The Cincinnati Bengals travelled to the Philadelphia Eagles hoping to sneak their way into the playoff picture.
Bengals stormed into a 10-point lead in the first quarter, but the Eagles responded to lead 13-10 at the break.
However, a terrible end to the third quarter for Eagles saw a fumble then an interception lead to touchdowns, with an early touchdown in the fourth extending Cincinnati's lead.
The Bengals continued to dominate possession and eventually ran out 34-13 winners.
Read below how the game unfolded.
Hello and welcome to our coverage of Thursday night's NFL action - Bengals @ Eagles.
The Bengals are hoping to get themselves into the playoff picture tonight. A win would put them in a good position for a sixth-seeding, for which they are currently locked in a battle with Division rivals Pittsburgh Steelers.
They travel to Pittsburgh next week, with the Steelers facing Dallas Cowboys in between. It is a vital week or two for the Bengals, but they are in form with four wins from five.
It is a completely different situation for the Eagles. They are playing for pride - and perhaps their jobs. They have suffered injuries to key players this season, but for a team expected to challenge for the division it has been a poor season.
The Eagles recovered from a four-loss streak to win 23-21 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so this will be far from a procession for the Bengals, who themselves were just beaten 20-19 by Dallas Cowboys last week.
The injury early in the season to Michael Vick - who on his day is right up there in the quarterback stakes - hit the Eagles hard, but he has not been able to alter his side's fortunes enough. His passing yardage stands at 2165 from 185 completions and 11 touchdowns.
For the Bengals, Andy Dalton has been ever-present. He has thrown 3186, with 282 completions from 445 attempts and 25 TD throws.
Nick Foles, Vick's replacement who will play tonight, has a decent 113 completions from 184, but has just four TD throws from 1174 yards.
A word on the players unable to play tonight. First the Bengals inactives: CB Kirkpatrick, K Nugent, RB Peerman, TE Quinn, DT Thompson, S Iloka, DT Still
Eagles inactives: Vick, Salas, McCoy, Polk, Coleman, Kopa, Celek
No Vick and no LeSean McCoy really weakens the Eagles. The running back has carried for 750 yards this year and made two TDs.
Despite his 1-3 record and Eagles' troubles this season, Foles is still the third-highest rated rookie QB of the year, so there's a lot to come from him.
Bengals kick to get us underway and Eagles get to the 18 on the return.
Foles goes complete to Riley Cooper first up for a gain of nine and on 2nd & 1 it's an immediate FUMBLE and Cincinnati get the ball after Maclin was stripped.
Immediate first down to Green-Ellis who picks up 29 on the play.
Eight yards on the first-down throw and Green-Ellis makes it to about the three-yard line with the run.
TOUCHDOWN BENGALS!
Green-Ellis stopped on first down then almost gets there on 2nd & goal. He goes again and this time it is a touchdown! The kick is good - Bengals 7-0 Eagles.
Decent return to the 25 and Bryce Brown picks up three on the run. Foles completes to Maclin wide left who picks up another four yards. Third down is incomplete long on the left and the Eagles' second drive ends with a punt, which hits the back of his own player! Unbelievable! Bengals will get another drive in a great position.
Only 11 yards needed for the Bengals. The first effort is run for four yards and good defence from the Eagles SACKS Dalton for a loss of five. Dalton goes short on third down and they'll have to settle for a field goal attempt.
FIELD GOAL BENGALS! Bengals 10-0 Eagles
Brandon Boykin returns to the 21 and Philadelphia will start their third drive.
Bryce Brown runs right and picks up three yards on the play, before going left on second down for another two to set up 3rd & 5. It's completed long by Foles to Jason Avant down the left for a gain of 25.
Four yards on the run by Brown and Foles has no throwing options on second down so he chucks it out of bounds before the sack arrives. Foles goes for the early throw on third down but great defending forces it incomplete. They have to punt - this time it's good and caught fairly at the 13.
The first drive for the Bengals in their own half starts with an eight-yard gain by AJ Green from a Dalton throw. He then runs for the remaining yards plus some.
Dalton is pressured and throws deep on first down but it's too long. BIG GAIN for Jermaine Gresham on second down - taking the catch, shimmying right and powering his way through.
Green-Ellis gains a yard before being crowded out by a sea of Eagles defenders. A penalty for a false-start makes it 2nd & 4 which Jones runs comfortably.
Dalton goes long on first down and it's very close to an end zone interception, but just falls incomplete instead. Dalton is pressured into a throw out of bounds and it leaves Bengals needing 3rd & long - Dalton squeezes through a gap to throw centrally but it's well blocked and nearly intercepted by Bryant. Too far for a field goal so it'll be a deep punt.
Foles goes incomplete on first down, with Brown forced wide and out of bounds on the run after a gain of just a yard. On 3rd & long Avant catches on the left for a good gain of 16.
Foles again incomplete on first down and Brown runs right but there's no gain on the play and another 3rd & long situation.
