Things are looking up for both the Cincinnati Bengals and the Philadelphia Eagles but one of them has to take a backward step when they meet in Ohio on Sunday.

The Eagles have the better record going into the NFL Week 8 clash at Paycor Stadium at 4-2, while the Bengals are 3-4, but both teams are on two-game winning streaks after beating the same opponents.

Philadelphia had the better aggregate result in those games, beating the Browns 20-16 and the Giants 28-3, while the Bengals beat the Giants by a more modest 17-7 before overcoming Cleveland 21-14 in an AFC North showdown last week.

The Bengals are favourites and will be desperate for their first home win of the season after losing their first three games in front of their own fans.

Cincinnati Bengals vs Philadelphia Eagles betting tips

Eagles +2.5 @ 10/11

Saquon Barkley over 78.5 rushing yards @ 17/20

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Eagles can build on rout of Giants

The Eagles have not quite yet hit the performance levels that were expected of them this season, but their latest two wins have helped to stem the criticism that followed their defeats by the Falcons and Buccaneers.

Head coach Nick Sirianni was even getting flak from home fans after the Eagles beat the Browns in less convincing fashion than they would have wanted, but he earned plenty of goodwill with last week’s crushing success against the Giants.

The Eagles are just one win behind surprise leaders the Washington Commanders in the NFC East and could be in a strong position heading into their next divisional clash against the Dallas Cowboys if they win this game and beat the struggling Jaguars at home next week.

Philadelphia have one of the leading wide receiving duos in the league and they will be coming in fresh as the Eagles did almost all of their damage against the Giants on the ground. 

Quarterback Jalen Hurts had just 114 passing yards in the road win, with five of his completions going to AJ Brown for 89 yards, while DeVonta Smith caught just one pass. 

The Eagles went into that game without tight end Dallas Goedert and he could again be missing this week, but it’s likely that Saquon Barkey and the Eagles running game will lead the way once more against a vulnerable Cincinnati defence.

The Bengals are getting their act together after a 1-4 start to the season, but their defence has yet to provide much support for their offensive stars. 

Their stats look a little better after facing the weak offences of the Giants and Browns in their last two games, but they had conceded 129 points in their previous four outings and could be under pressure again this week.

Safety Geno Stone is a doubt for the Bengals due to a shin injury and the Eagles look the better value on the handicap getting a 2.5-point start.

Barkley can continue sensational start

Saquon Barkley is having a fantastic first season with the Eagles after leaving the Giants and is averaging almost 110 rushing yards per game, with 658 on the board after just six games.

The former second overall pick already has three 100-yard games this season, culminating in last week’s 176 yards on just 17 carries against the Giants.

Barkley has gone over his rushing yards line for this game in five of his six appearances this year, with the Browns being the only team who could hold him under 50 yards as he posted just 47 on 18 carries in that game.

The Bengals defence gave up 175 rushing yards to the Ravens in Week 5, with running back Derrick Henry getting 92 of them on 15 carries and they could struggle against another superstar running back this week.

All odds correct at time of writing

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