2024 NFL season, Week 8: What we learned from Sunday's games.

Full box score

Eric Edholm's Takeaway:

1. The Eagles are hot again after their third win in a row. The Eagles have looked like a different team since the bye, with their defensive improvement leading the way. The Bengals gained 175 yards on their first three drives, but they missed a field goal on the third drive to keep it a one-score game. After the Eagles' offense warmed up, despite the cornerbacks, the defense took over in the third quarter ororDarius Slayoror (groin) left the game. After the Eagles took a 24-17 lead, they stopped the Bengals with a rookie fourth down. ororCooper Designoror coping ororJa'mar Chaseoror For the loss that is followed by a terrible obstacle ororChauncey Gardner-JohnsonororWith a big help from ororIsaiah Rogersororwho tipped passes directly to his teammates. Believe it or not, this was the Eagles' first takeaway from Week 3 and their third of the season. Turnover No. 4 came on the next series ororJack Bownoror From knocking the ball loose ororMike GesickiororThat led to an insurance field goal from the Eagles. Things looked bleak early as the Bengals drove down the field, but the Eagles rallied well and had their best defensive showing against a top offense this season.
2. The Bengals started fast but faded quickly, as the season slipped away. The Bengals fell to 0-4 in Cincinnati this season and 3-5 overall, led 10-3 early and controlled the clock but couldn't sustain the momentum. A missed field goal and three turnovers on offense (one on downs) stifled the offense, and Cincinnati's defense allowed the Eagles to score on six possessions starting in the second quarter and ending the game. to lose ororOrlando Brownoror Bengals blocking hit by mid-game injury; Brown's substitution, ororCody FordororHold his own, but ororJoe Barooror Faced more pressure and had just 65 second-half pass yards, plus an interception. On the flip side, the Eagles quarterback ororJalen gets hurtoror The Bengals had to throw through the day with little to no pressure. Hurts was 9 for 9 for 150 yards and finished with one TD pass and three rushing TDs after halftime.
3. The Eagles' offense also deserves praise. This game wasn't about the Eagles' defense. After finding themselves in an early hole — and their eighth straight scoreless first quarter on offense to start the season — Jalen Hurts and the Eagles' big dogs came through. Hurts threw for a score and ran for three more TDs, with only four incompletions on the day, which came in the first quarter. ororDevonta Smithoror Hurts' only TD pass, a gorgeous over-the-shoulder throw and catch. AJ Brown and ororGrant Calcuttersoror Also the passing game came up big. ororSaquon Barkleyoror The play also came up strong with 73 second-half yards. For a team missing three offensive starters (ororJordan Mailataoror, ororMekhi Bectonoror, ororDallas Goedertoror), the Eagles found their rhythm after another slow start to score 27 points after halftime, more than they have scored in four entire games this season.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Eagles-Bengals (via NFL Pro): Eagles left tackle Fred Johnson has allowed just one pressure on 22 pass-blocking snaps (4.5%), his lowest pressure rate allowed this season. Johnson allowed one pressure on Bengals' Trey Hendrickson in 13 matchups (7.7%), giving Hendrickson the second-lowest pressure rate of any offensive lineman this season (minimum five matchups).

NFL Research: It was Hurts' first career game with three or more rushing TDs and one or more passing TDs. He is the 13th player to achieve it in a regular-season game and the first since Tessom Hill (Week 5, 2022).