Bengals 10-0 Eagles
Short pass for no gain and Philly punt. It's a good return by Jones who gains 17 on the catch.
Four yards gained by Green-Ellis on the run, before Dalton goes a little high with his throw to Gresham and incomplete. It's incomplete on 3rd & 6 to Jones and the short Bengals drive comes to an end. The punt bounces badly for Bengals and comes back to the Eagles's 36 for a decent starting position.
Run from Brown gains two on the right and Bengals give away an offside for a five-yard penalty, which brings up 2nd & 3. Play action from Foles and the long throw makes a HUGE GAIN as Maclin reels it in!
TOUCHDOWN EAGLES!
Now 11 needed for Philly and Foles is incomplete as Maclin slipped before receiving. No matter, however, as the yards are gained with the throw to Cooper, who just has his feet in the endzone. The kick... is good and Philly cut the lead - Bengals 10-7 Eagles.
Great return and Bengals carry it all the way to around the 35.
The run from Green-Ellis is cut short for a loss of one yard, before a tricky, weaving run from Brian Leonard gains seven for 3rd & 4. A flag on the play for false start, however, brings it back to 3rd & 9. Dalton has the ball raked out of his arm and Eagles get on top of it. Is that a fumble?
The decision is under review. If it's given as a fumble the Eagles will have a great starting point. Otherwise, Bengals will punt and Philly will start further back - I suspect it will be the latter.
It is indeed a fumble and Eagles start on the Bengals 30. First down is successful following a short Foles pass to Brown for 11 yards and Eagles take a timeout.
Brown runs and is pushed out of bounds for a loss of two and Foles somehow escapes the attention of two tackles to gain five yards, but a defensive penalty pushes the position forward five yards.
Another penalty against the D for a four-yard gain. Another first down for the Eagles and they have just a few yards to the line. Bengals take their first timeout.
The pass is incomplete short to Brown and Foles aims for the endzone on second down but it goes through everyone. More solid Bengals defence and Foles's third throw is high and incomplete.
FIELD GOAL EAGLES. They have to kick and Eagles level it up with a field goal - Bengals 10-10 Eagles
Tate drops the catch but recovers to get the ball to the 20.
Offensive penalty pushes them back 10 yards for 1st & 20. Dalton throws from nearly his own endzone to Green to claw back 13 of those yards, before throwing behind Green to bring up 3rd & 7. Dalton is SACKED on third down and they gained no yards on the drive. Fair catch is taken from Eagles's own 45 in good position here.
Foles just escapes a sack to launch the ball out of bounds before the Eagles are pushed back 10 yards for a penalty. On 2nd & 20 Brown rushes but can only gain three yards on the right. Foles passes short to Stanley Havili but Eagles have to punt - all the way to the one-yard line and Bengals run to the nine instead of letting it go into the endzone.
Neat play on first down as Dalton finds Green for a 12-yard gain.
Green-Ellis runs for six yards before getting surrounded by Eagles players. On 2nd & 4 a throw right to Green-Ellis gains the six yards with a stretch by the receiver. No, not quite, it's 3rd & inches. Dalton sneaks the extra inches for a fresh first down.
Dalton sees the space open up on front of him and runs the 10 yards. However, an offensive penalty brings them right back to where they were as the two-minute warning comes up.
Dalton forced into a FUMBLE by Tapp and the Eagles have it back in great position right at the end of the half. It is under review but it looks a clear fumble to me.
Short throw to the right finds Avant for a three-yard gain. Brown runs six yards and makes it to the Bengals's two-yard line. They make the gain on 3rd & short through Brown and call the timeout.
It's 1st & goal on the two, but an illegal snap pushes them back five yards. Quick throw from Foles to Clay Harbor brings Eagles back to the original line of scrimmage. Another timeout.
The fake run gets Foles some space. He has nothing open for the pass and it's blocked incomplete, and the rookie QB goes out of bounds on third down. They'll have to kick.
FIELD GOAL EAGLES. It's good, but it could have been much better. Eagles lead for the first time - Bengals 10-13 Eagles
Return to the 19 yard line and Bengals have 13 seconds to gain 81 yards.
Bengals 10-13 Eagles
Obviously they couldn't do it and the Eagles take a three-point lead into the break.
Cincinnati came out flying and raced into a 10-point lead. However, Philly responded really well and Foles had an excellent second quarter, with the hosts scoring 13 unanswered points in the second 15.
The Bengals D was very effective however in two occasions defending 1st & goal - both those drives ended with field goals instead of touchdowns.
Green-Ellis gains two yards on the run before Dalton scrambles for another two to set up 3rd & 6. He throws and it's dropped by Gresham - he should have reeled that in! The punt caught on the 31. Philly can come again.
Brown is dropped short on the run for a loss of a yard and there's a late hit on Foles and a 15-yard penalty against the Bengals. Automatic first down.
More flags. This time it's an offensive foul for holding and it's 1st & 20 now. Brown runs and gains six, and an easy completion to Maclin through the middle completes the remaining 14.
