The Philadelphia Eagles, coming off their recent Super Bowl victory, are kicking off their preseason with a home game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Lincoln Financial Field. This offseason brought significant offensive coaching changes for the Eagles, promoting Kevin Paturo to offensive coordinator after Kellen Moore left to lead the New Orleans Saints. Meanwhile, the Bengals ended last season with a 9-8 record, missing the playoffs for the second year straight. They have brought in Al Golden, formerly Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator, to strengthen their defense, which was ranked 25th last season.
Bengals coach Zach Taylor mentioned that some starters, including star quarterback Joe Burrow—who led the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns last year—will see playing time in Thursday’s game. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni has yet to decide if his starting lineup will face Cincinnati. According to current NFL betting odds, the Bengals are favored by 6.5 points after initially being underdogs by 1.5. This game stands out in a busy Thursday sporting landscape that includes three NFL games, four MLB matchups, and three WNBA contests.
Other key Thursday games include the Ravens vs. Colts, with Baltimore’s John Harbaugh holding a strong preseason record, and the Raiders vs. Seahawks, where former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll faces his old team. In MLB, the Cincinnati Reds aim to bolster their playoff chances against the Pittsburgh Pirates, while the Miami Marlins start a series against the struggling Atlanta Braves. WNBA features the Atlanta Dream visiting the Chicago Sky, and the Phoenix Mercury hosting the Indiana Fever in closely contested playoff races.
Looking ahead to Friday, a possible World Series preview is set with the Toronto Blue Jays, leading the American League, facing the Los Angeles , the reigning World Series champions, in a three-game series at Stadium.
Fan Take: This preseason action is pivotal for baseball fans as it sets the tone for teams on the cusp of playoff contention and highlights potential postseason showdowns. The clash between the Blue Jays and , in particular, hints at a thrilling World Series rematch that could captivate fans across the sport.
