For most active followers of the NFL, this Sunday's game involving the Philadelphia Eagles and the Cincinnati Bengals means absolutely nothing. At the beginning of the season, this would have been one of the best games of the season—if we looked at it on paper.
The Bengals, who most thought would have one of the best offenses in football, led by Carson Palmer, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and Chad Ocho Cinco.
The Eagles, who seem to be contenders just about every season, would once again be led by Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook, and Brian Dawkins.
At the beginning of the season, most people assumed this game would have much more meaning.
Most fans thought the Bengals would be in the running for the AFC North title. They pretty much have the same exact offense that led them to the playoffs for the first time in 15 years back in 2005.
As far as Eagles fans go, everybody knew the "NFC Beast" would be a tough division to win. With the division representing three teams in the playoffs the past two seasons, the Eagles knew how important each game meant this season. The addition of cornerback Asante Samuel and a healthy defense at the beginning of the season, the Eagles saw themselves as one of the teams to beat in the NFL.
Instead, we are getting two teams who find themselves at the bottom of their division with the Bengals sitting at 1-8 and the Eagles at 5-4.
Only one word can describe the season for these two teams: frustration.
Nobody expected the Cincinnati Bengals to pick up their first win of the season nine weeks into the season.
Everybody knew the Eagles had a tough schedule ahead of them in the 2008 season. However, the fact that the Eagles' four losses this year have been by a combined 19 points shows that this team is better than their 5-4 record.
At this point, the Bengals chances of making the playoffs are about as good as one of my roommates landing a date with Jessica Alba (sorry boys, but that will never happen).
- B/R Ticket Guide
As much as I hate to say it, the only way the Eagles will be playing in January is if they make a wild-card spot. The Giants have shown the league over the past few weeks why they are reigning Super Bowl Champions and seem like they are going to pull away with the NFC East this season.
With all that has happened this season, the matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Cincinnati Bengals means everything to me.
As some of you know, I am currently a senior at the University of Dayton out in Ohio. One of the hardest decisions about attending a college that is about 10 hours away from Philadelphia?
1. Ten hours away from family.
2. Ten hours away from friends.
3. Ten hours away from the Philly sports teams that I have grown up to love.
Yes, I was one of about five fans on campus that actually cared when the Phillies won the World Series. However, just because I am so far away from my favorite sports teams doesn't mean I'm going to act any different about them.
One of the biggest adjustments I made in college was getting used to the idea that my Philadelphia teams wouldn't be televised on a weekly basis. Instead, I had to get used to the fact that football and baseball season meant Bengals and Reds on the sports channels.
One day during my freshman year, I remember browsing the Eagles Web site about upcoming games in the future. When I saw they would be traveling to Cincinnati during the 2008 season, I made a commitment to myself that I would attend the game no matter what.
Just like thousands of other diehard fans, I have been lucky enough to experience numerous Eagles games at the Linc. But how many fans have had the opportunity to see their favorite team play in a different city other than Philadelphia?
Most fans who attend Eagles games on the road have to deal with hotel cost and airfare on top of the money they spend to get the tickets for the game. Luckily, I'm close enough where it will only be an hour and a half's worth of gas.
Instead of being in an environment where there are thousands of fans cheering along with me for the Eagles to win, I will be in an environment where there will be thousands of fans cheering against my team. If the Eagles score, Bengals fans will have to listen to me cheer. If the Bengals score, I will have to listen to thousands of fans cheer. Either way, it should be an interesting experience.
Nov. 16, 2008, is a day I have been waiting for ever since I came to Dayton in 2005. It has been quite the experience being an Eagles fan in the state of Ohio for the last couple of years.
I haven't been able to watch the Eagles games from my house on a weekly basis like I would if I went to a school in Philadelphia. However, I still don't let the fact that I'm in Ohio now stop me from watching them.
If I'm lucky enough to have the game on Fox, CBS, ESPN, or NBC, I'll watch it with some of my friends from home. If not, I just find a local sports bar with NFL Ticket so I can watch my Birds live.
This week, I get to watch them live from Paul Brown Stadium. I have recruited every Bengals fan I know to attend the game with me (since Bengals tickets are affordable now) to make the experience even more exciting.
I'm not saying the Eagles are going to come out and destroy the Bengals. On any given Sunday, any team has the potential to do the imaginable.
I'm just excited to actually attend an Eagles game while I'm still in Ohio.
