Even though the Bengals will likely be without WR Tee Higgins, they are still in a favorable spot to continue their mid-season turnaround following a disastrous start. Their defense has stiffened up, allowing just 21 points total over the past two games, and the Eagles have been a bit one-dimensional on offense.

I question both offenses and defenses, but buy that the Bengals have gotten comfortable with a zone scheme no longer giving away chunk yards and explosive TDs. Eagles have to run their offense through Saquan and they are more methodical. Eagles 9-3 to the under on road sine start of last season, averaging 40.5 total points. Jalen Hurts is 13-6 to the under in 10 road starts since the start of 2022. These teams both played the Giants and Browns the last 2 weeks and none of those games totaled more than 36 points. Bengals couldn't even produce 305 net yards in either of those games and no Tee Higgins is a big deal, too. Eagles have allowed 16 or less in 3 of 4.

Jalen Hurts and Joe Burrow will square off in an exciting QB duel. However, I'm not expecting a barnburner necessarily. The Eagles remain without elite Tackle Jordan Mailata, and starting TE Dallas Goedert. The Bengals may now be without their WR2 Tee Higgins, who hurt his quad during the team's Friday practice. The Bengals defense couldn't stop a nosebleed for the first several weeks of this season, but since returning DT's B.J Hill and Sheldon Rankins, their run defense has improved significantly. The Eagles defense has also started to improve after a shaky start, as they begin to gel with new DC Vic Fangio's system and scheme. Referee John Hussey is calling this game, who is one of my favorite 'Under' refs in football.

Philly's Saquon Barkley has topped this number in every game this season but one. Cincinnati has is allowing 136 rushing yards per game and has given up the second-most rushing first downs (65) in the league.

Zack Moss has done nothing to earn more work for the Bengals -- he's rushed just six times in each of his past two games and is under 15 rush yards in each. In fact he's averaged a cool 2.1 yards per carry in his past three games combined. He's remained the Bengals' passing-downs back while Chase Brown has handled the bulk of the carries. Of the nine running backs was over 25 rush yards against the Eagles, eight have had at least eight carries, a number I just don't see Moss getting, especially if the Bengals find themselves trailing in the second half.

Barkley has at least 84 rushing yards in 5 of 6 games this season. I think the Eagles proved last week that even without left tackle Jordan Mailata, they can still push people around. Four running backs have hit at least 80 yards against the Bengals this year -- all had at least 90 yards, actually -- and they all had at least 15 carries. In fact the only RBs to NOT get 80-plus rush yds with at least 15 carries were Tyrone Tracy and Brian Robinson Jr. Barkley, by the way, has at least 15 carries in 5 of 6 games.

In what should be a potential shootout, Jalen Hurts' passing yardage total is way too low. He has thrown for 264 or more yards in 3 of 6 games, while both mobile QBs they have faced, Lamar Jackson and Jayden Daniels have thrown for 348 and 254 yards respectively. In one of the highest totaled games of the week, I think this line is 10-15 yards too low.

The Bengals D looks better the last two weeks, but let's not lose sight of who they were playing - the offensive inept Browns and Giants. This is a very different task. Barkley is the identity of the Eagles attack right now, with Jalen Hurts not in the greatest form throwing it deep and the offensive line able to road grade. He has 112+ scrimmage yards in 5 of the last 6 games and is at 84 rushing yards alone in 5 of 6. He's good for catching 2-3 balls and has the ability to take a screen pass to the house. I expect this to be a close game for them on the road and the ball to be in his hands a ton.

Both teams won with relative ease in Week 7 but neither was particularly impressive. The Eagles took advantage of the Giants not having Andrew Thomas to dominate the trenches, but the offense hit exactly one play in the passing game and then just ran the ball to victory. The Browns had their typical Browns struggles but I expect Joe Burrow to get back on track against a Philly defense that has struggled against any O-line with a pulse. Feel free to wait and see Orlando Brown's status but it seems like he'll be OK for this game, and I want to jump on this now before it gets to -3.