Brown powers past a tackle to gain an extra few yards on first down for a total of eight. Then the space opens up for Lewis - and that's because of offensive holding, so there's another penalty and instead of first down it's 2nd & 12. Big hit on Lewis from Burfict loses another four and Philly call a timeout at 3rd & 16.
Another penalty straight after the restart and it's now 3rd & 21! They strangely opt to run and the blitz play on defence stops Brown for another loss of one. The punt goes long to the 15.
The run from Green-Ellis gains three yards before a huge SACK pushes the Bengals way back for 3rd & 14. SACK on third down, two running!
The punt of from the endzone and is returned to just inside Philly's own half. That was the sixth sack for Eagles this game! An incredible number.
On the first play it's an INTERCEPTION by Leon Hall, who returns it 44 yards to the Eagles 40!
The Bengals drive doesn't start well as an offensive penalty adds 10 yards to their required distance. Big run from Green-Ellis pegs back 16 of the yards and he picks up again to make the remaining four.
Green-Ellis tackles basically at the line of scrimmage for a gain of one. Dalton at risk of another sack is forced into an incomplete pass, to bring up 3rd & long. Fantastic gather by Green wide right brings up a Bengals first down.
Green-Ellis makes a decent gain of four yards before Dalton escapes more pressure to picks up the first down and 1st & goal.
TOUCHDOWN BENGALS!
Five-yard penalty for running out of time on the play - that is Bengals's 69th penalty yard. Dalton squeezes through a gap and, with no passing options, runs the 11 yards himself! The extra points is good. Bengals 17-13 Eagles
TOUCHDOWN BENGALS!
It's under review, but it should be given. Philly return Brown's kick to the 22, Harbor runs a good eight yards on the catch before FUMBLE from Brown - he doesn't seem to hold it properly and the ball pops out. Gilberry picks up and runs the 25 yards for the TD!
The kick is good! The score is now Bengals 24-13 Eagles
The return doesn't make it to the 20 and to make matters worst it's a penalty against the Eagles, so they begin on their nine. It's another FUMBLE!, this time by Harbor. Awful couple of minutes for the Eagles!
No gain on the Green-Ellis run, but it's another penalty against the offence. The quarter ends: Bengals 24-13 Eagles
Incomplete pass from Dalton sets up 2nd & 20. Andrew Hawkins picks up nine on second down, and the throw to the endzone is patted down and incomplete! They'll have to kick now.
FIELD GOAL BENGALS! They extend their lead, which is now: Bengals 27-13 Eagles
Unbelievable. It's yet another FUMBLE! Thornton tries to catch and it pops straight out. Bengals possession again.
Incomplete pass from Dalton, then Green-Ellis almost picks up the yardage but is stopped for a gain of seven. On 3rd & 3 the short pass is dropped and it will be a kick from the Bengals.
But wait! Penalty against the defence. A strange one, unsportsmanlike conduct I presume and Bengals get to start again close to goal.
TOUCHDOWN BENGALS!
Green-Ellis runs well again to the right and picks up eight. It's a throw on second down and Dalton picks out green in the corner, who brings it down complete. The kick is good and it's a big lead: Bengals 34-13 Eagles
After a penalty Eagles start from their own eight-yard line. Foles is SACKED for the first time tonight for a loss of three and Brown can only pick up a yard on second down with the run. Foles escapes the blitz but throws incomplete. It'll be a very deep punt.
The return gets just into the Philly half and Bengals start from a good position at the 45.
the first down ends with a loss of two yards from Green-Ellis, and he's then stopped at the line for 3rd & 12. Great run from Gresham, collecting the ball deep and powering through the tackles to make 12 yards.
Short gain by Green-Ellis on the run for two yards and he makes another three on second down. Leonard completes the remaining yardage with a run through the middle.
Bengals continue to run and Green-Ellis goes back over 100 yards with a single after his previous loss took him back under. Gresham knocked out of bounds right by the marker but is just short so it's 3rd & inches. Green-Ellis just squeezes through the middle to bring up another first down.
Leonard stopped at the line as Eagles call a timeout.
Leonard stopped for a loss this time and Philly go for another timeout.
On 3rd & 11 Herron makes six yards and the fourth down throw is caught out of bounds - no touchdown.
Foles incomplete with his first throw - likewise his second. The third goes long but Philly again fail to reel it in. Fantastic return from Tate on the punt and he gets the ball to about the Eagles 35.
But it's a 15-yard penalty for blindside blocking, which undoes that return.
Herron runs for two yards, and goes again but is stopped at the line. Dalton finds Gresham for a total of 13 yards, which brings up the two-minute warning.
They'll spike this out now, so final score: Bengals 34-13 Eagles!
It was Eagles who contributed to their own downfall at the end of that third quarter, but Bengals take a vital win to keep their playoff hopes well alive.
Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action. Stay with us for all the latest news! Good night.
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
