Outside of die-hard fans and the backups who are fighting for roster spots, most people don’t pay much attention to preseason games. They’re essentially NFL friendlies… Fun to watch, but meaningless in the standings. Still, they carry one undeniable appeal: They signal that football is back.
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This year, however, the preseason matchup between the Eagles, the defending champions, and the Browns is generating more buzz than usual. And with a pretty valid reason.
The fans are eager to see Joe Burrow and Jalen Hurts share the field, giving them a showdown between two top-10 quarterbacks.
Burrow, who rarely plays in the preseason, has made it clear he intends to suit up. Head coach Zac Taylor explained that the Bengals are looking for an early-season spark to avoid their typical slow start in September.
Cincinnati has often stumbled out of the gate, and Burrow has struggled to deliver peak performances early in the year. Playing preseason snaps, he believes, could help him hit the ground running.
But for Burrow, Thursday night’s game isn’t just about shaking off the rust. It’s also about making a statement. While the Eagles own Super Bowl rings, Burrow wants to remind everyone that when it comes to pure quarterback talent and individual production, he is still one of the best.
Burrow started the game for the Bengals and made an instant dent on the Eagles’ defense by scoring two touchdowns in his first two drives. Though he only played just the first quarter, he left the field leading the Eagles by 14-0.
He completed 9 of his 10 passes, throwing for 123 yards for two touchdowns and no interceptions. Later in the game, the Eagles came back and won 27-34 after Tanner McKee threw for a spectacular 20 of 25 passes for 252 yards and two scores.
Although McKee later helped the Eagles win the game, but Burrow’s electric cameo was certainly more assertive.
