a steadying force during multiple playoff pushes. After departing Vegas, Eluemunor spent time elsewhere refining his craft, but a confluence of roster needs and scheme familiarity has set the stage for a timely homecoming. For the Raiders—fighting to keep pace in a rugged AFC—this is about stability and fit. Injuries and week-to-week availability on the right side of the line have forced constant shuffling; protection packages have leaned heavily on chips and condensed splits to survive obvious passing downs. Eluemunor’s return allows the staff to plug him at RT or slide him inside at RG, restoring balance to protections and widening the run-game menu (duo, inside zone, and the toss/ pin-pull that Vegas fans love when the edge is sealed). “Jermaine knows who we are and how we want to play,” a team source said. “He brings ballast. Assignment sound, physical, and smart—he raises the floor for the entire unit.” Beyond the X’s and O’s, there’s an unmistakable emotional charge to this reunion. Eluemunor was a locker-room favorite in his previous stint—professional, detail-driven, and accountable. The belief internally is that his presence stabilizes communication on the right side (IDs, slides, and pass-off rules vs. games and simulated pressures), which in turn unlocks more vertical concepts and keeps the quarterback cleaner late in games. On social media, Raider Nation lit up the timeline with a simple refrain: “Welcome back, Jem.” Many fans called the deal the exact kind of “rival-poach, ready-to-play” move a contender makes in October: low friction, high impact, zero learning curve. What it means on the field (immediately): Pass pro: Fewer emergency chips, more five-out releases—OC can re-open deeper intermediate shots without living in max-protect. Run game: Better edge control on toss/duo; more confidence running to the right on money downs. Depth & versatility: One injury doesn’t force a cascade of position changes; Eluemunor can cover two spots with starting-level competency. The timetable? Swift. Because Eluemunor already speaks the language—terminology, splits, cadence rules—he could suit up as early as this weekend if the medicals/check-ins continue to trend positive. The message is clear: the Raiders aren’t waiting around for the line to gel—they’re engineering it. If Jermaine Eluemunor plays to his Raider résumé, this reunion could be the precise mid-season jolt that steadies the offense and keeps the Silver & Black firmly in the postseason race. Raider Nation, the question writes itself: Plug-and-play stopgap—or the catalyst that reclaims the right side