CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Bengals thought they were in a good spot.
After starting the season 1-3, the Bengals won back-to-back games and had a chance to get to .500 with a home game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Instead, that turned into the worst loss of the season, with turnovers and the continuing lack of a running game keeping Cincinnati (3-5) winless at home and still with lots of problems to solve.
The game was tied as late as the third quarter, but Philadelphia scored the last 20 points. The Bengals on their last three possessions turned the ball over on downs, threw an interception and fumbled the ball away as the Eagles ran away with the 37-17 win.
Quarterback Joe Burrow finished 26 for 37 for 234 yards with a touchdown and the fourth-quarter interception.
“We’ve just got to take responsibility for how we’re playing individually," Burrow said. “You’ve just got to focus on what you can do better to help your team win. I don’t think anybody was good enough today.”
Burrow doesn't see the season as lost.
“I think 10 wins usually gets you in (to the playoffs), so we’ve got to win seven out of nine. That’s doable, so we’ll go from there," he said. “We’ve done it before. I know the players we’ve got in there. You’ve just got to treat it week by week. Any game is winnable.”
What's working
Cincinnati started quickly, for a change. The opening drive went 70 yards, took more than 10 minutes off the clock and ended with a 2-yard TD pass from Burrow to Ja’Marr Chase. Cincinnati was 5 for 5 on third down on the drive, and 10 for 13 for the game.
What needs help
The ground game continues to be stuck in the mud. Chase Brown, Zack Moss and Burrow ran 20 times for 58 yards, an average of 2.9 yards per carry. The longest run was eight yards, and that was by Burrow. It doesn't help that the Bengals' best offensive lineman, Orlando Brown Jr., left the game with a knee injury.
Stock up
Chase caught nine of his 11 targets for 54 yards and a touchdown. He has at least one touchdown catch in five of the team's eight games. ... Burrow's 70.3% completion rate was his best since the 41-38 overtime loss to Baltimore on Oct. 6.
Stock down
The defense, which played well in the two previous games, allowed the Eagles nearly 400 yards of offense. Jalen Hurts went 16 for 20 passing for 236 yards and a touchdown, and he rushed for three TDs. Led by Saquon Barkley's 108 yards, the Eagles rushed for a total of 161. ... Evan McPherson missed another kick from 50-plus yards. He missed only two from that range over his first two seasons. Over the last two seasons, he has missed eight. He is 11 for 15 in field goals this season and has missed one PAT.
Injuries
WR Tee Higgins missed the game with a quad injury. OT Brown went out with a right knee injury, with Cody Ford replacing him. There's no word so far on whether either could play on Sunday.
Key number
89.8 — Average rushing yards per game for the Bengals this season.
Next steps
The Bengals will try to get back on track when they host the Las Vegas Raiders (2-6) on Sunday. The Raiders lost their fourth straight, falling to the Kansas City Chiefs 27-20.
“We’re better than what our record indicates, but your record is what your record is,” coach Zac Taylor said. “We’ve earned that. Again, we’ve put ourselves in a bad spot, but it’s not a spot that we can’t get ourselves out of.”
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Mitch Stacy, The Associated Press
