The Bengals started out quick with a 60 yard kickoff return that setup a 21 YD pass to Ricks. Early on Palmer also threw an INT which led to an Eagles Field Goal, making it 7-3 Bengals. After the Bengals failed to advance they punted it away but quickly got the football back thanks to a fumble.
Shortly after the 2nd quarter began the Bengals nailed a 47 YD field goal to make the score 10-3. After the Eagles failed to make it on 3rd and inches the Bengals got the ball back and again marched up field to only be stopped on the 36. Shayne Graham missed a 50+ YD field goal giving the Eagles good field position to try and tie the game. The next drive the Eagles were again stopped thanks to defensive pressure on McNabb. But the Eagles got the ball back after James fumbled the return. Thurman and the defense made it extremely tough, Thurman picked up two sacks on just this very short drive. The eagles barely made a 54 YD field goal, making it 10-6 Bengals.
Shortly after getting it back however, Palmer threw his second pick of the game allowing the Eagles to score a TD and take the lead 13-10. The Bengals shortly however responded, including a 30 YD run from Rudi down to the Eagles 32 YD line. After several more runs by Rudi, a 1 YD pass to Rudi got them the TD and the lead 17-3. The drive took just 2:39 and spanned 67 yards. The bengals came back and once again forced the eagles to punt with 47 seconds left until halftime. Palmer lead the offense to the Eagles 25 YD line with excellent time management allowing Shayne Graham to kick a 42 YD field goal, which he made. The Bengals went up 20-13 to end the half. The story of the 1st half was the Bengals defense and there outstanding 6 sacks!
After half-time within just 10 seconds, the Eagles fumbled twice! But both times they recovered. After a short drive the Eagles had to punt which was returned to the 26. Afterwards the Bengals and Eagles exchanged punts for the rest of the quarter, ending the 3rd quarter.
Thanks to 2 holding penalties in a row by stacy andrews, the Bengals ended up being forced to punt when faced with 4th and 24. The Bengals marched up later on to the 37 YD line, but not making the same mistake twice the Bengals punted it and kicked it too long, letting the Eagles start at there own 20. However the amazing pressure of the defensive line once again forced Johnson to punt, for the 9th time. Thanks to 3-straight 10+ YD runs by Chris perry, the Bengals once again got in FG position. Due to a tough line however, the Bengals were pushed back but return to the 19 YD to kick a FG however Willie Anderson was called for holding. On the re-kick of a 47 YD field goal, Graham made it, making it 23-13 Bengals with 1:53 left.
The Eagles attempted a comeback, first completing a 15 YD pass. Several plays later they made it accross to the 50 with 1:21 and 2 time outs left. However consistent pressure, including 3 sacks, made it especially tough for the Eagles with a 4th and 19. The pressure caused a pressured throw to be picked off by Deltha O\'Neal ending the game.
Defense won the game by achieving a remarkable 12 sacks, 1 INT and holding the Eagles 3rd down conversion to 2-14. Thorton was named player of the game, he sacked the QB 3 times and got 4 tackles.