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about 1 month ago
hope they get a win for you, otherwise you will be gald that you are no where near Philly on Monday morning!
from about 1 month ago
If the Eagles lose to the Bengals, Philly may not exist come Monday morning.
about 1 month ago
That's awesome, Dan! There's still an outside chance I'll be driving up. Our corporate office is in Cincinnati, and I'm waiting to hear if one of my connections is going to be able to score tickets for me. It's about a 4-hour drive for me, so I may do the up-and-back thing. Not ideal, but I haven't seen an Eagles game live since 2005, since I left DC. If my memory serves me, the last home Eagles game I saw was against Boomer Esiason's Bengals at the Vet with my dad in 1997, when Bobby Hoying led the Birds down the field on a last-minute drive to win 44-42. Everyone left the stadium chanting, "BOBBY! BOBBY!"
Hoying never did anything like that ever again.
from about 1 month ago
That be awesome if you got tickets to the game Jim! I'm not going to lie, snagging some tickets shouldn't be too hard considering a lot of Bengal fans have been more than willing to sell them lately. I got mine for a pretty cheap price.
And what Birds fan could forget about Bobby Hoying? It was fun for the short time that it lasted. My favorite Bobby Hoying memory is opening day 98 season. I was there and the Eagles got destroyed by the Seahawks 38-0.
Thank you Bobby Hoying
from about 1 month ago
My brother and I used to go to the Redskins-Eagles game every year while we were both in DC. The game always seemed to be in the cold months, and my friend was a season ticket holder. A lot of that was during the Steve Spurrier era, so by December most Skins fans had given up on the season. The upper decks would be filled with Eagles fans, and we would lead our section in "Fly Eagles, Fly." We didn't exactly make too many friends with the loyal locals, though!
about 1 month ago
Going as a fan of the visiting team to any game is always a lot of fun, but especially more so if you have been waiting that long to see them!
Good luck this weekend! Let's show the world that the NFC East really is the best division in the NFL!!
from about 1 month ago
Thanks Ryan! I'm looking forward to the game!
about 1 month ago
Dan,
I can relate. Being a Detroit Lions fan living/growing up in Orlando required my dad and I to find the sports bar that had sattelite telecasts of the games (before DirecTv and NFL Sunday Ticket). Then, in 2000, I moved to Virginia when I joined the Navy. Virginia is Redskins country and I again have to find a sports bar to watch the games on DirecTV. Every so often though, like this coming Sunday, the Lions play a road game that is semi-close to me (in Carolina) and I'll make the trip to see them live. I hope you have a blast and that your Eagles win.
Try not to get any beer thrown on you.
~ Scott
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for the comments Scott. I'm glad others understand the frustration of trying to find a place to watch their favorite teams play. Carolina sounds like a sweet place to see a game live. Hopefully Culpepper and Johnson can establish that "Culpepper-Moss" connection we saw a few years ago.
Hopefully I don't get beer thrown at me because it's supposed to rain.....
about 1 month ago
dan, that's awesome. it's on my list of things to do: go to an opposing team's stadium to watch my team. granted, it's not a huge rivalry, but there's something to be said for representing your team in an opposing team's stadium. for me, i'd love to cheer for my beloved tar heels in cameron at duke.
it's tough when you move away from your home town and can no longer easily access your team's games. it's my worst fear, to move from atlanta and not be able to see the falcons without doing as you said, find a bar, wait for the game of the week, or get the ticket. i'm too frugal with my money, but that's one expense for which i'd probably have to shell out.
i hope you have fun at the game...
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for the comments Daniel! I had the opportunity to travel to Atlanta a few years ago to watch the Eagles open up the 2005 season against the Falcons and that was an awesome time. I hope the trip to Cincinnati will be just as fun. Atlanta fans were awesome to watch the game with. We were messing around the entire time bashing on each other's teams but we all knew that it was all in good fun. That dome gets so loud it's insane!
about 1 month ago
I went to the Browns-Bengals game in Cincy last year, looking at the highlights of that game you can understand how it wasn't the most pleasant of days. However it's pretty cool seeing your teams' fans load up another teams' stands. One thing, do you really think there won't be that many Eagles fans there? Don't be shocked if you less of a minority than you think
from about 1 month ago
Honestly, I know there are going to be tons of Eagles fans out in Cinci. Especially since Bengals tickets are afforadable right now, I'm sure I'll be making tons of new friends this weekend.
about 1 month ago
Sweet, Dan. I hope they win (it's my birthday and they have never lost on the day of my birthday). Plus, it's the Bengals. We better not lose that.
