Cincinnati Bengals At Philadelphia Eagles: All You Need To Know

Game: Cincinnati Bengals (7-6) at Philadelphia Eagles (4-9)
Time: 8:20 PM (ET)
Location: Lincoln Financial Field
Series Leader: Bengals, 7-3-1
Streak: 2-1-1 record over the last four games
Coaches vs. Opponent: Lewis 1-0-1. Reid: 1-1-1
Broadcast: NFLN (8:20 PM ET): Brad Nessler, Mike Mayock, Alex Flanagan (Field reporter). Dial Global Radio: Ian Eagle, Boomer Esiason, Rocky Boiman (Field reporter).SIRIUS: 88 (DGR), 94 (Cin.), 93 (Phi.). XM: 88 (DGR), 225 (Cin.), 226 (Phi.)
SB Nation: Bleeding Green Nation
NFL.com: Game Center
Weather: Clear skies and 39 degrees [Weather Underground]
Uniform: White

BENGALS AT COWBOYS HUB

Stories, preview, report and updates regarding Thursday's game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Cincinnati Bengals. [NOTE: Since this was a short week, many of our Bengals and Eagles stories are surfacing throughout the day on Thursday]

POSTSEASON THOUGHTS

Despite losing to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, which would have given Cincinnati a one-game advantage over the Steelers while only one game off the pace of the division leading Baltimore Ravens, the Cincinnati Bengals very much control their own destiny.

Beating the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday puts the pressure back on Pittsburgh against the Cowboys in Dallas on Sunday. Ultimately neither team will bounce ahead of the other due to the mega-showdown coming in Week 16.

ROOKIE DRE KIRKPATRICK OUT

Bengals cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick has already been declared out this Thursday against the Philadelphia Eagles, presumably because he hasn't passed concussion tests. Running back Cedric Peerman and place kicker Mike Nugent, though doubtful, aren't expected to play.

The Eagles have five players out, including quarterback Michael Vick, running back LeSean Mccoy, tight end Brent Celek, safety Kurt Coleman and defensive tackle Mike Patterson.

You can find the week in injury and practice updates here.

THURSDAY NIGHT HISTORY AND FUTURE

[From an assortment of postings earlier in the week]

Since the NFL Network began airing Thursday Night Football in 2006, the Bengals have gone 1-2 on Thursday Nights; also lost a Saturday Night game to the 49ers (2007) using the Thursday Night Football brand, so 1-3 based on your technicalities. The Bengals beat the Ravens 13-7 in 2006, then loss to the Steelers (2008) and Jets (Thanksgiving in 2010).

After the game concludes Thursday night with hopefully a postgame interview with Andy Dalton and A.J. Green on the NFL Network set, the Bengals will have 10 days to allow injuries, nicks and bruises to heal, while taking advantage of the added time game-planning against the Pittsburgh Steelers in what will be the Game of the Century of the Week.

Yet how much does a Thursday Night Football game benefit a team the following week?

Not much.

Sure the injuries will heal, teams feel healthier with what could be described as a mini-bye week. Yet teams that played on Thursday Night Football this season are a collective 9-15 the following week; including four games in which both teams lost their next games. A caveat at least is that teams that won Thursday Night Football games are 5-7 the following week.

AGAINST THE NFC

The Bengals opened their series against the NFC in a Week Three with a 38-31 win over the Washington Redskins, knocking Robert Griffin III around with five quarterback sacks, 11 additional hits on the quarterback and 12 pressures.

In Week 10 the Bengals broke a four-game skid against the New York Giants, beating the NFC East division leaders 31-13 with four sacks on Eli Manning, five additional hits and 11 pressures.

Then last week against the Cowboys, the Bengals were trailing for only 1:55 of the game, but lost on a clock-expiring field goal to end the game. It's the only time the Bengals have trailed this year against an NFC team.

EAGLES CONNECTIONS TO CINCINNATI

Perhaps most notable is Eagles defensive end Trent Cole, who played at Xenia High School and the University of Cincinnati. Eagles tight end Brent Celek, who attended LaSalle high School, also played at the University of Cincinnati where he finished third in school history for a tight end in receptions (91) and touchdowns (14). Center Matt Tennant is also from Cincinnati. Safety Kurt Coleman is also a former The Ohio State University Buckeye.

Eagles secondary/safeties coach Mike Zordich is from Youngstown, Ohio and special teams coordinator Bobby April coached the secondary at Ohio State in 1990.

BENGALS CONNECTIONS TO PHILADELPHIA

Bengals wide receiver Andrew Hawkins calls Johnstown, Pennsylvania his hometown, while Chris Harris, Jeromy Miles and Chris Pressley grew up within 50 miles of Philadelphia.

Bengals running backs coach Jim Anderson was born in Harrisburg, PA while linebackers coach Paul Guenther is from Richboro, PA, 30 miles outside of Philly.

DNP - Did Not Participate
LP - Limited Participation
FP - Full Participation

Game Status
Out = Player will not play
Doubtful = 25% chance a player will play
Questionable = 50% chance a player will play
Probable = 75% chance a player will play
(-) = Not Listed - No game status available