Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cincinnati Bengals Week 8: Odds, Predictions, Picks & Best Bets

The Bengals may be sub-.500, but they are way better than their record indicates. All four of their losses have come by one score and a combined 15 points.

The Eagles have been playing tight games all year and are 3-1 in one-possession games. They’ve also gotten healthier since their Week 5 bye with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith both returning from injuries.

But when Philadelphia is right, it’s a run-first offense that hits deep and intermediate passing plays after establishing Barkley and Hurts through the run-pass option. Cincinnati has gotten gashed on the ground, ranking 22nd against the run (136.1 yards against per game).

Conversely, the Eagles’ defense ranks 10th in passing yards against per game (189.2), but may struggle to contain Joe Burrow & Co. Philadelphia’s defensive numbers are also skewed by allowing only 43 passing yards to the Giants on Sunday, as they’re giving up 218.4 yards per game through the air otherwise.

But even though he has a 14:2 TD/INT ratio and is completing 70.4% of his passes, Burrow hasn’t had a breakout game in a win yet, as his best performances have come in losses.

This game may come down to red-zone efficiency. For all of their early-season warts, the Eagles have been excellent at forcing opponents to kick field goals. Philadelphia has allowed just seven red-zone TDs in 18 trips, the second-best rate in football. Meanwhile, Cincinnati ranks 27th in red-zone TDs against.

There should be yards galore in this game, but if the Eagles score touchdowns and the Bengals kick field goals, Philly will win. That’s why we’re backing the Eagles to go on the road and pull off the upset.

If you’re backing the Eagles to win outright, of course you’ll want to bet on the +3 spread. Conversely, if you like the Bengals, getting them at -3 is a no-brainer as well.

Philadelphia has been good in close games over the past two seasons, going 9-4 in games decided by six points or fewer. However, Cincinnati is just 0-4 in such games this season, giving us another reason to take the Eagles.

Give us Philadelphia +3.

This total is befitting of teams with two elite offenses and mediocre defenses. Cincinnati has been stingier lately, allowing only 21 points in its past two games combined, but those games came against two of the worst offenses in the league (Browns and Giants).

The Bengals are averaging 27 points per game at home despite managing just 10 against the lowly New England Patriots in Week 1. Philadelphia is scoring 27.3 points per game when Brown plays, which makes sense since his presence puts more pressure on opposing defenses.

This should be one of the most entertaining games of Week 8 and could exceed 50 total points. We’ll back the Over.

Evan McPherson Over 7.5 Kicking Points (+100)

We detailed the Eagles’ stingy red-zone defense, which could lead to a handful of short field goals for McPherson, who has yet to miss a kick inside 50 yards this season.

McPherson has gone under this total in three straight weeks but is due for a rebound after going 3-1 against this prop through Week 4. Philadelphia is giving up 8.2 kicking points per game this season, and McPherson should get multiple field-goal attempts after notching just one in each of his last three games.

We’ll back McPherson to surpass eight kicking points on Sunday.

A.J. Brown Anytime Touchdown Scorer (+145)

We mentioned Brown’s importance to the Eagles’ offense, as he leads the team in receiving yards and touchdowns despite missing three games.

We also detailed Cincinnati’s struggles against the pass, which may be a problem against Philadelphia’s balanced offense. The Bengals have allowed 11 receiving touchdowns, tied for sixth-most in the NFL.

Barkley (-160) is almost a lock to score at least once on Sunday. But if this game is going to be a shootout, taking the plus odds for Brown to score is an absolute must, especially since he’s averaging one TD per game.

• Moneyline: Eagles (+124). The Eagles have rescued their season from falling into the abyss and should remain on track for the playoffs with a huge road win.
• Spread: Eagles +3 (-118). The Eagles win close games and the Bengals lose them. If Philadelphia wins, it automatically covers the spread.
• Over/Under: Over 48 (-112). Both teams have elite offensive players, and Cincinnati’s defense is too porous for this number not to hit.
• Evan McPherson Over 7.5 Kicking Points (+100). The Eagles are stingy in the red zone and give up an average of eight kicking points per game, so McPherson should be busy.
• A.J. Brown Anytime Touchdown Scorer (+145). Brown has three touchdowns in three games and is a good bet to score against the Bengals’ weak secondary.