Enjoy it man.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks Cody. I hope your birthday wish comes true haha.
about 1 month ago
Dan-
Nice article buddy...I can definitely sympathize with going to college and not being close to the team you love most. Some will say, 10 hours away? That's nothing! But it really is. When I went down to Santa Barbara from San Francisco, I had no radio coverage, and no TV coverage of my Giants...Instead I was subjected to the F-ing Dodgers, Angels, Lakers, Clippers, blah blah blah..It was the worst thing about going to college in SoCal.
The Eagles will destroy the Bengals, and you'll love every minute of it.
Have fun!
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for the comments Rory! I've enjoyed listening to everyone's stories about living away from their favorite teams. The good thing about this year is that I have a sports bar that is literally a one minute walk from my house and they have both the NFL Ticket/MLB Package.
I'm hoping for a big Eagles win on Sunday.....thanks again!
about 1 month ago
Dan nice article. I don't think you'll be the only eagles fan in cincy
from about 1 month ago
Thanks Merrick. I'm not too worried, I know there will be plenty of green throughout Paul Brown Stadium.
about 1 month ago
Dude this was such a good article. Pick of the Day. The Eagles will not lose or my birthday is 100% ruined. We killed the Giants on my birthday in 2003 (28-10) and we tied the Ravens on my birthday in 1997 (10-10).....I say Eagles 34 Cincinnati 13...there's no way we can lose....
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for the comments Bryn and the POTD. This week is a must win situation and I don't see the Birds having too much trouble this weekend. If they've won on your birthday all the other years, I can easily see it happen again. I got the Birds by 20+.
about 1 month ago
What annoys me is seeing that the Eagles are 1-1 lifetime against the Bengals under Andy Reid....we're 1-0. The blowout loss in 2004 on the last game of the year should not count because we rested our starters and if we had wanted to win, we would have. Remember that game? 38-10 loss.
from about 1 month ago
The blowout loss shouldn't count. We clinched homefield so early that we didn't have to play our guys the last 2 weeks of the season. That Bengals game was a joke. What's even funnier is the fact that we had the Monday Night Game the week before against St. Louis and McNabb came out after the first quarter.
about 1 month ago
You should come to Utah. We get Eagles games quite regularly. Of course (thankfully) the Broncos are the primary team we watch, but other than that, our CBS and FOX affiliates give us the best of the rest. This season, that has meant a lot of NFC East matchups, which of course includes the Eagles. In any case, for your sake I hope the Eagles win because if they don't Howard Eskin and his buddies will go insane on WIP. Poor Merrill Reese would have a heart attack and since I like him, I don't want that to happen.
from about 1 month ago
That's awesome about Utah. I'm glad you guys get the best games out there. A lot of times out here there will be two great teams playing but we won't get the games because of the Bengals or Browns games. I don't even want to know what would happen to Eskin and Reese if the Eagles lost on Sunday.
about 1 month ago
Great article Dan. I went to the 12 sack massacre in 2007 thinking that the Giants defense which had given up 97 points through three games would bow to the mighty Eagles offense which was coming off of a 56 point performance a week prior...we all know how this game ended. I was the loud Philly fan that was yelling whenever we stopped them for a 1-yard gain or the offense got a first down....but there were many a Eagles fan to accompany me in that cheering. You're experience this Sunday hopefully will be great and the Eagles dominate like they should. I have a feeling that there will be LOADS of Eagles fans at Paul Brown Stadium. Anyway great article and enjoy you'reself this Sunday.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for the comments Orlando. And as much as I hate to say it, I do remember that disaster in 2007 against the Giants. I hae a feeling there is going to be a huge Eagles fan base at P.B. Stadium this weekend. I'm excited for it!
about 1 month ago
i've been waiting for this game for years. i'm a bengals fan and my brother is an eagles fan. yeah, i know philly is probably gonna dominate. but i knew that when the bengals started out 0-8. here's hoping the next few years will be better!
from about 1 month ago
I know exactly how you feel. A lot of my friends at school here are die-hard Bengals fans. My girlfriend is a die-hard Bengals fan too so that is going to be a lot of fun. Thanks for the comments!
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