Six games are gone. 11 games remain. The Philadelphia Eagles are in good shape at 4-2. They and the surprising Washington Commanders are atop the NFC East. Things will tighten as we move forward. Washington's next step in their journey is a home date versus the Chicago Bears. The latter is also 4-2 on the season.
Philly's next opponent is one they don't see very often, the AFC North's Cincinnati Bengals. Cincy has endured long stretches of bad football which might make one believe the Birds have a stranglehold on this series historically. That, however, isn't the case.
Unless you're a football junkie (like us), you might be alarmed to know the all-time tally is surprisingly tilted in favor of 'the Bungles'. But, the story gets better. Week 8 is an early must-win game for our Birds if they want to keep pace with those pesky Commanders, but it's also a chance to break a strange jinx.
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The Philadelphia Eagles have never beaten the Bengals in Cincinnati.
Historically, the Eagles and Bengals have met on the field 14 times, and Cincinnati leads the all-time series with a 9-3-2 advantage. Strange things just seem to happen when these two meet.
The most recent clash in 2020 produced one of those ties. Philly hasn't won since 2000 on Christmas Eve. The Browns won in 2005, 2012, and 2016. The combined score was a staggering 105-37.
The other tie between these two occurred in 2008, but something must be noted. Paycor Stadium, formerly known as Paul Brown Stadium has been a house of horrors for Philadelphia.
That's right friends. The Eagles have never beaten the Bengals in Cincinnati.
The Birds and Bengals have met in Cincy to play a game five times. They are 0-4-1 with losses occurring in 1971, 1979, 1994, and 2016. It's time to end that jinx.
Philadelphia knows a thing or two about breaking jinxes. Previously unbeaten in 12 games versus the NY Jets, Gang Green took care of business vs. the Eagles last season. Hopefully, good fortune will be on Philly's side. A win would elevate them to a 5-2 record which would provide for a nice flight home.